By Chris Kavan - 08/21/19 at 10:49 AM CT
It's another very light update from the MPAA Ratings Board but at least there is something to discuss this week. And, on the bright side for me, it's also a film I'm personally looking forward to watching. Stephen King has enjoyed a newfound success both on the big screen and small - and while not every iteration (I'm looking at you Dark Tower) has been outstanding, for the most part the new adaptations have met or exceeded my expectations. That is why this week's lone wide release, Doctor Sleep, has me interested. It's not much, but at least it's something worth talking about.
There is an interesting concept behind Doctor Sleep, which serves as a sequel to The Shining. An adult Danny Torrence (Ewan McGregor) finds himself working in a nursing home where his shining powers help those in pain. But he is also dealing with the demons from his past, both the horrors he endured in the Overlook Hotel and personal horrors, including following in his father's footsteps in struggling with alcoholism. Everything comes to head when he meets a young girl, Abra Stone (Kyliegh Curran), who has one of the most powerful Shining powers he has encountered - enough that she attracts the attention of the True Knot, Shining vampires who feed off children strong with the power and thus sustain their own lives. Led by Rose the Hat (Rebecca Ferguson) and her right-hand man Crow Daddy (Zahn McClarnon) the group closes in on Abra and Danny must fight once again. Director Mike Flanagan had a choice to make here: he could either follows the novel or follow Stanley Kubrick's film (which, despite being one of the more well-known horror films, is often disparaged by King for diverging so much from the novel). Flanagan managed to do both - he sticks to the novel, while adding in elements from the film version. It makes sense when you think about it - because the film is so pervasive, and probably what more people know, throwing in more familiar aspects will draw in a wider audience. All that said, Doctor Sleep was a good read, the film has an excellent cast and I think it will be a fun ride. Rated R for disturbing and violent content, some bloody images, language, nudity and drug use.
That is the only wide release for this week, but check out the full MPAA Ratings below:
DOCTOR SLEEP
Rated R for disturbing and violent content, some bloody images, language, nudity and drug use.
NOTHING TO LOSE 2
Rated PG-13 for some violence and thematic elements.
RISING FREE
Rated PG-13 for some violence.
TOD@S CAEN
Rated PG-13 for sexual content throughout, some language and nudity.
VILLAINS
Rated R for language throughout, some violence, drug use and sexual content.
THE WEDDING YEAR
Rated R for language, some sexual content and drug/alcohol use.
