2019 marks a memorable year in horror for me. It was the first year I anticipated projects from directors whose earlier work I couldn't stop talking about. While I was deeply intrigued by Robert Eggers' "The Witch," it was Ari Aster's "Hereditary" and Mike Flanagan's "Haunting of Hill House" Netflix series that completely captured me. Thankfully, this year we got the three of them back in theaters with Midsommar, The Lighthouse, and Doctor Sleep. Although Flanagan's "Doctor Sleep" is an adapted screenplay based on the 2013 Stephen King book, on-screen it was an exciting theatrical experience.

As soon as the curtains are let up it's as though the theater seats thrust us back, the belts fastened, and the time to turn away is gone. I knew from the beginning I was in for a thrill of a movie when we're introduced to Rebecca Ferguson's Rose the Hat, a villainess well-renowned in the art of stealing screams and inflicting pain.

As a sequel to "The Shining," "Doctor Sleep" follows Danny Torrance's story as a middle-aged man. Traumatized by his past experiences at the Overlook Hotel, he struggles with substance abuse, and lives life as a drifter. While living in New Hampshire, he's made aware of an evil group, The True Knot led by Rose the Hat, who hunt down those who 'shine,' or have clairvoyant abilities. This 'shine' devouring band has their eyes on a girl, Abra, whose psycho talents place a target on her head. Hunters and hunted teeter in their roles when Danny is advised to help Abra by an old friend…

For those who search for and admire a fully woven story, then look no further than right here. The second act particularly stole my attention in how high the intensity grew and how drawn into the narrative I was.

From the moment it started, Flanagan and cinematographer Michael Fimognari give little reason to scoff at the movie's generous two and a half-hour runtime. How they capture a scene is akin to the pair's collaborative work on Haunting of Hill House and one that feels fresh and unfamiliar to movies today. The scenes don't include any innovative camerawork, which does better to highlight the performances of newcomer Kyleigh Curran playing Abra Stone, and the magnificently talented Obi-Wan, Ewan McGregor portraying an older Danny Torrance.

Where the camerawork is noticed is in it's less than creative transitioning. I kept waiting for one and I might've let it disappoint me if it weren't for one sequence that had me in awe. It was a moment I could see being embarrassingly over-animated in the wrong hands, but done beautifully in the right ones. There is an obvious focus on the characters as they're the essentials pieces in each scene, and most environments hold still in a nearly faded background.

Through this practice, performances ought to be top-tier and they are. I struck a deal with Ferguson back in '15 after seeing her in "Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation" and she promised not to disappoint. I assure you, she's held up her end of the bargain. Rose the Hat operates with all but smoke and mirrors, as a villain who does exactly as she says and Ferguson's delivery cements the believability in her character and it's position as the head of her entourage.

In portraying Abra Stone, Curran provides a standout performance in her first starring role in a major motion picture. As a teenager, she hits moments of innocence and dread with ease, and it's with confidence that she stands up to resist the members of The True Knot.

For dedicated fans of "The Shining," there are many respectful references made to the original that I'm sure fans will be pleased by.

My favorite aspect of Doctor Sleep is that no moments feel forced. The music breathes in each scene and feels intense without jarring for the sake of fright. Flanagan prefers the slow build-up and reveal as opposed to jump scares. This creative decision levels the film's pacing and reduces the amount of peaks and falls others have that use the distracting, albeit often effective, horror technique. All the while I was in the theater, I never had to ask myself why a scene was playing out. Everything shown had intent and handed itself off to the next scene with no wasted space. This is a movie everyone, fan of horror or not, should see in theaters and share with their family members, especially those who enjoyed "The Shining" and/or the prequel trilogy of "Star Wars." Go to the theater!