I took this list from IMDb and edited out the TV show episodes and stuff (or at least tried to). King has had a huge impact on horror since he came on the scene with Carrie. Much of it has been very good, some of it has been very bad, and some mediocre. I'd imagine all of us have seen some of King's work put onto film, but probably none of us has seen all of it. The idea behind this thread is to pick from the list what you have seen and what of that is worthwhile in your estimation. Obviously classics like Shawshank Redemption or The Shining rank high, but some of the less well-known material is worth a look too. Possibly even some of the sequels ....
The Mist (2007) (novella)
Paul's Dream (2007) (story "Harvey's Dream")
1408 (2007) (short story)
Walking Ghost (2006) (story)
Popsy (2006) (short story) (story)
Lovecraft's Pillow (2006) (suggestion)
Tyger (2006/I) (short story)
Suffer the Little Children (2006) (story)
"Nightmares and Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King" (2006) TV mini-series (short stories)
Desperation (2006) (TV) (novel "Desperation") (teleplay)
Umney's Last Case (2006) (short story)
I Know What You Need (2005) (short story)
Femme dans la chambre, La (2005) (short story)
Gotham Cafe (2005) (short story)
Home delivery: Servicio a domicilio (2005) (short story)
Sorry, Right Number (2005) (original screenplay)
Luckey Quarter (2005) (short story)
Sueño de Harvey, El (2005) (story "Harvey's Dream")
Riding the Bullet (2004) (novella "Riding the Bullet")
All That You Love Will Be Carried Away (2004) (short story)
'Salem's Lot (2004) (TV) (novel "Salem's Lot")
All That You Love (2004) (short story)
The Road Virus Heads North (2004) (short story)
The Man in the Black Suit (2004) (short story)
Secret Window (2004) (novella "Four Past Midnight: Secret Window, Secret Garden")
"Kingdom Hospital" (2004) TV series (unknown episodes)
The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer (2003) (TV) (characters)
Autopsy Room Four (2003) (short story)
Dreamcatcher (2003) (novel "Dreamcatcher")
Rainy Season (2002) (short story)
The Dead Zone (2002) (V) (novel)
Carrie (2002) (TV) (novel)
Night Surf (2002) (short story)
Firestarter 2: Rekindled (2002) (TV) (novel "Firestarter")
"Rose Red" (2002) TV mini-series (written by)
Children of the Corn: Revelation (2001) (V) (characters)
Hearts in Atlantis (2001) (book)
Strawberry Spring (2001) (short story)
Paranoid (2000/II) (poem "Paranoid: A Chant")
The Green Mile (1999) (novel)
Children of the Corn 666: Isaac's Return (1999) (V) (short story "Children of the Corn")
Sometimes They Come Back... for More (1999) (V) (characters)
The Rage: Carrie 2 (1999) (characters)
"Storm of the Century" (1999) TV mini-series (written by)
Apt Pupil (1998) (novella "Apt Pupil")
Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror (1998) (V) (short story "Children of the Corn")
The Night Flier (1997) (story)
Quicksilver Highway (1997) (TV) (short story "Chattery Teeth")
Ghosts (1997/I) (idea) (story)
"The Shining" (1997) TV mini-series (novel) (teleplay)
Trucks (1997) (TV) (short story)
Thinner (1996) (novel)
Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering (1996) (V) (short story "Children of the Corn")
Sometimes They Come Back... Again (1996) (V) (characters)
The Langoliers (1995) (TV) (novella "From Four Past Midnight")
Dolores Claiborne (1995) (book)
The Mangler (1995) (short story)
Children of the Corn III (1995) (story "Children of the Corn")
The Shawshank Redemption (1994) (short story "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption")
"The Stand" (1994) TV mini-series (book) (teleplay)
Needful Things (1993) (book)
The Tommyknockers (1993) (TV) (novel)
The Dark Half (1993) (novel)
Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice (1993) (short story "Children of the Corn")
Sleepwalkers (1992) (written by)
"Golden Years" (1991) TV series (writer)
Sometimes They Come Back (1991) (TV) (short story)
Misery (1990) (novel "Misery")
It (1990) (TV) (novel)
Graveyard Shift (1990) (short story)
Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990) (short story) (segment "Cat From Hell")
Pet Sematary (1989) (novel) (screenplay)
"Tales from the Darkside" (2 episodes, 1984-1987)
The Running Man (1987) (novel) (as Richard Bachman)
A Return to Salem's Lot (1987) (characters)
Creepshow 2 (1987) (stories)
The Last Rung on the Ladder (1987) (short story)
The Lawnmower Man (1987) (short story)
Stand by Me (1986) (novella "The Body")
Maximum Overdrive (1986) (short story "Trucks") (written by)
Srazhenie (1986) (short story)
Silver Bullet (1985) (novella "Cycle of the Werewolf") (writer)
Cat's Eye (1985) (writer)
Firestarter (1984) (novel)
Children of the Corn (1984) (short story)
Christine (1983) (novel)
The Dead Zone (1983) (novel)
Cujo (1983) (novel)
The Woman in the Room (1983) (story)
Disciples of the Crow (1983) (short story)
Creepshow (1982) (screenplay) (short stories "The Crate and Weeds") (uncredited)
The Boogeyman (1982) (short story)
The Shining (1980) (novel)
Salem's Lot (1979) (TV) (novel)
Carrie (1976) (novel)
Carrie, Salem's Lot, The Shining, Creepshow, Cujo, Christine, Children of the Corn, Firestarter, Pet Sematary, It, Misery, Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, and now The Mist are what I think of when I think of Stephen King movies. A couple in there are weaker than others, but all are "must watch" in my opinion.
Besides that, I really enjoyed: Needful Things, The Langoliers, and 1408. I didn't care for The Dead Zone (although it was years ago that I saw it and might give it a 2nd chance some day), Maximum Overdrive (godawful), Lawnmower Man (had nothing to do with King's story and was even sued over it, besides that it was horrid). Running Man was very loosely based on it and although not a great film by any means, it was fun to see and I'd recommend it on it's own merits and not as a King story.
The Mist (2007) (novella)-My wife hated the ending, but I actually liked it. It went against expectations.
'Salem's Lot (2004) (TV) (novel "Salem's Lot") -IMO, nt as good as the original version, but still had good stuff.
Apt Pupil (1998) (novella "Apt Pupil") -Originally didn't know it was a King story when I saw the movie. Ian McKellan is such a fine actor and he really makes for a creepy Nazi.
The Shawshank Redemption (1994) (short story "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption") -Great "normal" movie, but definitely not genre.
It (1990) (TV) (novel) -Despite the lackluster ending, I still like the ensemble cast, especially Tim Curry's Pennywise the clown.
Pet Sematary (1989) (novel) (screenplay) -People coming back from the dead are creepy, pets and kids, even creepier.
Stand by Me (1986) (novella "The Body") -Not really a horror film, but a great movie about being a boy, regardless of your generation.
The Dead Zone (1983) (novel) -I really enjoyed the original movie, not great, but good.
The Shining (1980) (novel) -A creepy movie that utilizes paranoia, isolation, and insanity as tools to present fright. Those twin girls were so creepy, but why?
Salem's Lot (1979) (TV) (novel) -Not only my favorite King movie, but one of my favorite horror films, period. One of the main characters is a monster kid, like we were.
Carrie (1976) (novel) -Another great King adaptation. Final scene is great.
The Dead Zone doesn't seem to be getting much love. I like that movie a lot. While I don't think it's the "best" Stephen King movie, it might be my favorite.
I'm going to watch it again. When it came out, I had seen Scanners and then Videodrome and that was Cronenberg's next movie. I wasn't expecting something better than Videodrome necessarily, but let's say the expectations were very high. The Dead Zone was a letdown for me based on my expectations, and that's why I say I should revisit it again. Both Scanners and Videodrome (which I consider one of my favorite movies of all time) changed my perceptions of what film could be. Cronenberg was on such a high pedastal for me at the time that it was unrealistic he could stay there.
Hi everyone,
I have seen just about all the films adapted from Stephen King's books and short stories
and have quite a few of them in my collection including Cat's Eye,Thinner,Trucks,Night Flier,
etc.But my favourites are Salem's Lot (the 1979 TV mini-series ,I also have the movie but it
was just a butchered version of the mini series ) and Silver Bullet cased on Cycle of the Werewolf.
I am from the old school,I love vampires and werewolves.That is ,along with Frankenstein's
creature,the Mummy and the Creature from the Black Lagoon,what I grew up with.
These movies remind me of the old genre.
A little off the Stephen King topic,but as the vampire said,in the same vein, is the movie
Fright Night with a combination of a guy ,like us,who loves the old monster movies,
vampires,and a vampire hunter named Peter Vincent (talk about an homage) !
These movies,to me,are like reworkings of the classics that we all love.
Pet Sematary, in my opinion, is the most well made Stephen King adaptation. I've read the novel four times and I still occasionally look over my shoulder to make sure no doors have opened behind me.
The movie itself, though, is just fantastic. The childrens' chorus in Elliot Goldenthal's score is absolutely chilling. Fred Gwynne's Jud Crandall is just downright spooky, as well.
This movie reminds me a lot of the older B&W movies that we all love. So many things were done with shadows, graveyards, church bells, exhumation... it was just done with such class that even though a few scenes are quite nauseating, the whole film just feels like a good, old fashioned monster movie to me.
-Andy
Salem's Lot (First one) , Stand by Me, Dead Zone and Green Mile are my Favorites, in that order. HHW
Quote from: Sleepyhollowstudios on June 02, 2008, 11:33:21 AM
Pet Sematary, in my opinion, is the most well made Stephen King adaptation. I've read the novel four times and I still occasionally look over my shoulder to make sure no doors have opened behind me.
Fred Gwynne's Jud Crandall is just downright spooky, as well.
T
-Andy
"It's...That damn raod...."
Quote"It's...That damn raod...."
"It uses up a lot of animals..."
-Andy
The first Stephen King book I read was Carrie. I was in seventh grade, and I begged and pleaded to watch the R-rated movie version when I had finished the book. My parents finally relented, and I fell in love with it. It became a staple of every sleepover I hosted.
I read the short story "Children of the Corn" from Night Shift, and was completely disturbed. I couldn't wait to see the movie, sure I would be thoroughly frightened. No luck. Gone were most of the details that creeped me out in the first place.
Stephen King movie adaptations seem to be VERY hit-or-miss. Other opinions?
It would seem that Stephen King's novels worked on a dozen small plots and tied it all together
in the end.But I agree it's hard to get that same level of detail and creepiness in the film
adaptations.Having said that,I loved Salem's Lot,the miniseries made in 1979 (it stayed pretty
close to the book) and Silver Bullet ,adapted from Cycle of the Werewolf.
"The Shining," like a lot of Kubrick movies, increasingly resonates and makes more sense to me each time I see it.
At each stage of my life it seems to have something new to offer me in its narrative. I never tire of it. It never dates. Along with "Dawn of the Dead," it has one of the most profound senses of "place" of any horror film made. Like the character of Jack Torrance, having watched it a few dozen times, I feel as though I know what will be waiting around every corner.
It is strange that in a Kubrick film, considering he was such a master of the look and structure of a film, the two most terrifying parts for me come in a moment of dialogue. (Louis Malle rightly believed the most erotic thing you could show on screen was a conversation between lovers... I think Kubrick might have shown the same can be true for a horror film. The scariest thing can be a conversation. I know "Halloween" certainly did. Would it have been half as good without Donald Pleasance's great lines?). The two conversations come in the middle of the film.
The first is when Jack talks(?) to the ghostly bartender, Lloyd. How are we to take this? Either the ghosts are there or they are not. In either case, the implication of the conversation is terrifying: If they are NOT there, he is losing his mind and the mother and child are doomed. If they ARE there, then the hotel spirits are colluding with him to kill them off. The second conversation is between Jack and Mr. Grady in the ballroom bathroom. This may be the scariest set in all of the movie. Far scarier to me than the hedge maze. I don't know why the rows of red painted stalls frightens me so, but they do. They stand in stark contrast to the banality of the conversation, until Philip Stone ceases talking like Jeeves, and becomes deadly in his instructions.
Roger Ebert wrote a recent re-review of this film in which he placed it in his "Great Movies" series. He made the interesting point the film may possibly be one of the only movies to successfully use the literary device of the "Unreliable Narrator." I am not sure I agree. There is ambiguity certainly.. and to consider the narrative as unreliable is an interesting take. I can't disprove it, but I don't think it can be proven by what's on screen either. Eventually, one watching this movie has to make the decison that certain things are either there, or they are not there. There is a reality. And all else proceeds from it. It is not just this dysfunctional family going crazy in a folies de trois. Halloran exists and he clearly communicates telepathically with the child, and if the child is psychic, then we belive his visions, even if not necessarily his interpretation of them. Where one draws the line past that is an item for endless debate. And at each point in my life, I have set it in the sand in a different spot.
The final standout scene for me is the long progression backwards up the stairs by Shelley Duvall, as she desperately swings the bat, decompensating, as her life comes crumbling down around her. It is one the consistently cringe-inducing scenes in movies for me, I feel her exhaustion every time I see it. Duvall was really something in her day. She reminds me a bit of Hillary Swank. Neither are particularly pretty, nor the best actresses of their generation, but put them in the right role, and they are a force to behold ("Duvall" in this and "3 Women," and Swank in "Million Dollar baby" and "Boy's Don't Cry").
It may be sacreligious to say this, but, "The Shining" is not that great of a novel. It was a phenomenon. It was one of the first horror blockbuster books. Every one read it. Even my grandmother for gods sake. But taken as a whole... it is just not that good. The characters are too cut-out. The scare scenes are rather silly. His preceding novel, Salem's Lot, was superb. So was IT. So was Pet Sematary. Many of his other novels are better than this.
But Kubrick's "The Shining" is one of the best movies of the 80s. It belongs on a list with "Raging Bull," "The Right Stuff," "Raiders of the Lost Ark" "Amadeus" "Manhunter," "Platoon," "House of Games," "Blood Simple," and "The Long Good Friday" It is certainly the best horror film of the 80s.
Although it is not the most accurate adaptation of a King work (The excellent TV miniseries of Salem's Lot, much admired by others here, is a contrast), it is, to my mind, undoubtedly the best, and one of Kubrick's true masterpieces.
Matt Jaycox
UMA Medic
The Shining, Carrie, Salem's Lot (original), Firestarter, The Stand, The Langoliers, Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, Stand By Me, Pet Semetery, Cat's Eye.
Quote from: MedeaZorba on June 15, 2008, 07:23:20 PM
The first Stephen King book I read was Carrie. I was in seventh grade, and I begged and pleaded to watch the R-rated movie version when I had finished the book. My parents finally relented, and I fell in love with it. It became a staple of every sleepover I hosted.
I read the short story "Children of the Corn" from Night Shift, and was completely disturbed. I couldn't wait to see the movie, sure I would be thoroughly frightened. No luck. Gone were most of the details that creeped me out in the first place.
Stephen King movie adaptations seem to be VERY hit-or-miss. Other opinions?
Agreed, but i think that was more true earlier on than today.
Salem's Lot , Stand by Me, The Shining ,The Dead Zone, The Shining - I love these films.
Salem's Lot, The Shining, Pet Semetary and Creepshow are some of my faves. When I was younger my mom and I and some of her friends took a trip to Maine. We went to Bar Harbor and saw Stephen King's houseboat. That was crazy because we went canoeing on that lake and here comes a whole group of bats flying over our heads. The lake even looked like the lake in "The Raft" segment of Creepshow so that made it doubly eerie.
When I was older and Pet Semetary came out, my mom had bought the book. So that year I took it to my grandparents and read it there (they lived in Florida). My grandma couldn't understand how I could read that "scary stuff." I was only 12 when I was reading it - but it was one of those books that all I wanted to do was read it and do nothing else. I can still hear her now.."Krissy, put down that book and help me with the dishes!"....
Great commentary on Kubrick's "The Shining," Matt! I've been staunchly defending that remarkable film from its detractors for many a year. It has a disturbing, pulsing, hypnotic quality that few other films can match. It's not a traditional horror film, out to scare you with a few "boo" moments -- its up to something far more visceral than that -- and takes great liberties with the source material -- so I understand why some don't like it. But I think they're mistaken when make the leap from "I don't like it" to "It's a terrible movie."
And my two cents is that Jack is going insane -- but the supernatural elements are (in the context of the film) quite real.