The King of cinema?
Mention the name Stephen King to a stranger on the street, and they’ll know his name. Stephen King is the most recognizable author alive, and perhaps in existence. With a career that spans a monumental 56 novels and 13 short story collections, it is no surprise that his bibliography has provided a rich source for brilliant film-making. Presented here are the five best adaptations, in chronological order:
The Shining (1980)
Kicking off our list is Stanley Kubrick’s horror masterpiece. Starring Jack Nicholson as reformed alcoholic Jack Torrance, who takes a job as a winter caretaker for the Overlook Hotel, hoping it will give him a chance to reconnect with his family and get back to his writing. However, a supernatural force at the eerily empty hotel has other plans for him. Stanley Kubrick’s film differs quite a bit from the novel but makes up for it with a terrifying atmosphere and an unforgettable conclusion.
Stand by Me (1986)
The story is simple: 4 boys on the cusp of adolescence go on a camping trip in order to find the body of a deceased teenager. What follows is a miraculous examination, lead by the brilliant River Phoenix and Will Wheaton, into the troubles of growing up. Director Rob Reiner, like Kubrick, differed his film version from the novella, in that he made Will Wheaton the main character instead of River Phoenix. The film also has a killer 1950s soundtrack, centred on Ben E. King’s hit, “Stand by Me”.
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Often acclaimed as one of the greatest films ever made (although that may be a bit of a stretch), director Frank Darabont presents a faithful adaptation of Stephen King’s novella, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption. Two men, imprisoned for murder, one guilty and one innocent, form a friendship whilst both are serving life sentences in the brutal Shawshank prison. A compelling tale centred on the main theme of hope, it is a genuine emotional experience to see how the two men change each other for the better and overcome adversity.
1408 (2007)
Adapted from Stephen King’s short story, 1408 is essentially a retooling of the central concept of The Shining: a haunted hotel, now turned into a haunted hotel room. The film largely rests of the brilliant performance of John Cusack, who plays a man who’s recently deceased daughter sends him on an obsessive quest to write books about supposedly haunted hotels, often disproving them- until he stays in room 1408 of the Dolphin Hotel. Also features a supporting performance from Samuel L. Jackson.
The Mist (2007)
The second film on this list to be made by Frank Darabont, the film chronicles father David Drayton (Thomas Jane) and son who are trapped in a supermarket when a supernatural mist sweeps over their town, bringing horrific monsters from another dimension within it. The supermarket quickly falls under the spell of a Bible preacher, and Drayton must fend off not only monsters but the other residents of the supermarket. A superb atmosphere, tight plotting, and perhaps one of the best endings of any horror film makes this a genuinely disturbing and compelling watch.
It’s no secret that Stephen King has written many books and even more short stories, and whilst there have been over 40 films based on his works, many of his best stories have yet to be made into films. Perhaps the most pressing story that is begging to be filmed is his epic series The Dark Tower, which in the era of Game of Thrones would do very well- it chronicles the adventures of gunslinger Roland Deschain, who inhabits a mystical and supernatural Old West, and is on his way to save the Dark Tower from malevolent forces, a nexus of all known universes. In the age of mega-franchises, such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it would be a great choice to adapt, as the series interweaves characters and plot points from many other Stephen King novels. One of the main villains, Randall Flag, is also the main villain not only of The Stand but also The Eyes of the Dragon.
Simililarly, Stephen King’s epics It and The Stand (both of which were adapted as television miniseries) are both deserving of the Hollywood treatment. Due to the size of the books, it perhaps would be best to adapt them into a series of films.
King’s latest novels, Joyland and 11/22/63 would make brilliant Hollywood dramas and have a strong enough story and characters to warrant Oscar consideration, in the way that The Shawshank Redemption did in the 90s.
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