5 incredibly underrated Stephen King movies you might have missed
When it comes to the film adaptation of Stephen King's works, there is an opinion that the writer is simply "unlucky" with directors who make films based on his books. There are indeed many outright failures, both in feature films and TV series. As for the top ten, as a rule, viewers name the same 4-5 films - The Shining, Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, The Haze, etc.
Movie Web writes: "However, there is a whole world beyond Stephen King's famous films, featuring famous actors and directors. These are little-known works that are undeservedly rarely talked about because their premieres went unnoticed for some reason.
So, let's add these 5 underrated films to our viewing list.
Silver Bullet (1985)
"Silver Bullet" is an adaptation of King's short story "The Cycle of the Werewolf," a werewolf horror film starring Gary Busey, Everett McGill, Megan Follows, and Corey Haim.
The action takes place in a small town: an unknown monster brutally kills the inhabitants on moonlit nights. The brave souls who are called to find the killer also mysteriously die. The town is gripped by panic and terror.
Marty, a teenager who uses a wheelchair, knows who is attacking the defenseless citizens. The boy knows that only a silver bullet can destroy the monster.
Martin tells everyone he knows about it. But no one believes him, except for Uncle Red.
Why is it interesting?
1985 was a difficult year for King, as he was competing with such serious films as Fright Night, Day of the Dead, and The Resuscitator. In fact, "Silver Bullet" was a great example of King's screenwriting abilities, as he deliberately abandoned his material to write a more low-key version of a werewolf story that centers on very good characters. The movie is definitely worth watching, if only because of the wonderful Corey Haim as Marty Coslow.
Cujo (1983)
"Cujo" is the story of Donna and Ted Trenton, a mother and son who accidentally find themselves in a monster's lair on a small town farm. Cujo is a rabid St. Bernard who turned into a killing machine after being bitten by a bat. In the movie, the dog stalks a woman and her son in a quiet corner of New England. Despite the quietness, this village soon takes on a certain ominousness, turning people's lives into a nightmare.
Why is it interesting?
Cujo can be called an underrated movie considering how popular it is in the horror genre. However, people often do not realize how well it is realized. The audience is most fascinated by the idea of a killer dog, not by Teague's excellent work in adapting a very difficult material.
From the creature effects to Neil Travis's masterful editing, many things help Cujo become a solid film that should be ranked among the best King adaptations. It may not be based on paranormal phenomena, but Cujo is still a monster to be feared, and fear is just a natural theme for King's films.
The Right Stuff (1983)
"The Right Stuff" is a film directed by Fraser K. Heston based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King. It tells the story of Castle Rock residents whose lives change after an old man named Leland Gaunt opens a store called Necessities.
In this store, everyone will find exactly what they need. From rare baseball cards to toys that predict the future. However, prices vary. The price is always set by Gaunt, and it is always connected to a bad deed towards other people.
As a result, the city gradually sinks into the abyss of disorder and hatred. Only Sheriff Alan Pangborn, who hasn't made a single purchase in this strange store, remains a sane person. How will the events develop and will people be able to return to normal life? The movie is interesting to watch, and then you can draw appropriate conclusions.
Why is it interesting?
"The Right Stuff" remains a little-known Stephen King adaptation that few people know about and works mainly because of the portrayal of the characters and the dramatic aspect of the supernatural plot, which goes well with the horror theme.
Many things stand out, but Max von Sydow's performance as Leland Gaunt (or the Devil, if you will) is one of the most notable works of his career. Ed Harris, Bonnie Bedelia, Amanda Plummer, and J.T. Walsh are also part of the impressive cast.
1922 (2017)
The horror thriller 1922 is a gem hidden in the darkest corners of Netflix. Starring Thomas Jane, Neil McDonough, and Molly Parker, the film tells the story of Wilf (Jane), a Nebraska farmer who convinces his son Henry to kill his wife and his mother, Arlette. The problem is that Arlette's ghost is coming back, and it won't stop until justice is served to the family that conspired against her.
Why is it interesting?
This is one of Thomas Jane's best roles in his career, and although he is no stranger to King's films (he plays the title character in Frank Darabont's Muggle). In 1922, he stands out as a great embodiment of a complex character.
The film is very creepy, and the supernatural element of the story is well conveyed by a director who knows the rules of the genre and knows how to change them enough to create a fascinating story.
Gerald's Game (2017)
"Gerald's Game" is a work by King that was thought to be impossible to film, but as it turned out, these people were wrong - the movie turned out to be worthy.
It tells the story of Jessie Burlingame, a woman who embarks on a romantic journey into the wilderness with her husband Gerald. Their marriage is bursting at the seams, so the couple decides to spend a weekend away, hoping to restore their old relationship and rekindle the passion in their hearts.
In the midst of an intimate game, Jessie, handcuffed to the bed, realizes that nothing will work out and asks Gerald to stop, but he doesn't even think about stopping. The frightened wife still manages to calm her hot-tempered husband for a while, and as a result, they have another fight, during which the man suddenly grabs his heart, after which he falls dead, and Jessie remains handcuffed to the bed.
Realizing that no one will come to help her, and that her cell phone and handcuff keys are out of reach, our heroine begins a fierce struggle for her life, gradually losing consciousness.
Why is it interesting?
"Gerald's Game" is a very good example of a Stephen King movie that is often forgotten because it is not based on one of his famous books. Nevertheless, Flanagan's adaptation is a fantastic horror thriller that does a great job of being more than just a survival movie.
Different things happen to Jessie, and they are not only related to the fact that she is somehow trapped. The director made this "leap" from thriller to horror perfectly, without cutting the element of fear.