Page to Screen - The Must See Film Adaptations of Stephen King

Film adaptation, the process of bringing a writer’s hard work to screen for audiences to enjoy in their local cinema. Some of the more difficult adaptations in film have been that of the literary works of horror writer Stephen King.

This week at the wonderful FACT Picturehouse in Liverpool, Park Circus will be screening not one, but two of the finest King adaptations, Carrie on Saturday the 16^th and Stand By Me on Sunday the 17^th.

Before you take in a weekend of King at FACT, here's a countdown of the must see Stephen King film adaptations.

10. THE RUNNING MAN

A camp 80s sci-fi action film starring Arnold Schwarznegger and directed by one half of Starsky & Hutch doesn’t necessarily scream great movie and it probably isn’t. Based on the King novel of the same name it’s an example of how someone can take a book and rework it so heavily into something else. The Running Man is set in a dystopian future in which prisoners are pitted against each other in gladiator style combat for the amusement of the masses. Though a very enjoyable film, one wonders what King would think of Schwarznegger strangling someone with barbed wire and delivering the line “what a pain in the neck”.

9. MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE

This would perhaps feature on a list of the worst Stephen King adaptations with its enjoyable but absurdly over the top horror/comedy and often more unintentional laughs feature than intentional ones as you watch a film where machines begin to attack people. However, what makes this a must see King adaptation is that the adaptation was done by King himself, who both adapted the screenplay from a short story of his own, as well as directing the film. It remains his only film to date, which says pretty much everything you need to know, and is probably why he has left the films to others better suited since.

8. CHRISTINE

When thinking of horror, two people always come to mind. The first is obviously King, the master horror writer himself. The second is the master horror director himself, Mr John Carpenter. A match made in heaven then when Carpenter brought to the screen King’s 1983 novel about a possessed Plymouth Fury called Christine. Though it should feel ridiculous and definitely not scary, the talent of Carpenter elevates this to a film that has some genuinely chilling moments. I’ll stick with a Fiesta; it’s a little less threatening.   

7. THE MIST

Frank Darabont had already directed two King adaptations by the time he came to direct 2007’s The Mist, the story of people holding out in a supermarket when a strange mist brings terrifying creatures to the town. Though featuring much more creepy monsters than his previous adaptations, Darabont is astute at making the film about the flaws in the characters fighting the monsters as much as the actual fighting of the monsters. The Mist also features one of the most memorable endings in recent cinema, changing the ending of the original novella; Darabont opted for a far more nihilistic ending. If ever there was a film that feels like one thing for so long before taking a sharp right turn and ending somewhere completely different then it’s this. In King’s own words “Frank wrote a new ending that I loved. It is the most shocking ending ever and there should be a law passed stating that anybody who reveals the last 5 minutes of this film should be hung from their neck until dead.”

6. THE GREEN MILE

Taking things down to brass tax, this second collaboration between Darabont and King is the most successful of any King adaptation, making almost double the box office of its nearest competitor, nominated for four Academy Awards and also being critically acclaimed, it’s fair to say that they struck gold with this one. Starring Tom Hanks as a prison officer on death row in 1930’s Louisiana, the film follows the events from those waiting for their day in the electric chair, and those responsible for their fate. It doesn’t really feel like King in that it’s not really a horror in the traditional sense, but it’s a film looking for the light in what is traditionally a horrific situation. It also features an exceptional performance from the late Michael Clarke-Duncan as the mentally challenged inmate John Coffey.

5. CARRIE

A landmark in this countdown, as Brian De Palma’s Carrie adaptation from 1976 is the very first work from King to be adapted for film, and what a way to start. Carrie is a masterclass in horror film. The first half is all about the natural horror we see day today in people, from the bitchiness seen at Carrie’s school, to the horrific abuse from her mother (brilliantly played by Oscar nominated Piper Laurie). And then one of cinemas most iconic moments happens and the horror becomes gloriously and violently supernatural, a horror film that also manages to get away with a jump scare ending. This is one of those must see films, and you have your chance to see it on the big screen in Liverpool this week.

4. MISERY

What happens when obsessive fandom goes too far? The answer is Kathy Bates Oscar winning performance as Annie Wilkes who takes hostage her favourite author and subjects him to some really messed up shit, including a now infamous ‘hobbling’ scene. Rob Reiner’s adaptation of Kings novel cuts away a lot of King’s more horrific violence and instead focuses on the mind games and acts that Annie and Ed Harris’ Paul enact with each other. It’s a really impressive piece of work and also inspired a very amusing Family Guy version, which I’m sure is what King really wanted all along.

3. STAND BY ME

Before he tackled the darker Misery, Rob Reiner brought to screen an adaptation of the King novella The Body, in which four friends set out on a trip to find the dead body of a lost child, in the process Reiner created cinemas ultimate coming of age film. It being the most autobiographical of his works it’s no surprise that this is King’s personal favourite adaptation of his work. Will Wheaton, Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Connell and of course River Phoenix. It’s those four young and very talented actors whose legacy will always be this film. Phoenix’s career ended far too soon but his exceptional performance in this film lives on forever. And you have a chance to see it in all its glory at FACT Picturehouse this weekend.

2. THE SHINING

From King’s favourite adaptation to his least favourite. There has been no doubt over the years given how unflinching and unmoving he has been with his opinion of it, that King really didn’t like Stanley Kubrick’s version of his book. Though it has since been regarded as one of the undisputed masterpieces of horror, a film that conjured images and moments that live on to this day, upon release the film received a fairly lukewarm reaction. It may be a poor adaptation of the original book, and might feature a slightly iffy performance from the usually exceptional Jack Nicholson, but the nightmarish atmosphere formed by Kubrick is almost unparalleled in horror cinema. Sorry Stephen, I’m afraid I have to disagree, this film is a classic.

1. THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION

So here it is. The number one must see Stephen King film adaptation, the reason for it being number one? Quite simply it’s the most loved, the one that’s stood the test of time, the one people keep revisiting and enjoying it just as much as the first time. The first of Darabont’s collaborations with King, Shawshank is the adaptation of one of King’s novellas focusing on the story of Andy Dufresne and his time spent in Shawshank Prison. Similar to The Green Mile it’s a story of maintaining hope in a hopeless situation. It’s responsible for some of cinemas iconic moments, whether it’s the opera over the courtyard or the exceptional surprise ending. It’s also supplied us with quotes to live by such as “get busy living, or get busy dying” or “hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies”. It was nominated for 7 academy awards, and frequently features in the top ten of greatest films ever made lists. Quite simply, if you haven’t seen it, what the hell is wrong with you?

For more information on those screenings head to https://www.picturehouses.com/cinema/Picturehouse_At_Fact