This week, my brother and I watched Stephen King movies.
Based on King's first published novel, about a teenage girl who develops psychic powers, Carrie is directed by Brian De Palma. De Palma's direction is stellar and Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie put in powerhouse performances as Carrie and her religious fanatic mother. I like how the film plays out like a typical teen drama, with bits of horror interspersed throughout, only to turn into a violent, blood soaked nightmare in the last act. The filmmakers somehow manage to make Carrie simultaneously sympathetic and unnerving. It has some questionable editing choices and some of the supporting actors aren't the best but, for the most part, this was really, really good.
Score: 8/10
A classic Stephen King adaptation, considered by many to be among the greatest movies ever made, The Shining is one of those classic films I've never quite been able to love. Stanley Kubrick's direction is peerless, certainly, and it is filled with scenes that really stick with you. It also has one of the best performances I've seen from a child actor, Danny Lloyd. Despite this I find it an erratic film and it never seems to succeed in sucking me in. Jack Nicholson's performance, though brilliant in it's own right, makes his character seem insane almost from the get go, and his character lacks the slow, steady descent into madness of Jack Torrence form the novel. I can appreciate why others love it, but it never seems to click for me.
8/10
Perhaps more of a thriller then a true horror film, Cujo tells the story of a mother (Dee Wallace) and son (Danny Pintauro) menaced by a rabid dog. As this film was not kindly received upon its release I was pleasantly surprised by it. Despite some plot contrivances and an overbearing musical score, I found it to be a solid thriller with some surprisingly effective character drama, as the mother and father struggle to move on after her affair. The performances are a little uneven but they mostly work and director Lewis Teague, helped in no small part by cinematographer Jan de Bont (Die Hard, Speed), directs with real panache. Underrated.
Score: 8/10
Arguably not a horror film (though it does have an underlying sense of dread) The Dead Zone is nonetheless a fine film. It tells the story of a high school teacher who develops physic powers after spending 5 years in a coma as a result of a car accident. David Croneberg's direction is stellar and the film has a really gloomy, foreboding tone. This is greatly helped by Micheal Kamen's ominous score. Christopher Walken is great in the lead role, putting in a surprisingly grounded performance. I have mixed feelings about the third act, as it pushes suspension of disbelief a little far but that's really my only (potential) complaint.
Score: 9/10
The third King adaptation released in 83' Christine is directed by John Carpenter and tells the story of a nerdy highschooler whose life is turned upside down when he buys a used car with a grisly history. Though this is far from being his best film, Carpenter is truly a master of horror and is able to make the rather absurd premise genuinely scary at times (though the film is largely tongue in the cheek). The performances (thanks, no doubt, to King's writing) are unusually down-to-earth and likable for a film of this kind. There's even a friendly jock (played by John Stockwell).
Score: 8/10
The premise of Into the Long Grass, playing with space and time in an almost Lovecraftian fashion, holds a lot of potential. Unfortunately, the writers take it a little too far, leaving too little to the imagination which undermines the horror. The character drama also feels a little forced as a result. In addition to this, the direction is pretty sub-par with bland visuals (I felt like I was watching a commercial for Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios half the time) and erratic pacing. The cast is, at least, pretty solid all around and Patrick Wilson steals the show with a delightful over-the-top performance.
Score: 6/10
Having just recently read the novel for the first time I could not help but be a little dissapointed in Salem's Lot, which fails to do justice to King's nuanced characterization. Nonetheless it's pretty solid and really fun vampire flick, with plenty of atmosphere and lot's of memorable moments. The blood is held back a bit because of the constraints of TV, but director Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Poltergeist) does a fine job despite this. It's also a well cast film, even if the the actor's are somewhat wasted on the underdeveloped characters. It's fine but I found it frustrating.
Score: 8/10
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