It’s the Booze Talkin’; Stephen King Still Reigns Big Screen Horror!

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

When I was a child, the work of Stephen King – as well as the film’s based on his novels – affected me in a deep and thrillingly honest kind of way. Certainly many of his stories scared me, especially since much of his work involves young children in horrific situations. Yet, somehow, it reminded me how resilient youth can be. The power of innocence is an exceptional one. Whether it was Danny Torrence in The Shining, Tad Trenton in Cujo or The Losers' Club in It, there was always a character that you could create a bond with. The author’s connection to his characters is shockingly good. While they are often traumatized or far worse, he made it seem like he understood childhood fears better than anybody. And frankly, as I’ve grown with his books and the movies they have inspired, I still find a deep and powerful relationship to this landscape.

And here I am, as an adult, once again having yet another experience to a Stephen King novel on the big screen. This past weekend, I happened to catch the latest reworking of PET SEMATARY as the closing night movie at SXSW in Austin, Texas. While I won’t go into the full review here – that will be up on AITH and JoBlo.com soon – this movie bothered the shite out of me in a rich and satisfying way. Certainly the way it needed to. Filmmakers Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer manage to make an impressively moving film that very much taps into the terrifying atmosphere achieved in the source material. They also create a sense of dread that makes the film all the more horrific and disturbing. This is a f*cked up story, that is about to haunt a whole new audience in a few really surprising ways.

The author and his creative mind has given us a wealth of inspiring material that includes Carrie, Misery, Salem’s Lot, The Stand and countless other terror-fueled tales. Considering we’ve seen cinematic translations of his work since the Seventies, it is one hell of an impressive feat. And decades later we are still looking forward to more. In fact, it is very likely that we are going to see these stories told once again several years into the future. Certainly some of the movies don’t work as well as others, but when they do it is unbelievable. And there have been so many of the adaptations which I’ve absolutely loved. You have CUJO, THE SHINING, THE MIST, MISERY, CARRIE, THE SHINING, IT and now both PET SEMATARY flicks. In fact, there are far too many to mention without creating a laundry list of cool horror flicks. Hell, his non-scary tales like THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION and STAND BY ME are absolutely brilliant as well.

What is it about this iconic writer that has given us nightmares for all these years? Why do we keep coming back to stories like the one involving a terrifying clown named Pennywise? Much of it has to do with the characters and the author’s incredible world building skills. I don’t know about you, but the fictitious version of Maine is not a place I’d want to visit if it truly existed. In fact, his imaginative horrors have led to the recent series Castle Rock, a place where a few familiar names have found a brand new place to inhabit your dreams. This is not a fluke. Stephen King is a master storyteller. He is one that creates an unusual bond between the reader and the people that exist in his haunted landscape, something that translates well in feature film. And perhaps the reason for it is  relatively simple… King’s work is timeless.

Recently – aside from the failure of DARK TOWER – awesome flicks like IT and Netflix’s GERALD’S GAME have reminded fans how powerful King’s work remains today. For myself, watching Pennywise make life a living hell for a group of young teens, or yet another version of a place that you shouldn’t bury dead things, have been a reminder of the power of these nightmares. And with upcoming features that include DOCTOR SLEEP and the big screen take on THE TOMMYKNOCKERS, filmmakers are far from done with translating these amazing stories. Considering the wealth of material available, it is very likely that we will continue to see numerous interpretations of his many shorts and novels well into the future. And why not? I can’t imagine a time when his work won’t be relevant.

Maybe it’s the booze talkin, but Stephen King remains one of the most exciting names in genre features. For years to come, new fans will discover his work and they will continue to want to see it brought to life at the local cineplex – as well as the small screen. There is something truly satisfying about what the famed author brings, and with IT, PET SEMATARY and even Castle Rock, there is certainly room for a different translation on his characters and the stories they exist in. As a fan of this brilliant writer’s work, what stands out most is how the books and films have grown with me. And even more important, how they will grow with a whole new generation thirsty for his creative and personal approach to fear and horror. There will always be room for Stephen King. Dare I say it… Long live the King