As a devoted reader who has dived deep into the twisted and enchanting worlds crafted by Stephen King, I must say that each adaptation brings its own unique charm and challenges. While it’s essential to appreciate the efforts of filmmakers in translating King’s masterpieces onto the silver screen, I often find myself longing for a more faithful representation of the source material.
Stephen King is second only to William Shakespeare as the most frequently adapted author in the world. While some scholars dispute the existence of Shakespeare, it’s clear that filmmakers find King’s books irresistible. His ability to keep readers hooked is one reason for this love affair. In his book, “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft,” he offers valuable storytelling advice, such as “follow where the story takes you” and “be prepared to offend.” He also emphasizes the importance of “killing your darlings,” even when it’s painful for a writer like him. This means cutting beloved but unnecessary parts from a work, regardless of personal attachment.
These tips are equally applicable when narrating a story on-screen, making it clear why film studio executives, directors, and screenwriters eagerly anticipate new releases from Stephen King, the ‘Master of Horror’. Yet, not all who adapt King’s novels perfectly convey the essence as the author does. Some choose to alter certain aspects, which may yield success or failure in the adaptation process.
6
‘The Running Man’ (1987)
In the year 1982, under the pen name Richard Bachman, Stephen King penned the novel “The Running Man,” which transports us to a future dystopian America that has transformed into a totalitarian police state. The television program “The Running Man” is its most captivating spectacle, where inmates are forced to flee for their lives to avoid being killed. Our protagonist, Captain Ben Richards (portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger), ends up on the show after he refuses an order to shoot at peaceful protesters.
The Role Is Re-Molded for Schwarzenegger
80’s action heroes often played tough roles such as supercops, soldiers, and operatives. However, contrary to popular portrayals, Ben Richards in the book isn’t a law enforcement officer but an ordinary man trying to make ends meet. Unlike the movie where he is a participant due to some external force, in the book, he willingly joins the reality show to help his family financially. The book leans more towards psychological thriller genre, while the film is an action spectacle. In his introduction for “The Bachman Books,” King acknowledges that his characterization of Ben Richards is significantly different from the Arnold Schwarzenegger character in the movie.
5
‘The Shining’ (1980)
It’s not surprising that Stephen King often writes stories featuring authors, but it’s important to note that his main characters don’t always fare as well or achieve the same level of success as him. For instance, consider Jack Torrance from ‘The Shining’, who accepts a winter caretaker job at the isolated Overlook Hotel to earn some extra money. However, he soon discovers that the hotel is haunted, and his sanity quickly deteriorates, leading him down a dark path where he becomes increasingly violent, with his sights set on his own family.
As Many Tweaks as Takes
Stories abound about the production process of Stanley Kubrick’s film, The Shining. Kubrick, known for his strong-willed nature, made several alterations to Stephen King’s novel. These changes were so displeasing to King that he eventually produced a miniseries adaptation of the book in the 90s as a response.
In this version, Chef Dick Holloran lives instead of dying (as depicted in the book), Jack perishes in an explosion rather than freezing to death (as shown in the book), and Jack wields a fire axe instead of a fire mallet (as portrayed in the book). These, along with numerous other modifications, transform The Shining into a film that is more representative of Stanley Kubrick’s unique vision than a faithful adaptation of Stephen King’s novel. It certainly explains why the author might have felt aggrieved.
4
‘Maximum Overdrive’ (1986)
In the ’80s, fed up with filmmakers misinterpreting his tales, Stephen King decided to step into Hollywood. However, he soon learned the hard way. The renowned author took charge of directing “Maximum Overdrive”, a movie adapted from his short story “Trucks” found in the collection book, “Night Shift”. In this film, an unusual event occurs when Earth collides with a comet; as a result, all vehicles and machines (such as trucks, radios, computers, arcade games, and vending machines) develop consciousness and turn deadly.
The Film Truly Goes Overdrive
In the case of “Maximum Override”, it’s quite astonishing given that they share the same creator. Given that it was Stephen King’s debut film, one might assume he aimed for a grand start. However, it seems he may have pushed things too far instead.
To begin with, the narrative within these pages primarily revolves around trucks, not every machine known to mankind. Consequently, the film offers unique scenes that might seem far-fetched, like a soda vending machine causing the demise of an entire little league team. Moreover, the book leaves the conclusion somewhat open-ended, suggesting a future where machines dominate, but in the movie, a Soviet “weather satellite” annihilates the source of the machines’ intelligence, enabling humanity to regain control.
It’s said that the King was allegedly under the influence during filming, however, let’s avoid jumping to conclusions about that. Later on, the creator himself distanced himself from the project, labeling it as a “movie for fools.
3
‘The Dark Tower’ (2017)
In the movie titled “The Dark Tower,” Idris Elba takes on the role of Roland Deschain, a gunslinger whose mission is to safeguard an enigmatic edifice known as the Dark Tower – a structure that underpins all realities. On the other hand, Matthew McConaughey embodies Roland’s adversary, Walter Padick, or The Man in Black, who seeks to undermine the tower. Additionally, Tom Taylor appears as Jake Chambers, Roland’s trusty companion.
‘The Dark Tower’ Isn’t as Dark as the Source Material
Despite drawing from the first and third books in the series, The Dark Tower functions more like a sequel, which means it was destined to deviate from the original content. Most alterations revolve around character development. For instance, Jake’s mother is portrayed as caring for him, while her affection towards her son in the books is less consistent. Additionally, the breakers are depicted as children rather than adults in the movie. The tone also varies significantly, as the film carries a PG-13 rating compared to the graphic violence and horror found in the source material.
2
‘Cell’ (2016)
In the graphic novel ‘Cell’, character Clayton “Clay” Riddell, portrayed by John Cusack, embarks on an urgent quest to find his estranged wife and son after a puzzling mobile phone signal turns residents of New England into strange beings resembling zombies, which are known as “The Phoners.” Accompanying him in this journey is Tom, a train conductor he recently encountered.
‘Cell’ Rings More Quietly on Screen
The film significantly challenges many concepts established by the author in the book, and the outcome is far from satisfying, with only a 11% rating on Rotten Tomatoes – a disappointing mark for an actor of the caliber of Samuel L. Jackson.
As a dedicated moviegoer, I can’t help but express my thoughts on this particular film adaptation of a Stephen King novel. Unlike many of his stories, this one does not provide a clear-cut ending. We see Clay attempt to undo the effects of the signal, yet there’s no definitive answer as to whether he succeeded or not, which leaves an unsettling ambiguity. The movie offers a conclusive resolution, revealing that Clay indeed transformed into a “Phoner.” This revelation adds a bitter twist, suggesting all the effort was in vain.
1
‘Carrie’ (1976)
The main character in Carrie, a bullied child, becomes a symbol of hope for many. Despite being a timid teenager, she endures years of mockery and physical abuse at school. Her home life isn’t much better, with her mother acting like a devil in disguise. However, things change drastically when she gains the ability to move objects with her mind, finally giving her the power to retaliate against her tormentors.
An Array of Positive and Negative Changes
The film adaptation of Stephen King’s debut novel appears to be true to its source material at first glance, but it pales in comparison, which is surprising given that Brian de Palma is directing. The book uses a unique narrative style, presenting the story through newspaper articles, testimonies, and various other documents. This approach helps readers understand the plot more clearly. Regrettably, the movie follows a straightforward linear narrative. Furthermore, in the book, Carrie is depicted as an obese teenager, implying she’s bullied due to her appearance. On the bright side, the film’s ending is significantly improved, featuring one of the most iconic horror jump scares.
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2024-12-21 04:32