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- The Bizarre Sci-Fi Experience That Is Lawnmower Man
- Stephen King and Critics Hated Lawnmower Man
- Lawnmower Man Has Not Aged Well
As a child of the ’90s, I vividly remember the hype around “The Lawnmower Man” back in the day. I was just entering my teenage years when this movie graced our local video store shelves, and boy, did it make an impression! The graphics were mind-blowing for their time, but looking back now, they’re more like a cheesy throwback to a bygone era.
Known as one of, if not the most prominent authors in the horror genre, Stephen King has never been shy about expressing his views on what he appreciates and dislikes regarding the medium. Occasionally, he hits the mark; other times, he misses it. A master of the grotesque can err as well. However, there is one sci-fi horror film that Stephen King detested more than any of his other works transformed into movies – 1992’s The Lawnmower Man.
Stephen King’s relationship with the film “The Lawnmower Man” was not only filled with distaste, but also marked by a legal dispute with the production company responsible for it. Let’s revisit the era of subpar computer-generated imagery to scrutinize one of the most reviled films from the decade, “The Lawnmower Man,” and delve into why King and numerous others despised this movie.
The Bizarre Sci-Fi Experience That Is The Lawnmower Man
The movie “The Lawnmower Man” showcases an innovative idea regarding human-technology interaction and its possible dangers. This film centers around the character of Dr. Lawrence Angelo, a scientist who specializes in boosting intelligence through virtual reality. After unsuccessful trials with a chimpanzee, he decides that a human subject is necessary for success. He selects mentally handicapped gardener Jobe Smith and experiments on him using mind-altering drugs and virtual world sessions. As Jobe’s intellect grows, he plots revenge against his tormentors and aspires to create a reality in the virtual world where he can reign supreme.
The sound that echoes when I take my first breath will resemble all phones worldwide ringing simultaneously, as Jobe Smith expressed in The Lawnmower Man.
Director Brett Leonard, known for pushing boundaries in special effects and operating outside the mainstream, has built a modest career since his debut film, the cult-horror movie “The Dead Pit” (1989). Since then, Leonard has continued to work, but none of his subsequent films have achieved the same level of notoriety as his debut or “The Lawnmower Man,” although he is currently working on a sci-fi film called “Dark Star.” The movie features a young Pierce Bronson before his Bond days and Jeff Fahey, who would go on to amass over 175 credits in TV and film. Stephen King shares a writing credit for the movie, but it is based on a short story of his with a significantly different plot from “The Lawnmower Man.” Instead, it follows a man who hires a lawnmower service, only to discover the operator is a satyr sent by the Greek god Pan.
Stephen King and Critics Hated The Lawnmower Man
Despite receiving unfavorable criticism and becoming a target of jokes in the ’90s, The Lawnmower Man managed to generate a decent income at the box office. Earning $32.1 million against a production budget of $10 million, the film even inspired a sequel titled Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace in 1996. However, critics continue to dislike the movie, as evidenced by its 37% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 43 reviews. In his review for The Washington Post at the time of release, Richard Harrington criticized it as one of the many failed adaptations from Stephen King’s works.
In a turn of events, Stephen King took legal action against New Line Cinema due to dissatisfaction with their adaptation of ‘The Lawnmower Man’. He felt that his name being used in promotional materials was damaging to his reputation since the final product bore little resemblance to his original short story. In the end, he successfully sued for $2.5 million in damages and had his name removed from advertising, although it remained in the credits.
Despite the court ruling, New Line Cinema appeared to disregard its lesson. In the 1994 VHS release of the movie, they again used Stephen King’s name on the cover, which resulted in another trial where New Line was found in contempt of court. They were ordered to pay $10,000 per day until the issue was resolved and remove King’s name from the film. Any profits made during this time went directly to Stephen King. To prevent any future infringements, King even hired private investigators to check local video stores for unauthorized copies of The Lawnmower Man bearing his name.
The Lawnmower Man Has Not Aged Well
In simpler terms, many initial positive reviews for The Lawnmower Man focused on the groundbreaking graphics of the time. However, some viewers found enjoyment in its ‘so bad it’s good’ aspect. When viewed from a contemporary perspective, the graphics appear outdated and garish. Additionally, the portrayal of the character Jobe Smith as a simple-minded man can be uncomfortable. Critics, including Stephen King, were justified in their disdain for the film due to its awkward storyline and moments that are hard to watch.
Is there any compelling reason to watch “The Lawnmower Man” today? Not particularly, as it’s more like spoiled milk compared to classics like TRON. It might offer a few chuckles and provide a glance at how far CGI has come since the 90s, but it’s essentially a time capsule from that era with an intriguing concept that didn’t quite live up to its potential. Given its numerous flaws, some might still be tempted to give it a watch. By the way, you can stream “The Lawnmower Man” on Tubi.
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2024-10-26 20:31