Stephen King’s Most Underrated Movies According to Mike Flanagan

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As a cinephile who has spent countless hours delving into the vast and terrifying world of Stephen King adaptations, I wholeheartedly agree with Mike Flanagan’s choices for underrated gems. The man knows his King, and his picks are spot on.

Stephen King, to put it simply, is incredibly productive. Even dedicated fans of the renowned horror writer haven’t managed to read everything he’s penned, let alone watch all the films and miniseries inspired by his work. Many titles have slipped under the radar, particularly TV movies and miniseries. Though they may seem outdated, there is still much enjoyment to be found in productions such as “Needful Things,” “The Langoliers,” “Graveyard Shift,” and others. However, if you’re looking for overlooked films, who better to consult than the exceptional filmmaker Stephen King, Mike Flanagan? He has directed three adaptations of King’s work and is working on a fourth, a TV series version of “Carrie.” In an interview with MovieWeb, the charismatic director shared his top choices for the most undervalued adaptations of Stephen King’s works.

As a movie enthusiast, let me tell you, the moment I thought of something great was “The Night Flier” starring Miguel Ferrer. This underrated gem truly deserves more recognition than it currently has.

To put it simply, I feel that the books, particularly ‘Revival’ and ‘Hearts in Atlantis,’ don’t receive the attention they deserve from readers. I often find myself questioning why these two are not as popular as other works by the same author. As for the movies, I believe ‘The Night Flier’ is undervalued. The storyline is impressive, the ending is exceptional, and Miguel Ferrer delivers a remarkable performance. However, it seems to be overlooked.

Flanagan remarked, “I believe many others are also appreciated due to their popularity. After all, I can’t compare it to classics like Shawshank, Stand by Me, The Green Mile, Misery, and Carrie – they definitely receive the recognition. However, when I revisit Christine, I always feel glad I did. It’s not often discussed enough, but each time I watch it, I think, ‘This one really resonated.’

Watching The Dead Zone in Trump’s America (And Finding Storm of the Century)

Feeling eager for more suggestions from Stephen King’s friend and director of ‘Gerald’s Game’, ‘Doctor Sleep’, and ‘The Life of Chuck’, here I am recommending ‘The Dead Zone’ by Cronenberg. This week, it seems more powerful than it did last week, although it doesn’t typically garner immediate mention among the elite films. However, whenever I revisit this masterpiece, I’m always struck by its beauty and craftsmanship. In fact, I could go on and on about it!” Flanagan added.

In [The Dead Zone], there’s a profound sense of despair that’s almost inevitable. I did a commentary for it with Eric Vespe and Scott Wampler last year, and since then, I haven’t watched it again. As we watched it for the commentary, the three of us kept wondering why this movie isn’t more widely acclaimed. We asked ourselves, ‘Why aren’t we loudly praising its qualities?’

Flanagan remarked, “This film contains so many incredible aspects,” just as he connected the movie to the upcoming 2024 election. Our interview with Mike Flanagan took place two days following Donald Trump’s victory in the Presidential election, and for Flanagan, the depiction of a rising, militaristic fascist character (portrayed by Martin Sheen) in The Dead Zone seems strikingly pertinent today. In his own words:

The Martin Sheen stuff really punches. I saw a great little Facebook meme of a friend who just put a current mood up, and it’s the picture of Walken at the rally, you know. And it’s like, yeah, I get it.

Flanagan recommends exploring Stephen King’s less-known works. He suggests reading “The Dead Zone” and watching “The Night Flier”. Additionally, he mentions a limited series, “Storm of the Century”, which, although hard to find, is his favorite among miniseries. Despite its scarcity, he often advocates for it because not many people have seen or appreciated it yet.

At MovieWeb, it’s something we share as well! Here’s an excellent piece on the “Storm of the Century.” Even the great Stephen King took notice, sharing his appreciation for it across social media platforms. Long live the King!

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2024-11-13 07:02