‘Surprised There Hasn’t Been More Talk About This’: Stephen King Recommends A ‘Brilliant’ Sci-Fi Horror Adaptation That You Can Stream Right Now

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As a die-hard fan of all things Stephen King, I’m thrilled to pieces about these latest developments! The new Steelbook for The Shining is just the icing on the cake after a year filled with exciting adaptations and releases.

Are you in search of something to watch on TV? This season can be challenging because many long-running series are taking a break during winter, leaving viewers to scour for their entertainment options. However, fear not! Stephen King is known for providing excellent media recommendations, and while he may have changed his social media habits, he still shares suggestions of shows for his fans to explore.

In addition, here’s another intriguing aspect of this week’s The King Beat: not only does the author share his streaming pick, but he also includes two more engaging tales. One is an exciting MPA rating for the initial adaptation of Stephen King’s works due in 2025, while the other alerts readers about a unique home video release of The Shining, available for pre-order at present. There’s plenty to explore, so let’s dive right in!

Need A New Show To Stream? Stephen King Recommends Giving The Midwich Cuckoos On Amazon Prime Video A Shot

Recently, I followed in Stephen King’s footsteps by stepping away from Twitter due to rising negativity, but don’t worry, I haven’t given up on social media entirely! Instead, I’ve ventured into fresh territories – exploring both Bluesky and Threads. This change is fantastic for me as a fan because it means King continues his tradition of offering new book, movie, and TV suggestions. His latest recommendation is the 2022 series “The Midwich Cuckoos,” which can now be streamed on Amazon Prime Video with an AMC+ add-on subscription.

This television series, featuring Keeley Hawes and Max Beesley, initially broadcast on Sky Max in the UK, has been around for a couple of years now. Somehow, acclaimed author Stephen King remained unaware of it until recently. Just yesterday, he shared his newfound appreciation for the show on his social media account, expressing his excitement about it.

I find it intriguing that there’s not much discussion surrounding this book. It’s an outstanding modern adaptation of the timeless sci-fi/horror novel by John Wyndham, “The Midwich Cuckoos.

If a story about an unusual event in a small town where all women of reproductive age suddenly become pregnant with children who share eerie similarities and possess powerful psychic abilities sounds reminiscent to you, then you might be familiar with the “Village of the Damned” film series, which are adaptations of John Wyndham’s novel “The Midwich Cuckoos.” In this tale, the townsfolk inexplicably lose consciousness for a day and, upon waking, discover that they have conceived strange children with chilling abilities.

The 2022 version of “The Midwich Cuckoos” was developed by David Farr, who has previously written for the 2011 Joe Wright film “Hanna.” This series spans across seven one-hour episodes. If you’re a Prime Video subscriber, consider signing up for a week-long trial of AMC+ to take advantage of Stephen King’s endorsement.

The Monkey Rating Will Put A Smile On All Constant Readers Excited For A Gory Good Time

2025 promises to be an extraordinarily large year for Stephen King adaptations, with up to six new film and TV projects based on his works set to premiere. Among these, Osgood Perkins’ “The Monkey” is the first to be released in theaters nationwide, coming out in February. With a recent Motion Picture Association rating, it seems that King fans might want to consider bringing along a raincoat or protective clothing when they watch it at the cinema.

As reported by FilmRatings.com (via JoBlo), The Monkey now has an official listing, and the content warning for the upcoming Stephen King movie indicates a disturbingly grotesque and adult-oriented theme, contrary to earlier statements from the writer/director that it’s a film that “children and their parents would enjoy together.” According to the Motion Picture Association (MPA), the new movie is brimming with content suitable only for mature audiences and has been assigned an R rating. The website describes the film as filled with mature themes.

Rated R for strong bloody violent content, gore, language throughout and some sexual references.

As a devoted cinephile, I’m excited to share that “The Monkey” is a movie adaptation of Stephen King’s short story with the same title from his 1985 anthology “Skeleton Crew.” Interestingly, this short story was initially published in Gallery magazine’s November 1980 issue. Fast forward to May 2023, when the film’s adaptation was first announced.

In this movie, I, Theo James, take on the role that made me familiar to many – from “The White Lotus” Season 2 and Netflix’s “The Gentlemen.” In this new film, my character is a set of long-separated twin brothers who are compelled to reconnect as adults. An enigmatic toy from our childhood, a drum-banging monkey, mysteriously reappears and unleashes chaos by triggering a wave of lethal havoc whenever it beats its drums. Our task is to find a means to destroy this troublesome toy before more lives are claimed.

As a devoted film enthusiast, I’ve had the privilege to witness Osgood Perkins’ latest offering, “The Monkey,” following his chilling masterpiece, “Longlegs” from 2024. While “Longlegs” left audiences shivering in their seats with its spine-tingling horror, “The Monkey” seems poised to make a distinct impression.

Neon, the company instrumental in making Longlegs an epic summer 2024 blockbuster, has secured distribution rights for The Monkey, marking their first Stephen King adaptation. This highly anticipated film is slated to hit cinemas nationwide on February 21, 2025, one of the year’s most eagerly awaited big-screen events. Expect plenty more coverage of this movie right here on TopMob in the upcoming weeks, including previews, exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpses, and much more.

A New Limited Edition Steelbook For The Shining Is Now Available For Pre-Order

If you share my passion for accumulating physical media, you might also value Steelbooks. These often showcase striking, one-of-a-kind designs, and they generally elevate the aesthetic appeal of your collection compared to the standard 4K UHDs and Blu-rays with their plain black or blue cases. However, it’s important to note that when a Steelbook is no longer in production, they can become costly collectibles, which means there’s always a hint of “fear of missing out” (FOMO) associated with new releases.

I wanted to let you know that a fresh Steelbook version of The Shining will be arriving in early 2025, and you can already reserve your copy by pre-ordering it today.

There have been several editions of “The Shining” Steelbooks in the past, but if you’re looking for one now, you can pre-order an exclusive special edition version that won’t be shipped until February next year. Walmart has listed this unique edition of the iconic Stanley Kubrick horror film, which comes with both 4K UHD and Blu-ray versions of the movie as well as a digital code. Additionally, it boasts some eye-catching artwork.

In the picture before you, the case predominantly showcases a strong, red hue, similar to the restroom in The Gold Room Hotel’s Overlook from “The Shining,” where Jack Torrance converses with Delbert Grady. Moreover, the front of the case sports an imitation fireman’s axe, much like the one Jack uses during the movie’s climax. Inside, there’s a fear-stricken depiction of Shelley Duvall as Wendy Torrance, who recoils in terror upon witnessing her husband attempt to smash through a door with the intent of harming her and their child.

On Walmart’s site, there’s no clear indication about the quantity of the Steelbook edition of “The Shining.” Once the exclusive offer ends, it won’t be available again. If you’re keen on owning this unique Stephen King release for your ultimate collection, it would be wise to place an order promptly.

We’ve reached the conclusion of this week’s The King Beat, but I still have more to share in 2024! Although the year is wrapping up, you can expect a fresh installment of this column right here on TopMob next Thursday. It will cover all the major news from Stephen King’s realm. For now, if you’re eager for additional insights, delve into the extensive film and television history of King’s tales through my series Adapting Stephen King.

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2024-12-19 20:07