News

Stephen King Film Adaptations; The Worst There Is

Published

7 years ago

August 8, 2017

With the release of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower upon us, hardcore King fans aren’t quite sure if the movie will do the books justice. However, it isn’t the first time a movie based on King’s work has been off the mark as far as the source material is concerned. Several of King’s movies based on his work have missed the mark entirely. Here is a look at some of the movies that failed to live up to reader expectations.

Pet Semetary(1989)

I’m not going to say that this was a bad movie overall. However, when placed next to its source material, the movie just failed to live up to its expectations. The book Pet Sematary was, perhaps, one of King’s best. It’s use of death, pain, and loss elevates this book to mean much more to the reader than some hokey zombie read. The thought that perhaps death wasn’t the worst thing was something that resonated with the reader long after the book was placed down. The movie, however, was a watered down to a hokey zombie flick that involves Church the cat and Gage the son. Now, I know that it’s hard to convey feeling and emotion in a movie the same way that it’s portrayed in the book. Yet in the case of Pet Sematary it was like they didn’t even try. The movie Pet Sematary came across to the reader more as a cheesy coming attraction trailer than it did a movie of substance, fright, and emotion.

Image result for Pet Sematary

The Shining (1980)

What Stephen King book/movie comparison be complete without Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining? This movie was so off the source material that King himself doesn’t like it to this day. It even called need for a mini series that was closer to the material. Despite the many conspiracy theories that surround this movie, and despite Nicholson’s iconic catch phrase and lunatic ranting, the movie just missed the point of the book entirely. The switch of Danny’s imaginary friend going from being invisible in the book to being his finger in the movie just comes off as goofy instead of creepy. In addition, in the movie Jack’s affection for his son just does not come across as well as it does in the movie. There is a also a heavy overtone of addiction in the book that doesn’t carry over into the film. When comparing the content to the source material, Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining just does not come close.

Image result for stanley kubrick's the shining pic

The Lawnmower Man (1992)

Perhaps, the worst adaptation on the list. This adaptation was so bad that Stephen King sued the filmmakers to remove his name from the film, eventually winning $2.5 million. Aside from a single scene, this movie was completely different than the story. However, it will be known as one of the first films to discuss virtual reality. Although the movie as itself is not horrible, it is a poor adaptation of the Stephen King novel. In a unique turn of events, the film is currently being remade for VR.

The Dark Half (1993)

Perhaps one of the most underrated stories of King became a terrible film adaptation in 1993. With so many character changes from page to screen it was difficult to recognize any of the folks you came to know in the book. Directed by the almighty George Romero this film had the potential to be one of King’s defining moments. However, with a plot that didn’t really seem to go anywhere, poor acting, and characters that resembled little of their source material this film came off as clunky, slow, and well…boring.

Cell (2016)

As a book Cell was a fantastic read! it truly captured the reader’s attention and refused to let go. Based off of a very scary concept that perhaps our cell phones aren’t as harmless as they seem, this film just failed to capture anything right from the book. What could have been a blood filled zombie like film dragged on from the moment it started. The other terrible part of this movie from a reader’s perspective is that they changed the ending! I won’t reveal what that ending is for the benefit of those who haven’t seen nor read the book. With an amazing cast (John Cuzak, Samuel Jackson) this film simply did not deliver. As the Lawnmower Man did not follow the King story purposely, this makes this movie perhaps the worst film adaptation on the list!

With this year being the year of King it is interesting to see how many adaptations, reworkings, and various versions of his work are coming to either the big or small screen, and it’s intriguing to see how they will hold up to the books. What do you think of the list? What other adaptations do you feel did not live up to the novel? Leave your comments bellow!

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Editorial

Yay or Nay: What’s Good and Bad in Horror This Week

Published

22 mins ago

May 4, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Welcome to Yay or Nay a weekly mini post about what I think is good and bad news in the horror community written in bite-sized chunks.

Yay:

Mike Flanagan talking about directing the next chapter in the Exorcist trilogy. That might mean he saw the last one and realized there were two left and if he does anything well it’s draw out a story.

Yay:

To the announcement of a new IP-based film Mickey Vs Winnie. It’s fun to read comical hot takes from people who haven’t even seen the movie yet.

Nay:

The new Faces of Death reboot gets an R rating. It’s not really fair — Gen-Z should get an unrated version like past generations so they can question their mortality the same as the rest of us did.

Yay:

Russell Crowe is doing another possession movie. He’s quickly becoming another Nic Cage by saying yes to every script, bringing the magic back to B-movies, and more money into VOD.

Nay:

Putting The Crow back in theaters for its 30th anniversary. Re-releasing classic movies at the cinema to celebrate a milestone is perfectly fine, but doing so when the lead actor in that film was killed on set due to neglect is a cash grab of the worst kind.

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Lists

The Top-Searched Free Horror/Action Movies on Tubi This Week

Published

17 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The free streaming service Tubi is a great place to scroll when you’re unsure what to watch. They are not sponsored or affiliated with iHorror. Still, we really appreciate their library because it’s so robust and has many obscure horror movies so rare you can’t find them anywhere in the wild except, if you’re lucky, in a moist cardboard box at a yard sale. Other than Tubi, where else are you going to find Nightwish (1990), Spookies (1986), or The Power (1984)?

We take a look at the most searched horror titles on the platform this week, hopefully, to save you some time in your endeavor to find something free to watch on Tubi.

Interestingly at the top of the list is one of the most polarizing sequels ever made, the female-led Ghostbusters reboot from 2016. Perhaps viewers have seen the latest sequel Frozen Empire and are curious about this franchise anomaly. They will be happy to know it’s not as bad as some think and is genuinely funny in spots.

So take a look at the list below and tell us if you are interested in any of them this weekend.

1. Ghostbusters (2016)

Ghostbusters (2016)

An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.

2. Rampage

When a group of animals becomes vicious after a genetic experiment goes awry, a primatologist must find an antidote to avert a global catastrophe.

3. The Conjuring The Devil Made Me Do It

Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren uncover an occult conspiracy as they help a defendant argue that a demon forced him to commit murder.

4. Terrifier 2

After being resurrected by a sinister entity, Art the Clown returns to Miles County, where his next victims, a teenage girl and her brother, await.

5. Don’t Breathe

A group of teens breaks into a blind man’s home, thinking they’ll get away with the perfect crime but get more than they bargained for once inside.

6. The Conjuring 2

In one of their most terrifying paranormal investigations, Lorraine and Ed Warren help a single mother of four in a house plagued by sinister spirits.

7. Child’s Play (1988)

A dying serial killer uses voodoo to transfer his soul into a Chucky doll which winds up in the hands of a boy who may be the doll’s next victim.

8. Jeepers Creepers 2

When their bus breaks down on a deserted road, a team of high school athletes discovers an opponent they cannot defeat and may not survive.

9. Jeepers Creepers

After making a horrific discovery in the basement of an old church, a pair of siblings find themselves the chosen prey of an indestructible force.

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News

Morticia & Wednesday Addams Join Monster High Skullector Series

Published

20 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Believe it or not, Mattel’s Monster High doll brand has an immense following with both young and not-so-young collectors.

In that same vein, the fan base for The Addams Family is also very large. Now, the two are collaborating to create a line of collectible dolls that celebrate both worlds and what they have created is a combination of fashion dolls and goth fantasy. Forget Barbie, these ladies know who they are.

The dolls are based on Morticia and Wednesday Addams from the 2019 Addams Family animated movie.

As with any niche collectibles these aren’t cheap they bring with them a $90 price tag, but it’s an investment as a lot of these toys become more valuable over time.

“There goes the neighborhood. Meet the Addams Family’s ghoulishly glamorous mother-daughter duo with a Monster High twist. Inspired by the animated movie and clad in spiderweb lace and skull prints, the Morticia and Wednesday Addams Skullector doll two-pack makes for a gift that’s so macabre, it’s downright pathological.”

If you want to pre-purchase this set check out The Monster High website.