With Hallowe'en just around the corner, we're enjoying the spooky festivities by getting stuck into some horror classics. Unfortunately, rediscovering some gems means stumbling across some absolutely terrible creations. Stephen King is one of the greatest horror writers who ever lived, but some of his film adaptations leave a lot to be desired.
Children of the Corn / Photo Credit: New World Pictures
1. Children of the Corn (1984)
As much as John Franklin made for a creepy AF villain in his character of Isaac, the entire movie was a total mess. It had none of the neatness of the original short story, and instead had a confused, rather watered down ending. That's not to mention the cringeworthy acting, and the terrible special effects that were ridiculous even for the early 80s.
2. Pet Sematary (1989)
While the story doesn't massively deviate from the novel, it feels as if it's based on the general synopsis without any of the (albeit few) intricacies. It lacks depth and, more importantly, a scare factor of any description. Still, I'll never not enjoy an onscreen cameo from the author himself.
3. The Lawnmower Man (1992)
Probably one of the most WTF movies ever made, The Lawnmower Man is not a strict adaptation of the original short story, but a sci-fi thriller with some elements from it. Stephen King has always been generally very supportive of film and TV adaptations of his work, but he actually sued the makers of this film when they tried to call it Stephen King's The Lawnmower Man. We wouldn't be happy to have our name on this movie either.
4. Thinner (1996)
There's something so Twilight Zone about this particular movie, but without the moral ending. You think it's going to be about a lawyer who gets his comeuppance, but that concept gets lost in a whirlwind of gypsy magic and confused themes. Plus, the ending is both predictable and pointless - that's if you manage to get that far into the movie.
5. Firestarter (1984)
We love Drew Barrymore and we are so glad that this is not the film she is most associated with. While the special effects are surprisingly decent, the lack of plot direction, 2D characters and tediously light ending lets it down immensely. No-one can enjoy a movie when the main character is impossible to invest in, but Barrymore did her best with what she was given.
6. Secret Window (2004)
A writer with dissociative identity disorder goes on a murder spree after his latest work. It's a great concept, and Johnny Depp's a great actor, but it's just not as thrilling and unpredictable as it could've been. If it had starred anyone else but Johnny Depp, the film wouldn't even be entertaining. Although, the ending is arguably better than that of the novel.
7. Cujo (1983)
It's far from the worst horror movie in the world, but it's one of those that feels like it's going on forever which is quite the feat for a film that's only 90 minutes long. Plus, as much as the idea of being trapped in a hot car with a rapid dog prowling around outside is terrifying, you can't help but feel a little sorry for the pooch.
Tagged in Stephen King Halloween