PopHorror Let's Get Scared
There is perhaps no writer in horror history that is more synonymous with the genre than Mr. Stephen King. Not only does King have the distinction of being the most accomplished and prolific penman in the category of all things creepy, but his work has taken over the movie side of the genre for decades as well. King On Screen is a documentary that delves into many of King’s adaptations but also speaks in-depth with a lot of the people behind the films. The former Richard Bachman has had over 80 of his stories and novels adapted for television and film, and King On Screen is the most comprehensive place to learn about them.
King On Screen is directed by Daphne Baiwir (The Rebellious Olivia de Havilland 2021), and right away, you get the sense that she compiles this documentary with affection for King’s work. We open with an intro of a young lady who’s looking to give a painting to the master of a shop. Viewers will notice that the town she’s driving through offers tons of fan service and easter eggs, with nods to a bunch of King trademarks. This sleekly shot preamble quickly evolves into a game of “find the item” for hardcore genre fans.
Once we get into the main format of King On Screen, we see some talking heads that make up a who’s who of horror legends. Among the educated interviewees are Frank Darabont (The Green Mile 1999), Tom Holland (Child’s Play 1988), and Mick Garris (The Stand 1994). Not only are these icons great choices because of their relationships to King himself, but also for their knowledge about what makes his work so intricate and terrifying. As we see dozens of clips of these genre-defining adaptations on screen, they take the time to talk about the movies and themes that stuck out in King’s career.
There are comments made about how his shared universe of Dairy, Maine was so petrifying because small towns are relatable and can hold the most shocking secrets. They mention how King’s writing has a bit of a hold over children, and how it drew in some of the most iconic creators that we know today. We hear some things about how Carrie and Dolores Claiborne were ahead of their time from a feminist perspective, and they even delve into why King hated the approach that Stanley Kubrick took in his adaptation of The Shining.
Speaking of The Shining, we find out that some of the crew from that movie also worked on a later King adaptation, 1408. They even used the same axe in the climax of that film that Jack Torrance used in The Shining (read our retro review here). But then King On Screen dives into what King thought could’ve been his biggest career risk, writing The Green Mile. Luckily, King was able to recover from being hit by a car to come and see the film version of that book series succeed on the big screen.
We hear about the many ways that King predicted the future, and stayed ahead of the curve on government, political, and religious issues in his novels, making him even more of a trailblazer. When asked about his opinions of what other directors had done to his books by adapting them for the screen, King was quoted as saying “Look at my bookshelf. My books are all there. They haven’t done anything to them.” So whether you love or hate the way that your favorite King book has been morphed into a movie, you can rest easily knowing that the book you love will live on forever, much like King’s legacy.
We finish off with the character from the beginning, heading out of the shop into certain doom, just like King would’ve written it himself. King On Screen is the most balanced and comprehensive documentary for Stephen King movies out there. It easily could’ve run for six hours, but the hour and forty-five-minute runtime provides a ton of great stories, first-hand accounts, and a genuine look at why King is considered second to none in his field. It’s truly handled with heart and care and is a must-see for any King fan.
King On Screen hits select theaters on August 11th and is available on Blu-ray and on-demand on September 8th.
