‘Needful Things’ (1993): You Might Need This Underrated Flick

Needful Things is a 1993 American horror film directed by Fraser C. Heston (the son of Charlton Heston) and based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King (screenplay by W. D. Richter). The film is set in the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine, a common setting for many of Stephen King’s works, and combines elements of horror, supernatural, and drama. The story revolves around a mysterious and enigmatic shopkeeper named Leland Gaunt, portrayed by Max von Sydow, who opens a store called “Needful Things” in Castle Rock.

The store sells various items that fulfill people’s deepest desires and wishes. However, the catch is that these seemingly innocent items come at a great cost, not so much monetarily but morally. Gaunt manipulates the townspeople into performing harmful and destructive deeds in exchange for these items, as if people were purpose-bred to be manipulated for Gaunt’s own enjoyment.

[FAIR WARNING: Like many trailers, this might give away more details than necessary or desirable…]

As the townspeople become increasingly obsessed with their desires and the objects they acquire from Gaunt’s store, the town begins to descend into chaos and violence. The story follows the interwoven lives of several characters as they are lured into Gaunt’s web of manipulation, leading to a series of escalating conflicts and confrontations.

Themes of Needful Things and a Needlessly Mixed Reception

The film explores themes of greed, temptation, and the darker aspects of human nature. It showcases how people’s desires and vulnerabilities can be exploited for sinister purposes, ultimately leading to their downfall. Needful Things received mixed reviews from both critics and audiences (admittedly, there is one scene definitely not recommended for animal lovers – personally, I have always felt like if you want to see villainy in a story, expect villains to sometimes do truly villainous things).

Some praised the performances and the eerie atmosphere created by the film, while others found fault in its pacing and adaptation of the source material. In my view, it is one of the best Stephen King adaptations ever made.

As with many film adaptations of Stephen King’s work, opinions on the film’s quality vary widely. Needful Things is known for its exploration of psychological horror and its portrayal of the destructive consequences of unchecked desires. In fact, I think this movie should be at least as respected as the more frequently referenced American Psycho (I don’t hate that film, but my point remains). This film also has some underrated performances, in my view. On that note…

Stars of Needful Things

The film also stars Ed Harris as a goody-two-shoes cop named Alan Pangborn, J. T. Walsh as the hugely memorable Danforth “Buster” Keeton III, Valri Bromfield as the crazed turkey farmer Wilma Jerzyck (sort of like Friday the 13th: A New Beginning‘s “Ethel Hubbard” of this movie), Amanda Plummer as neurotic Nettie Cobb, and Bonnie Bedelia as not-John McClain’s-wife, but soon-to-be-Pangborn’s wife, Polly Chalmers.

If you’re a fan of Stephen King’s stories or enjoy horror films with a focus on human psychology, Needful Things might be worth checking out!