Stephen King’s ‘1922’ – Did Netflix Do It Again?

Stephen King’s 1922 is the latest of his adaptations to be tackled by Netflix. I had to sit with this one for a while before starting with this review. On one hand, 1922 is a slow burn that almost seems as if it comes to a halt at parts. On the other hand, I can’t see how this story would work without it being a slow-moving machine. The cast of this disturbing account includes Thomas Jane, Molly Parker, and Dylan Schmid. They play the main family that this film is set around.

The film is told through a confession letter being written by Wilfred James (Thomas Jane). You see, Wilfred is responsible for killing his wife (Molly Parker) with his son’s assistance (Dylan Schmid). You read that correctly. This film, while slow-paced, is probably one of the more disturbing films I have seen of King’s work. This is not a spoiler, so calm down, this is announced in the preview. Even knowing what was going to happen can’t prepare you for the brutal murder that is committed in this film.

I want to take you on a journey through what works in 1922 and what doesn’t. Before I go forward, I want to assure you that nothing you will read will give away key plot points. It might seem like it with certain information, but that is not the case. Now, let’s examine what this film does right.

What Works

The acting is amazing in this chilling account of murder, guilt, and death. Thomas Jane really stepped up his acting chops to bring us a believable portrayal of a man who has reached his limit. What limit is that, exactly? Well, his wife wants to sell the farm and move to the city. Wilfred does not want any part of that. He hates city life and city people. She does not care and will not be moved as it is her father’s land and therefore her decision. This is where his acting is elevated. We watch as he quickly, but subtly, manipulates their son into believing the only way to prevent her plan from happening is to kill her. Soon after, they learn that covering up the crime is the easy part. Living with it, on the other hand, is a whole other monster.

 

I really loved that the story didn’t let Wilfred or Henry get off scott free. Without giving away spoilers, the father and son duo do not live happily ever after. Initially, everything seems to look up. However, down the line karma has a way of catching up to people. These two deserve absolutely everything that happens to them and it is impossible to feel bad for them, even once. We are talking about a son that killed his mother, for literally no reason. We also have a husband that killed his wife because he was selfish. No matter how you tweak those two narratives, it just screams as irrevocably wrong.

The atmosphere in 1922 is full of dread and lost hope. Between the cinematography to the choice of music, you’re never able to feel comfortable. You will sit on the edge of your seat praying that the inevitable won’t happen. Then, you will spend the rest of the film bouncing between disgust, sadness, and ultimately disbelief. These are tough times for the people in this film. Are they hard enough to excuse such evil behavior?

What Doesn’t Work

Other than the father not wanting to sell the land, the motive is nonexistent. I had a really tough time believing that it was so easy for Wilfred to convince his son to help murder his mother. Who cares if they had to move? She said some unbecoming things about her son’s crush and smacked him across the face for being disrespectful, and suddenly I’m supposed to believe that is enough for a son to want his mother dead? How did he justify that crime? I feel like there should have been some substantial event that justified the actions of the characters. The motive we got was just too weak for me to believe.

 

Remember when I said that it was a slow burn? Well, towards the end of the film’s hour and forty-two-minute run-time you start to feel it. I feel like they could have shaved off at least twenty minutes and it would have improved the effectiveness. I enjoyed 1922 but still found myself asking if it was over yet during the final stretch. That’s usually not a good sign. Be that as it may, I still hung on to find out what would happen.

Final Thoughts

If given a star system, 1922 would receive 4/5 stars from me. It was an effective story about the desperation people feel and what they are capable of doing when they feel they have no way out. After the heinous crime is committed, the film’s narrative is the moral compass that the audience needs. The only reason I can’t give it a perfect score is due to the long-winded nature of the film. After a while, it starts feeling indulgent and exhausting. Available on Netflix, you can catch 1922 in the comfort of your own home.