My Summer Lair Chapter #258: Which Horror Movie Did You See As Kid That You Were Way Too Young To See?
Almost 70 novels later; Stephen King is still following his mother’s powerful inspiration: “Write one of your own, Stevie.”
As Constant Readers we’re grateful to his mother for that Firestarter spark. That tender motherly spark ignited an eternal flame of pop culture. More than just books Stephen King’s work has created a Loser’s Club of directors who’ve adapted his work. From Kurbrick’s Shining to Flangan’s Doctor Sleep to Darabont’s Shawshank Redemption.
To Carrie on that tradition is King On Screen, a documentary directed by Daphné Baiwir. In King on Screen she talks to many of the directors who’ve adapted King’s stories asking them to push back the Mist on their creative process and to share how they successfully crafted their Creepshows.
Stephen King is the most adapted writer and as if these works were buried in a Pet Sematary there’s multiple versions of many stories. You know how IT goes: Sometimes They Come Back, right?
In King On Screen you’ll hear from Taylor Hackford who directed Dolores Claiborne. Tom Holland got us Thinner, after Tod Williams told us to hang up our Cell phones. All while we slowly walked The Green Mile with Frank Darabont. Plus many more directors and adaptations.
King on Screen is a fascinating documentary because as much as Stephen King has thrilled us and frightened us, these adaptations empower King’s imagination with a distinct visual language.
If you watched Tim Curry’s IT in the 90s you know exactly what I mean. There’s an obvious reason why most of my generation is frightened of clowns.
As you’ll hear in my conversation with director Daphné Baiwir King on Screen is made by Stephen King fans for Stephen King fans.
Shall we explore The Dark Half of making a Stephen King adaptation?
The horror documentary King On Screen is playing in theaters since August 11th and available On Demand and Blu-Ray on September 8th.
It’s also playing in Toronto at Hot Docs Cinema.
King On Screen @ W • T • F
Host Sammy Younan
Recorded: Tuesday August 8, 2023 at 6:30 pm
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