BLOGS
Stephen King is not only one of the most prolific, best-selling and -- in this writer's opinion -- most talented authors of our time, he's probably the author who's had the most movies based on his work, right up there with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and whoever writes all of the books those Lifetime movies are based on. Beginning with Carrie in 1976, nearly all of King's books, novellas and short stories have been adapted for the screen or for TV miniseries, and now we've received word that one of his earlier adaptations, the franchise-spawning horror film Children of the Corn, will be re-made. And that got us thinking -- as great a writer as King is, a lot of the movies based on his work are terrible, or at the very least wildly inaccurate. King doesn't seem to mind the latter ones, but we certainly do. Here are a selection of King films, good and bad, that need do-overs.
Maximum Overdrive (1986)
Before Michael Bay's Transformers (or even the 1984 cartoon), intelligent cars were the subject of terror in two totally separate Stephen King stories, the first being Trucks, about people holed up at a roadside diner when all of the electronic devices on Earth (including cars and trucks) become self-aware. Unfortunately, the re-titled movie was directed by King himself (a mistake) and it's hard to take it too seriously, partially because the evil leader of the big-rigs has a giant, three-dimensional Green Goblin head on its grille. Maybe they thought audiences couldn't be afraid of something unless it had a face, maybe they just wanted to differentiate it from the other trucks, but it still looks ridiculous.
Christine (1983)
King's other intelligent-car horror story, Christine, was actually made into an amazingly awesome, not particularly dated movie, and there is absolutely no need to remake it. However, given the way the movie ends, a sequel would make a lot of sense, and as long as it takes place much later and with all-new characters, the producers can call it whatever they want, as long as the old-school fans get to call it Christine 2.
Cujo (1983)
There's nothing like a large, vicious dog to make most people freeze in their tracks and pee their pants, and "Cujo" has become interchangeable with "vicious dog coming to get me," so why not make a new version with an all-grown-up Danny Pintauro from Who's the Boss? The original Cujo was a Saint Bernard, but with CGI as advanced as it is, a computer-generated dog based on various breeds and designed for maximum size and ferocity might be the way to go.
The Running Man (1987)
Don't get me wrong: I love the movie The Running Man. Its story of a futuristic game show where Arnold Schwarzenegger is attacked by costumed Hunters takes my love of American Gladiators and my love of hunting people for sport and makes a delicious bouillabaisse. However, I would love to see a modernized, less-cheesy version of it, with top-notch effects. The Hunters could be more like super-heroes and super-villains, rather than hockey players and professional wrestlers. Another way to go is to take the tack of the original book, in which the main character is basically branded a terrorist and set loose in the world, where he has to pretty much commit terrorist acts to evade capture by the police and the less-cartoony Hunters. The book's ending, in particular, was scarily prescient for 1982, and would be an incredibly controversial move for the filmmakers.
The Lawnmower Man (1992)
Blame New Line Cinema for this one, because they took the name of a bizarre Stephen King short story about a landscaper who may be one of the old gods and used it on another script they had about cyberspace. I have nothing against cyberspace -- it looks like a lot of fun, especially if you're Jeff Fahey -- but given the utterly superficial relationship between the film's title and its subject matter, I'd like to see someone take a crack at turning the original short story into a feature-length film. The imagery of a fat, naked guy eating grass and small animals as he controls lawnmowers and other yard equipment with his mind is a vivid one, and could make for a horrifically gory movie, somewhere between Leprechaun and Pan's Labyrinth.
What King-penned movies would you like to see re-made?
Sponsored Links
34 Comments
Add a comment
MOST RECENT POSTS
Girls: The Good, the Bad and the Funny
Monday, May 21, 2012: House
Sunday, May 20, 2012: The Apprentice
Today's TWoP News: Friday, May 18, 2012
USA Network Upfront 2012: Characters, Extremely Defined Jawlines Still Welcome
The Most Heinous Person on Reality TV This Week
Community: School's Out For Summer
TWoP 10: Most Promising New Shows of the 2012-2013 Season
BLOG ARCHIVES
The Moviefile
May 2012
14 Entries
April 2012
22 Entries
March 2012
26 Entries
February 2012
24 Entries
January 2012
25 Entries
December 2011
27 Entries
November 2011
22 Entries
October 2011
22 Entries
September 2011
29 Entries
August 2011
27 Entries
July 2011
30 Entries
June 2011
25 Entries
May 2011
13 Entries
April 2011
23 Entries
March 2011
22 Entries
February 2011
33 Entries
January 2011
39 Entries
December 2010
21 Entries
November 2010
29 Entries
October 2010
23 Entries
September 2010
25 Entries
August 2010
26 Entries
July 2010
29 Entries
June 2010
36 Entries
May 2010
22 Entries
April 2010
26 Entries
March 2010
30 Entries
February 2010
19 Entries
January 2010
19 Entries
December 2009
15 Entries
November 2009
21 Entries
October 2009
27 Entries
September 2009
30 Entries
August 2009
28 Entries
July 2009
34 Entries
June 2009
27 Entries
May 2009
24 Entries
April 2009
23 Entries
March 2009
18 Entries
February 2009
30 Entries
January 2009
56 Entries
December 2008
51 Entries
November 2008
61 Entries
October 2008
102 Entries
September 2008
86 Entries
August 2008
99 Entries
July 2008
116 Entries
June 2008
95 Entries
May 2008
86 Entries
April 2008
67 Entries
March 2008
14 Entries
Television Without Pity • © 2012 Bravo Media LLC • A Division of NBCUniversal •
I hated the movie version of "The Running Man." The book was so much better than what ended up on the screen. I'd make that story, not the cheesetastic version we saw.
"Maximum Overdrive" is actually funny because it is so cheesy. So I wouldn't care if they remade it, but if they did, keep the AC/DC soundtrack.
King's shorter stuff tends to make the best movies.
I know it was like a 15 hour movie, but I would really love a less cheesy and much shorter version of The Stand.
Running Man would be a spectacular movie with today's effects, but my #1 pick would be IT. They bitchered the book the first time around, I'd ove to my favorite (and first) King book done right.
"The original Cujo was a Saint Bernard, but with CGI as advanced as it is, a computer-generated dog based on various breeds and designed for maximum size and ferocity might be the way to go."
It was already made, it was called Man's Best Friend, and it sucked.
I've always wanted to see a film version of "The Long Walk". But I wouldn't mind seeing a better version of IT.
I'd like to see The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. I'd also like a tighter version of The Stand, but not sure it'd be fair to the story.
A version of "The Running Man" that stuck true to the content of the novella would be amazing (if done properly).
Despite hating the book, I think "Gerald's Game" could make an effective movie.
And while the TV movie version of "It" had Tim Curry going for it, that's about all I can say was good about it. I'm in favor of a remake of that.
Oh, and a few years back, I think they made another movie (made-for-TV, maybe?) based on "Trucks". I believe it was even titled "Trucks", and I think while it kept to the original content moreso than Maximum Overdrive, it still was a pretty horrible movie.
Can't agree with you that Stephen King is a talented writer. I read Christine and saw The Shining, ever since I've stayed away from anything with his name. All bad!
I was all ready to call "Blasphemy!!!" at the idea of a Christine remake, as I frickin' LOVE that movie, but you didn't recommend that, so it's cool. A sequel might be okay, with the right director (which, of course, would not happen).
I'm not sure this qualifies as a "remake", but I also happen to think that King really shines in his short stories, and he had one in his collection for 1408 about a boy who meets the devil...really creepy stuff. Not a lot of gore, but some great meaty parts there for the right actors.
Also-I was sorely disappointed by "Apt Pupil". I'm not sure what could be done film wise to fix that, because the story was so weird and creepy to begin with.
Definitely a remake of Cujo. Not because the original is so dated but because (SPOILER ALERT!) the little boy dies in the book. And doesn't die in the movie. It was just such a cop-out, such a typical Hollywood "happy ending" thing to do. The book's ending made me cry like a baby. The movie's ending made me throw my shoe at the screen.
I'd also like to see a remake of It, or screen versions of The Talisman (imagine the flying people scene! Or Wolf! Or that cracked-out preacher running the reform school!) or The Long Walk. I'm afraid that Long Walk might be a bit too internal to make a good movie though, since most of the horror is in the main character's head, and it would be difficult to show on-screen.
Speaking of Cujo...
Right now, there's a film being shot in California with the working title, Bear.
4 people. One car. One ginormous, vicious bear... and the animatronics are beng done by the man who did Gremlins.
As I understand it, S. King has always had creative control of his film adaptations. IMHO, he should stick to writing and let filmmakers do their thing.
Not a remake but I am super psyched for The Dark Tower film adaptation (apparently in the works or will be in the works by the LOST creative team).
No way it can live up to the books but still fun to see them try.
The Long Walk definitely. I have always thought this. Also, I agree with Leona on the story about the boy who meets the devil.
I could really keep going but I will not. Lots of his shorter stories could be made in to awesome movies.
"Also, I agree with Leona on the story about the boy who meets the devil."
The story was "The Man in the Black Suit."
Oh yeah, i actually forgot, they did make a movie of it.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0404220/
Did anyone see the made-for-TV remake of 'Carrie'? With and ending set up for a TV series that, THANKFULLY, never happened?
The rain of stones was awesome but that was about all it had going for it.
'Carrie' is also one of Mr King's best books!
i love CHRISTINE. please don't make a remake of that movie. sequel on the other hand... maybe it's fine.
Thank you Jeremy! For the life of me I could not remember the name of that story. I never knew that they made a movie of it though!
King doesn't usually excersise creative control of film projects. He has control of whether something is liscensed or not, but with most of his stuff he's happy to see someone try and make a movie of it and leaves the details to them.
I love the Running Man movie, it's just so awesomly cheesy 80s. But a version closer to the book would be amazing.
Has anyone read Cell? That would make an excellent zombie movie in the hands of someone like Danny Boyle.
Ooh Cell would really make a good zombie movie, you're right.
Also, if a sequel to Christine was made what's your thoughts on OnStar being involved in that? Yes/No?
They should film Gerald's Game with Kathy Bates and James Caan. That would just be all kinds of freaking awesome.
There was supposed to be a film version of Cell being made, with Eli Roth directing. However, the last I heard he'd dropped out of the project.
Um...It anyone? Pennywise is one of the creepiest villians ever. Tim Curry was awesome... but it was made-for-tv. While some of the sfx gave me the creeps, I think a big screen remake might be cool.
If anyone dares to suggest they remake 'Stand By Me' i'm definitely going to get very pissed off considering its cinematic brilliance. The only Stephen King remake I would like would be It, the original was nowhere near as good as the book!
IT, most definately. That TV abomination set the standard for every prose masterpiece turned into incredible crap.
I don't know how they could make IT without making it into a miniseries or like, 4 movies. The book is huge and amazing and I would be upset if they left out a few of the side stories - Eddie's troubles with his mom, Henry Bowers and his growing crazy, the fire at the Black Spot - almost every word of that book is essential to the overall story IMHO.
The langoliers could use a remake more than any other stephen king movie I think. The story has potential and the special FX are horrible(Not that special FX are THAT important but even at the time it was made the special FX looked horrible).
Plus if you ever want to see an example of over-acting make sure to check out the langoliers.
I agree about a remake of The Langoliers. It's a pretty cool story (well, a cool setup - I'm not crazy about what it turns into, but oh well), and I think in the hands of the right director it could be turned into a pretty tense film.
I would love to see a decent, *accurate* version of both The Shining & The Stand. The versions that have been made to date are awful. When the first version of "The Shining" came out (w/Jack Nicholson) I was so disappointed I sent a letter to Steven King asking him to please take more creative control over his movies if possible, & he actually wrote back & agreed w/me that the movie was awful.
Rica,
The made for TV version of "The Shining" with (I think) Tim Daly was actually pretty good. Much truer to the novel than the Nicholson version.
I would love to see a movie version of "The Dead Zone." The TV series was not good.
I've read just bout all his books and I'm kinda tired of them. Lately he tends seems to like killing off kids as his big shocker, and I think it is cheap. The Mist is a great example. That was a bullshit cop out ending. The original story ended with them continuing on through the mist looking for a way out. You never knew what happened to them. That movie ending pretty much ruined SK for me for good. Plus he has always had problems putting his endings together. 9 times out of 10 they suck. Dark Tower anyone?
Kate, the movie with Tim Daly was Storm of the Century. The Shining was remade with Steven Webber and Rebecca DeMornay and the kid from Pushing Daisies. It's actually pretty good, creepyish - sticks more to the book than Kubrick's "version".
I'd love to see Desperation remade. It came on...er, I think it was Sci-Fi that aired it. Pretty sure is wasn't a network original, but it might as well have been. I finished the book a few weeks before watching the first half hour and giving up.
And I can't remember the name of the short story of featuring an evil symbol-clapping monkey, but there's not much else out there creepier than those things. It wouldn't be a remake, but it would make a great short film (DVD extra for another fab remake?).
Also: Cell? You guys are right, that would be amazing.