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Stephen King, often hailed as the master of horror, has had an indelible impact on the genre. Even if he isn’t your top choice among current horror writers, there’s no denying his influence on your preferred author. His influence has been significant since he published his first novel, “Carrie,” in 1974, which was quickly followed by a renowned film adaptation by Brian De Palma in 1976.
However, King’s storytelling prowess extends beyond pure horror. His works such as “Stand By Me,” “Dolores Claiborne,” and “The Shawshank Redemption” are more character-focused dramas than outright horror tales, despite their unsettling moments. These narratives provide complex depictions of human nature and our flaws, rivaling those in his horror stories. For instance, “Mr. Harrigan’s Phone,” one of the many King stories adapted into Netflix movies, could easily be a compelling coming-of-age drama about an unusual friendship, even without its supernatural elements.
King himself seems to value these character-driven narratives as much as his more straightforward horror stories. In a 2016 interview with Deadline, he named two such films as his favorite adaptations of his work, both of which also made his personal list of the top seven Stephen King movies.
The Shawshank Redemption
Columbia Pictures
Frank Darabont began his career in the 80s, penning horror films like “A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors” and “The Blob.” He made his directorial debut with a short film adaptation of King’s “The Woman in the Room” in 1983 as part of King’s “Dollar Baby” program, which allowed aspiring filmmakers to adapt his work for just a dollar. This program was discontinued in 2023. Given this background, it’s no surprise that Darabont has a knack for translating King’s work to the silver screen. What’s truly impressive is the range of King’s stories that Darabont has successfully adapted into acclaimed films, from emotional prison dramas like “The Shawshank Redemption” and “The Green Mile” to the grim monster movie “The Mist.”
“The Shawshank Redemption,” based on King’s novella “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption,” is widely considered the best of Darabont’s King adaptations. Despite its initial box office failure in 1994, overshadowed by the likes of “Forrest Gump” and “Pulp Fiction,” “Shawshank” has stood the test of time. The film, which portrays the enduring friendship between inmates Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) and Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding (Morgan Freeman), is reminiscent of “It’s a Wonderful Life” in its willingness to explore dark themes, lending authenticity to its uplifting and heartwarming moments.
“I love ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ and I’ve always enjoyed working with Frank,” King told Deadline. “He’s a sweet guy, Frank Darabont.”
Stand By Me
Columbia Pictures
Rob Reiner was at the peak of his directing career in the 80s, with a string of hits including “This Is Spinal Tap,” “Stand By Me,” “The Princess Bride,” and “When Harry Met Sally…” within just five years. He continued this success into the 90s with “Misery,” another celebrated Stephen King adaptation, which earned Kathy Bates an Oscar for her portrayal of a mentally disturbed fan who kidnaps her favorite author. Both the film and the original book reflect King’s personal anxieties about his fame, and he has openly expressed his admiration for Reiner’s adaptation. It could have easily been his other favorite adaptation, if not for “Stand By Me.”
Reiner’s 1986 drama “Stand By Me,” like “The Shawshank Redemption,” is so widely praised that it’s easy to dismiss it as overrated. However, a single rewatch quickly reminds viewers why it remains the benchmark for coming-of-age movies. The story, set in the 50s and based on King’s novella “The Body” (partly inspired by his own youth), follows four young friends on a naive adventure to find a missing local boy’s dead body. Along the way, they confront their personal demons and bare their souls to each other as they face the reality of death. The film balances poignancy and intensity with humor and light-heartedness, and features outstanding performances by a young Wil Wheaton, Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Connell, and the late River Phoenix in one of his most heartbreaking roles.
King has confessed that “Stand By Me” moved him to tears when he first saw it, and it continues to touch him deeply. As he succinctly put it, “And I love the Rob Reiner thing, ‘Stand By Me.'”
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
