The King of Horror Returns: 2 Must-Watch Films Coming Soon!

Lionsgate

I’ve always had a special connection to Stephen King. I was never much of a reader, but at a young age, I stumbled upon his work The Mist and became hooked on the "master of horror’s" writing, reading many more of his books. Since this site is about TV, not books, I’ll focus on the adaptations.

Here are the adaptations that stuck with me the most:

1. The Mist
When "The Mist" was adapted, I was thrilled and full of anticipation. The result didn’t disappoint; it was a high-quality film. The ending also worked for me, though for many, it was controversial and a bit too… emotionally intense. The book’s ending was calmer but also more boring.

2. The Shawshank Redemption
This film has sky-high ratings from both professional critics and armchair critics (like me). While many might not consider "Shawshank" the ultimate benchmark, few would dare to give it a low rating. There aren’t many differences from the book.

3. Desperation
The book really impressed me. Unfortunately, the adaptation wasn’t the strongest. But that’s not surprising, as the budget wasn’t huge, and it was made for TV, not theaters.

4. Stand By Me
It’s a good thing King’s works aren’t all cut from the same cloth. Some feature monsters and the supernatural, while others are more grounded in reality, like "Stand By Me." It was nicely filmed.

5. 11/22/63
I haven’t read the book, but the mini-series really resonated with me. Even though it dragged a bit in the middle, overall, I highly recommend it.

6. The Langoliers
Now this is a real classic. I watched it as a teenager on TV. And even though the Langoliers themselves look a bit primitive now, the atmosphere of the airport still makes an impression.

7. Under The Dome
This series stuck with me, but unfortunately, in a negative way. At first, it seemed interesting but drawn out. Then it just seemed drawn out and overly complicated. I didn’t watch the second season.

That’s where I’ll stop. For those who expected me to mention The Green Mile, The Shining, or The Dark Tower—they’re all good works, and I’ll leave it at that.

So, what films am I looking forward to?

The Long Walk comes out this September. The story was quite short but left a significant impression on me. I remember wanting to see a film adaptation of this book. Now I’ve waited. Or rather, there’s just a little bit more waiting left.

Plot: "In a country, an annual competition called ’The Long Walk’ takes place, involving one hundred young men. They must walk at a speed exceeding three miles per hour; after three violations, a participant is eliminated. The grand prize is a large sum of money and the fulfillment of all desires for the rest of their lives."

The Running Man is set to be released this November. The old film with Schwarzenegger was good in its own way, but it wasn’t based on the book. Or rather, it was the same universe, but not the same essence. The book profoundly impacted me at the time, and I hope the new adaptation doesn’t disappoint.

Plot: "The story is set in a dystopian future America, centering on 28-year-old Ben Richards, a desperate man who participates in the brutal reality show ’The Running Man’ to win enough money to help his seriously ill daughter."

Now there’s only one more work whose adaptation I’ve wanted to see: Rage. It made a definite impression on me. To be honest, I barely remember what it’s about anymore. But if they make it, I’ll watch it.