Stephen King is a household name. Young and old alike find delight in his tales of terror, high strangeness, and humanity. While most are fans of his writing, many are first introduced to the best-selling author by film and television adaptations of his novels and short stories. In 1976, director Brian de Palma produced a film based on King’s fourth novel, Carrie. People couldn’t get enough of the small-town horror film, and it wasn’t long before more adaptations of King’s work found their way to the silver screen.
It’s almost impossible to avoid Stephen King on the screen, as after dozens of adaptations and original screenplays, there are still dozens of films, miniseries, comic books, and shows in the works based on King’s writing. Another dozen or so adaptations have risen to outspoken critical acclaim such as Stand by Me, The Shining, and The Green Mile.
King on Screen is an outstanding documentary. Even if you’re not Stephen King’s number-one fan, you’ll find an hour and fifteen minutes of pure movie documentary bliss. A multitude of directors tell stories about working with King and his novels. The cast includes such famed filmmakers as James Caan, Frank Darabont, Taylor Hackford, Tom Holland, and Mick Garris and includes long, thoughtful conversations about many filmmaking topics.
Not only are we given glimpses behind the scenes, we learn about the personal relationship Stephen King had with so many of these directors. They also speak at length about their method and inspirations as directors and cinematographers, making this film a must-see for those interested in filmmaking as well as King fanatics.
There is nothing to complain about in King on Screen. The interviews are thoughtful and interesting, the archival footage used is well-considered, and the film’s pacing is perfect: Each moment is informative in some way, making this documentary as informational as it is entertaining. King on Screen is a perfect fit for any public library collection and university collections that serve bustling film or writing departments. Highly Recommended. Editor’s Choice.