America’s master of horror Stephen King has penned many a tale of terror, and more than a few of those horrid yarns have made the jump to film. Some were B-list cast-offs, others triple-A features, but all did their best to translate King’s words into images that are just as terrifying.
RELATED:Awesome Horror Movies Directed By Women
King films have been haunting filmgoers' nightmares since the 70s, with dozens of directors and screenwriters — some of them among the industry’s best — trying their hand at adaptingStephen King’smaterial. With such a wide-reaching group of artists involved, it’s natural that some results would be better than others. While some faded into obscurity almost as soon as they premiered, others rank amongst the best in horror.
10It: Chapter Two
Pennywise captured the cultural imagination in the same way as horror icons like Freddy, Jason, and Michael.It: Chapter Twois a flawed film, admittedly, but it gives audiencesa second helping of an absolutely nightmarish character,which is enough to earn it a top listing amongst King’s best.
It also offers viewers a rare look atthe evolution of its charactersby picking up the story years after the conclusion of the original film, packing its new cast with headliners. It’s hard to do better than a double dose of murder clown.
91408
The Dolphin Hotel may not be the Overlook, but it’s a nonetheless excellent addition to the horror canon, crawling with creep factor.John Cusack, playing a writer investigating the hotel in an attempt to disprove its supposed history of hauntings, carries the weight of the narrative on his shoulders.He doesn’t drop it.
RELATED:The Other Stephen King Haunted Hotel Room Movie
Where1408triumphs is in its ability to cut hard and fast from slow-drip psychological horror to unforgiving jump-scare. It isn’t the most original ghost story, but that doesn’t keep it from being an effective one. It also manages to be almost as claustrophobia-inducing as King’s more famous hotel story, which is an achievement in itself.
8Creepshow
Anthology films typically suffer from unevenness, as the inclusion of multiple stories leads to oscillations in quality.Creepshowdoesn’t escape this curse, but even the weakest of the five included pieces is worth a watch,even if they aren’t exactly chilling.
Directed by none other than zombie icon George A. Romero,Creepshowfeatures the same playful brand of horror as EC Comics,giving readers some tongue-in-cheek fun, unlike some of King’s more serious pieces. The film’s a fun look at a different side of theNight of the Living Deaddirector, and its unusual formatting only sweetens the pot.
7Dolores Claiborne
Though some may object to the classification ofDolores Claiborneas horror, the film paints an even more unsettling picture than some of those packed with more conventional monsters. Most of Stephen King’s novels have real thematic weight to them and don’t shy away from complex issues, but many adaptations fail to carry these themes forward successfully.
RELATED:Every Stephen King Reference In Alan Wake Remastered
Dolores Claibornemanages to nail the themes of the literary originalwhile at the same time carving out a unique space for itself. For this fact and for its uncanny ability to put audiences on the back foot,Claibornedeserves more appreciation than it often receives.
In the field of horror, director David Cronenberg is far more famous for legendary body horror pieces likeThe FlyandVideodrome,but he’s also the mastermind behind the underrated classicThe Dead Zone.Christopher Walken as future-reading Johnny Smith and Martin Sheen ascold-blooded senatorial candidate Greg Stillsonare perfect compliments to one another.
The Dead Zoneis another King adaptation that some critics may not file under horror, butthose that appreciate its sinister themes and Sheen’s icy performance know exactly what kind of monster lurks within it.
5The Mist
The Misthas many laudable points, but without question, the best thing about it is Frank Darabont. The director behindThe Green MileandThe ShawshankRedemptionand the developer ofThe Walking Dead,Darabont’s ability to expose both the heart and the ugliness of humanity is uncanny.
RELATED:The Ending Of This Stephen King Horror Movie Is Still Devastating
It’s hard to imagine another director in his stead.The Mistmay not be the greatest King adaptation, or even Darabont’s greatest King adaptation, but it arguably has the best ending of any of them. Few horror films come anywhere near the crushing power of its finale, making it more than worth the journey to that point.
4It (2017)
Itis about small-town life, the power of misfit friendships, and one of the most horrifying clowns in existence. One could applaud its solid direction and even better casting, its writing, its pacing, and just about any other aspect of the film, butall one really needs to applaud is Pennywise.
Bill Skarsgard’s voice, mannerism, makeup, and costumecombine to shattering effect. Sewers and storm drains will be forever frightening thanks to the opening of this film. Horror cinema has offered up a lot of killer clowns over the years, but few linger in the imagination like Pennywise.
3Misery
Almost every artist wants enthusiastic fans. No artist wants fans as enthusiastic as Kathy Bates’s character inMisery.When it comes to bare-bones plots, there are few horror films as stripped down asMiseryand its story of what happens when a writer falls into the grips of their biggest fan.
RELATED:Misery Is Still The Best Stephen King Adaptation
It’sa psychological horror film that uses violence sparingly, letting viewers marinate in dread,only to shock them awake when violence finally does come knocking. Extraordinary performances from its leads, particularly Bates, easily makeMiseryone of King’s most unforgettable and traumatizing adaptations.
2The Shining
Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Stanley Kubrick, and The Overlook Hotel are the perfect recipe for horror. The most famous example isNicholson’s crazed face shoved into the door he’s just driven an ax through,but it’s a filmpacked with iconic imagery.
From the framing of the tricycle sequences to the flood of blood down the corridor, the film is perfectly measured to disorient and terrorize its audience. Its length is a mark against it for some, butThe Shininguses every ounce of that time to build an atmosphere of dread as captivating as the Overlook itself.
1Carrie (1976)
The original 1976 version ofCarrie,directed by Brian De Palma, is arguably the greatest Stephen King adaptation of all. De Palma’s signature directorial style and penchant for violent imagery isthe perfect match for King’s spare, visceral writing.
While the later remake ofCarriewas well done, it doesn’t quite capture the simple ferocity of the original. Nothing prepares viewers for the look in Carrie’s eyes when she stands on stage, covered in pig’s blood. If a single image sums up the best of King’s film adaptations, it’s that one.
