Some blatherations* on the novels and movie adaptations of Stephen King’s ‘The Shining’ and ‘Doctor Sleep’.
Getting to grips with the dark stuff of Stephen King’s novels and short stories is a major challenge for filmmakers. This hasn’t dissuaded many from trying. Some have succeeded but many have failed, some miserably.
Metacritic helpfully lists the ratings of 45 movie adaptations. Entertainment Weekly’s assessment of ‘Riding The Bullet’ (2004) is that the film “falls short of its source” and this is a common criticism for other adaptations. One reviewer wrote that the only scary thing about Creepshow 2 is the prospect of Creepshow 3!
The difficulty of making convincing on screen versions of King’s works can largely be put down to the author’s steadfast refusal to gloss over the grimmest aspects of the human psyche. King relishes the prospect of delving deeply into dead zones like a persistent psychoanalyst. By these means he uncovers a veritable plethora of dark secrets, frustrated sexuality, sadistic urges and murderous inclinations. Continue reading
I was prematurely dismissive about There Will Be Blood, Paul Thomas Anderson’s previous movie. I only really appreciated its quality and power on second viewing. I strongly suspect that the same will be true of The Master and certainly feel inclined to reserve final judgement until I’ve had chance to see it again.
Irvine Welch’s superb novel was in sure hands for the transition to the big screen There’s a first rate cast which Boyle directs with real energy and dark humour to show the ups and downs of heroin addiction. Great music too, including Iggy’s Lust For Life and Underworld’s Born Slippy. The screenplay by John Hodge begins with one of the great ‘fuck the system’ monologues:
Made before the first wave of British punk had played itself out this movie is, like the music that inspired it, crude and anarchic. Don’t even begin to look for any plot as this is impressionistic, instinctive cinema that sets its own rules. Adam Ant appears before he became a dandy highwayman and Jordan as punk ‘anti-historian’ Amyl Nitrite. 
