Needful Things

Needful Things

1993

Director- Fraser Clarke Heston

Cast- Ed Harris, Max Von Sydow, Bonnie Bedelia, J.T. Walsh, Amanda Plummer

            

      This story has a lot in common with Something Wicked This Way Comes. In both cases, a Mephistophelean outsider arrives in a picturesque small town. Both movies examine not only the evil in people’s heart, but how easily that evil can be brought to the surface. Needful Things, though, gets deeper into how easily our evil can be manipulated by, and directed toward, others. It also examines our personal, emotional attachment with things.

            Max Von Sydow plays Leiland Gaunt, a stranger who has just opened up an antique store in the small town of Castle Rock. No matter who you are , he seems to have something that you really want, something that has deep personal meaning. Rather than charging a standard price however, he deals in trade; an object for a favor. He encourages people in the town to play pranks on one another. The pranks however build in severity. The town’s people, unaware of who is pranking them, become paranoid and start lashing out at each other until Mr. Guant’s favors become lethal.

            Max Von Sydow plays a very likable Satanic figure. He seems to have a little bit of a childish sense of humor. Like a good devil, he never really lies to people. He gives them something they want and they always know what favor he will ask. But that’s the genius of his schemes; even though people know what they are doing, they aren’t able to see how their actions affect so many others. In this new world of “viral” media and politicians playing on our fears and turning one group against another, the lesson of Leiland Gaunt is particularly relevant.

            The town’s sheriff, played by the ever rugged Ed Harris, figures out what Gaunt is up to and discovers that Gaunt has been playing this game for a really long time. When Gaunt’s true identity and purpose are revealed, he is phlegmatic. After all, he as all the time he needs to work his schemes, and what’s one little set back?

            The movie has some great supporting performances by Bonnie Bedelia, J.T. Walsh, and Amanda Plummer who were at the top of their game in the early 90s. It also gives you your money’s worth coming in at a solid two hours.

It: A (reasonably) objective and (mostly) spoiler free review of the franchise.

It

     

   Stephen King has created too many memorable horror stories to list, and many of them have entered into public consciousness. I think it’s safe to say that his two most popular are The Stand and It. Pennywise the Clown has reached a level of public awareness just below that of the Universal Monsters. Both versions are good and offer different things to enjoy for fans of the book.

            

   For those unacquainted with the book, Pennywise is a supernatural creature that takes the form of (amongst many other things) a clown. He surfaces every few decades in the town of Derry to feed, and his favorite delicacy is scared children. He can take the form of whatever scares you most so he appears in many different guises (a mummy, a werewolf, a rotting leper, a giant prehistoric bird etc).

            

    Seven children, who have encountered Pennywise and lived, ban together to stop him. They are led by Bill, who lost his brother to the evil clown. They stop the clown but are unable to kill him and thirty years later return to the town to finish what they started.  The book alternates back and forth between the two time periods; their childhood and their adult lives. The true nature of Pennywise is hinted at but not fully revealed until the end, and even then It doesn’t fit into any easy classification. Pennywise defies classification, hence the nomenclature of It.

It (television mini-series)

1990

Director- Tommy Lee Wallace

Cast- Richard Thomas, John Ritter, Harry Anderson, Tim Reid, Annette O'Toole, Dennis Christopher, Richard Masur, Jonathan Brandis, Brandon Crane, Emily Perkins, Adam Faraizl, Marlon Taylor, Ben Heller, Olivia Hussey, Tim Curry

            

    Prior to the 21^st Century, TV and movies were very separate entities. Maybe it’s not accurate to say that TV stars were the step-siblings of the movie stars but there certainly wasn’t a lot of movement between the two mediums like there is today. It has a cast of the best TV talent from its time; Richard Thomas (John-Boy on The Waltons and also the Roger Corman sci-fi film Battle Beyond the Stars), Harry Anderson (Night Court), John Ritter (Three’s Company) and Tim Reid (WKRP in Cincinnati). I think the fact that three of those four are known for comedic roles is interesting.  Generation Xers will recognize Jonathan Brandis , as young Bill, who seemed to be everywhere in the 90’s and sadly died of suicide. Horror fans may recognize Emily Perkins as young Beverly Marsh. She went on to star in the Ginger Snaps werewolf trilogy. Director Tommy Lee Wallace was no novice when it came to horror. He directed Halloween 3: Season of the Witch and Fright Night 2 (the star of which ,Roddy McDowell, was considered for the Pennywise part). He also edited The Fog and Halloween.

The crown jewel of the cast and crew is of course, Tim Curry. Tim Curry came to fame in the horror themed musical Rocky Horror Picture Show and his list of TV, movie and theatre credits would be a book unto themselves. He had experience with both the horror genre and working through make-up, having played the Satanic figure of Darkness in Ridley Scott’s Legend. Curry’s Pennywise is iconic. He seems to be bubbling with menace and cheer in equal parts. It’s Curry’s voice though, a deep jovial baritone, that gives the performance character. It’s a testament to his performance that images of his clown still circle social media and horror outlets and merchandise three decades later.

            

     The whole series, without the originally aired commercials of course, is right over three hours. I think ABC took a lot of big chances for the time. Not only does it feature the murder of children, it uses the “N word”, and was depending on an audience that probably hadn’t read the book to tune in for two nights. As for faithfulness to the book, it does as good of a job as it could for three hours (It is a 1,000 page tome after all). It gets the adult half of the story pretty close but cuts a lot out of the childhood end of things. Like the book it alternates back and forth between the two.

           

   I would say that diehard fans of the book might be disappointed with what gets left out, but I can’t imagine there are any diehard fans that haven’t already seen it. In fact I would say that this mini-series, and Curry’s performance , probably created a lot of fans of the book.

It: Chapter 1

2017

Director- Andy Muschietti

Cast- Jaeden Martell, Sophia Lillis, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Finn Wolfhard, Wyatt Oleff, Chosen Jacobs, Jack Dylan Grazer, Nicholas Hamilton, Bill Skarsgård

It: Chapter 2

2019

Director- Andy Muschietti

Cast- James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa, Jay Ryan, James Ransone, Teach Grant, Andy Bean, Jaeden Martell, Sophia Lillis, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Finn Wolfhard, Wyatt Oleff, Chosen Jacobs, Jack Dylan Grazer, Nicholas Hamilton, Bill Skarsgård

           

      Coming in at a combined total of 5 hours, the theatrical releases had a lot more time for storytelling and character development. The first film focuses entirely on the childhood storyline. The second film focuses mostly on the adults but with a fair amount of flashbacks to childhood. Though both films were directed by the same person, they feel very different. I suppose this is appropriate as the films are focusing on different time periods. However, I don’t chalk this difference in feel up to intentional choice.

  

   Interestingly (bizarrely?) the production of the 2^nd chapter didn’t begin until well after the first film. Filming for chapter began almost 2 years after chapter 1!. I could understand a nervous Hollywood exec not wanting to spend too much money on an unproven property, but Chapter 1 was so good, I have to assume its quality was evident early on. Did they not realize they had a hit on their hands? And a hit it was. Part 1 was made for $35 million and made $700 million. It was in the top 10 of the highest grossing movies of that year, rubbing shoulders with giant budgeted super-hero event films. The second chapter has twice the budget but just doesn’t deliver the goods as effectively.

      

       Chapter 1 was a surprise hit, but this was no fluke. It’s a quality film in every respect. The cast of child actors deliver. Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things) is funny as the foul mouthed Richie. The stand out though was Sophia Lillis as tomboy Beverly Marsh. Her performance was the kind that can make a career, and I think it may have. The film is also scary! It has some really creepy moments and Skarsgård (in both films) delivers a creepy Pennywise that is unlike Curry’s iconic performance in any way. Given that It is really about kids, I suppose it’s appropriate that the first film is the standout.

    This is not to say that Chapter 2 is without merit. It also has a fine cast (which, I assume,

accounted for most of its bigger budget). It has some creepy moments but doesn’t capitalize on mood as much as Chapter 1. It also seems to spend a lot of energy creating story from thin air. Rather than using their spacious 2 and half hour running time to adapt parts of the book, they spend their time creating things that add nothing and still end up leaving things out.           

    If you are a real fan of the book or a hardcore fan of Chapter 1, you have already seen Chapter 2. However, for casual viewers, Chapter 1 can be watched and enjoyed all by itself.

   

Comparison to the Book

   

   The easiest criticism leveled against any book to movie adaptation is “The book was better.” I’ve never been a fan of this mantra as books and movies are completely different story telling mediums.  Personally, there are a few books for which I liked the movie BETTER. I like Hellraiser the film much more than the book (The Hellbound Heart). The written description of the cenobites just doesn’t have the visceral punch of their appearance in the movies.  And regardless of how good the books are, is anyone going to say Tobe Hooper’s Salem’s Lot and Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining aren’t excellent?

            

    Both the 1990 version and the 21^st century version do a decent job of adapting the overall plot. Neither veers off too far from the overall direction of the story, though both leave out a lot of enjoyable details. The 1990 version had to leave things out due to time constraints. The 21^st century version squandered some of its time (especially in Chapter 2) creating all new elements. Of course, there is ONE scene from the book that doesn’t make it into either version (and never will). I want say what it is, but fans of the book know which scene I’m talking about.

            

    Both versions do the characters justice. The 1990 version does a better job telling the story of the adult characters; the 21^st century version does better with the kids.

            

     As far as the depiction of Pennywise, well, it wouldn’t be fair to say one is better or worse. Every actor who ever plays Dracula will be compared to Bela Lugosi. Bela is the measuring stick. Some actors make better Dracula’s some don’t, but they are all compared to Bela. Likewise with Tim Curry. He is an iconic actor who turned Pennywise into an iconic character. In 20 years when another It adaptation is in the works, Tim will still be the measuring stick for this character. Skarsgård’s performance is creepy. Curry’s performance is menacing.

 

The Stand

The Stand

1994

Director- Mick Garris

Cast- Gary Sinise, Molly Ringwald, Adam Storke, Jamey Sheridan, Rob Lowe, Laura San Giacomo, Ray Walston, Miguel Ferrer, Ruby Dee, Bill Fagerbakke, Corin Nemec, Matt Frewer, Ossie Davis, Shawnee Smith, Max Wright, Ed Harris, Peter Van Norden

            
   Originally premiering as a four part television mini-series, The Stand is the most ambitious adaptation of King’s most ambitious single work. After It, The Stand is Stephen King’s best known work, so probably you know the story, but if not here goes. A biological weapon, a super flue, escapes from its government creators. In the span of a few months it has spread across the world and wiped out most of the population. The few survivors that are immune are visited by dreams of two people. Mother Abagail, a kindly old woman in Nebraska, and Randall Flag, a dark menacing figure stalking the American highways. People choose sides and begin their journeys across America toward one camp or the other. Eventually, the battle between good and evil culminates in a final confrontation.

           
   

I think it’s fair to say that, among other things, The Stand is a religious allegory. Mother Abigail is a Moses like figure and Flagg is the Devil. He appears in nightmares, shape changes into a raven and possesses some degree of magic. He also recruits his lieutenants in a rather Mephistophelean manner, giving them power in exchange for their loyalty.

            
    Now those familiar with Flagg know that he is much more than the Devil. Appearing in several Stephen King novels, under various names, his evil is too broad to be described in purely Christian terms. However, none of that was evident in the novel and certainly not evident in the mini-series.

            
    So many of King’s works have been adapted to the screen, it would be difficult to list them all. The Stand is one of the better adaptations (maybe the best) owing, I think, to its 6 hour length. There are many greats characters in the novel and most of them appear in the film and they progress in much the same way. Over all it’s a fairly loyal adaptation, probably due to the fact that King himself did the teleplay.

            

    Besides its fidelity to the source material, it has a great cast. Today it is the norm to see actors on both the big screen and the small, but in 1994, it was fairly rare to see movie stars on TV. The impressive line-up included 1980s Brat Pack icons Molly Ringwald and Rob Lowe, veteran actors Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis and Ray Walston and Gary Sinise, who was on the verge of hitting it big with Forrest Gump and that’s not to mention the fine performances from the rest of the cast as well.