There are authors whose skills at depicting something on the page are extraordinary. J.K. Rowling did it with the Harry Potter books, Brian Herbert made us believe in the impossible with Dune, and Tolkien was able to make us imagine Middle-earth when we read his Lord of the Rings saga. Fortunately, the translation to the big screen for these works has (almost) always spotless.
Stephen King is one of the authors whose work has been adapted the most, seconded only by William Shakespeare. When taking his books to the big screen, screenwriters face the challenge of staying true to the complex nature of monstrous characters and their settings, while dealing with the limitations of films and TV shows that can’t cover the information of massive literary works.
However, in the case of the following, the writers and directors nailed it. To stay in the mood after the holidays and the cold weather that comes with winter, let’s take a look at the Stephen King movies and series that best depict the snowy season.
5
‘Misery’ (1990)
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Release Date
November 30, 1990
Runtime
107
In Misery, writer Paul Sheldon has just finished his upcoming novel. Sheldon plans to leave his most successful character, Misery Chastain, behind him, and kill her off in the latest book. With optimism, Paul attempts to return from his isolated cabin but has an accident on the snowy road. Luckily, someone rescues him.
Annie Wilkes, Misery’s greatest fan, is the one who picks him up, cures his wounds, and ultimately, takes care of him during his recovery process. Guess what happens when she finds out Paul is killing off Misery? Exactly, Wilkes turns out to be a maniac, and she won’t release Paul until he does whatever’s necessary to bring Misery back to life.
Without question, Misery is one of Stephen King’s best movies. Written by William Goldman and directed by Rob Reiner, the film is not as dark and gloomy as you would expect. It’s always sunny around Wilkes’ seemingly perfect and cozy house. However, it’s Wilkes’ menacing psychopathic behavior that makes Paul’s recovery a claustrophobic and unexpectedly violent nightmare.
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4
‘Storm of the Century’ (1999)
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Release Date
February 14, 1999
Runtime
257 minutes
Storm of the Century centers around the residents of Little Tall Island, who are expecting a blizzard storm unlike any other they’ve faced in the past. Right as the roads close and everyone gathers in a grocery store, an unexpected visitor named André Linoge arrives. One with a very particular request.
In order to accomplish his goals, Linoge commits a horrific murder, and his only statement is, “Give me what I want, and I’ll go away.” When what he wants is finally revealed, the people in the tight-knit and very cozy island town will be forced to make a horrific decision.
Storm of the Century is definitely Stephen King’s most underrated adaptation and one of the author’s favorites. You know that feeling you sometimes get with the author’s adaptations where you feel like you’re home, regardless of the often harrowing implications? Well, that is remarkably present in the miniseries that has Colm Feore’s perfect portrayal of a Stephen King villain.
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3
‘The Shining’ (1980)
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Release Date
May 23, 1980
Runtime
146
The Shining follows the Torrance family as they retreat to the Overlook Hotel for the winter. Jack, the family’s patriarch, has been hired as caretaker, and alongside his wife Wendy and his son Danny, he arrives at the hotel that will host them during the snowy season.
From the very first day, Danny feels there’s something off about the place. His ability to “shine” lets him feel the wandering entities in the deserted hallways of the Overlook. However, it’s Jack who falls prey to the lurking spirits, including that of a madman who once butchered his family and wants Jack to do the same.
Undoubtedly, one of the best horror films of all time, The Shining is a pick that Stephen King would not be happy with. After all, the variation from his novel is undeniable. Nevertheless, the depiction of the brutal snowy season in the final act is crucial. It becomes central to Wendy and Danny’s fight against a corrupted soul in the horribly hostile environment that is a snow-covered maze.
2
‘Dreamcatcher’ (2003)
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Release Date
March 21, 2003
Runtime
134 minutes
Dreamcatcher follows four friends on their annual hunting trip in Maine during the winter. Jonesy, Pete, Beaver, and Henry have an everlasting bond after an event during their childhood gives them “psychic powers.” And when a parasitic alien shows up in their remote Maine cabin, they, as well as the entire military force, join forces to fight the creatures,
Is Dreamcatcher as bad as everyone said back in 2003? You be the judge when you revisit it during the snowy season. The first act is the best thing about the feature, because it doesn’t center around the supernatural incident but around the strong friendship between four well-designed characters who are quite likable.
The cozy feature, also written by William Goldman and directed by Lawrence Kasdan, turns into a disaster-based alien invasion film that critics panned back in the day and was a tremendous box office bomb. Nevertheless, and to answer the question above, it deserves a rewatch just for the depiction of its wintery setting and the most disturbing toilet scene in modern cinema.
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1
‘The Dead Zone’ (1983)
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Release Date
October 21, 1983
Runtime
103 minutes
The Dead Zone is the story of Johnny Smith, a schoolteacher who falls into a coma after a terrible car accident. Eventually, he wakes up, but he’s not the same man. Now, he carries the burden of uncontrollable psychic powers that offer him a glimpse into a dark future that only he can change.
Also one of King’s most underrated features, The Dead Zone, is a thrilling blend of thriller and horror wonderfully led by a young Christopher Walken, and directed by David Cronenberg in one of his most sober attempts at horror. It’s also a movie that’s eerily relevant to today’s political climate.
The Dead Zone takes place in a bleak Canadian setting (mostly shot in Canada by one of the country’s most important directors) where the cold is so severe that it turns into a powerful background to Smith’s descent. From the gazebo scene to the one where the characters go through a snowy tunnel, snow is a very important element of the movie, making The Dead Zone a solid winter-based thriller that’s among King’s finest.
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