10 Stephen King Movie Adaptations That Deserve A Remake
7. Needful Things
Needful Things was fast tracked into a movie released in 1993 which was directed by Charlton Heston’s son Fraser C. Heston, and starred Max Von Sydow as Leland Gaunt, the shadowy and mysterious proprietor of Needful Things, a new antique shop that opens up in the staple King small town of Castle Rock.
The townsfolk soon become enamoured with the store, as Gaunt mysteriously seems to be able to sell them what their heart most desires. But the price is not cash, it is a debt owed to Gaunt as he asks a favour from each customer, slowly turning them against each another with a number of pranks which turn deadly. Recurring King character Sheriff Alan Pangborn (this time played by Ed Harris) is left to unravel the mystery of what is happening in the town around him, where everyone seems to be operating on the brink of collapse.
Needful Things has a whimsical tone, as Gaunt delivers various quips throughout the film, referring to his customers as ‘souls’ for instance, which is ultimately what they are selling in return for the perfect trinket. But for such a strong story It is another King adaptation that hasn’t quite stood the test of time when compared to others from the era, and would be ripe for a reimagining, perhaps even stretched out over a longer mini-series.