With sales in excess of 350 million copies, Stephen King is one of the bestselling authors of all time and has seen his work adapted for film, TV and stage more than any other, but to paraphrase a remark made by the man himself, you soon realise that if you dont keep your sense of humour when it comes to adaptations of his work, youre done for. Its apt that King, who once likened his own popularity to that of a Big Mac and large fries, should occasionally be brought to the screen by directors with the filmmaking instincts of Ronald McDonald. Instead of learning their craft, they just slap something together according to a formula and serve it up to a demographic too undemanding to complain. Movies that mangle the source material, such as the needless Needful Things, or are simply cash-grabs (Sometimes They Come Back... Again... For More) can be dismissed impatiently, with never a backwards glance. The same goes for pictures that are merely bland, such as Kimberly Peirces woefully anaemic Carrie remake. Then theres another category: adaptations so ridiculous you wont believe they exist. This is where youll find famous faces demeaning themselves for a paycheque, fighting rubbery monsters and wooden co-stars while speaking the side-splitting dialogue with as much sincerity as they can muster. Its where no story is ever too silly, no plot twist too unbelievable and no ending too contrived.
Ian Watson is the author of 'Midnight Movie Madness', a 600+ page guide to "bad" movies from 'Reefer Madness' to 'Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead.'
