The new Stephen King adaptation from Mike Flanagan (GERALD'S GAME, DOCTOR SLEEP) is about to hit and it's getting some decent reviews. Although I've enjoyed some of his non-King stuff on Netflix (MIDNIGHT MASS, HILL HOUSE/BLY MANOR) I've found his King adap's to be quite poor so far (GG is one of THE MOST vanilla King movies I've ever seen). Hopefully, this one will buck the trend for me. And, as I've fallen a bit behind on my King reading of late (I am a Constant Reader) I haven't read IF IT BLEEDS yet, from which this tale is taken. I've also enjoyed the Newton Bros stuff from the shows I've liked (see above) but not so much from the things I haven't. Anyone read this/up for the film?
I'm a big fan of Flanagan - one of the strongest horror directors at the moment. Seen everything he's done and liked it all to one degree or another (although there are some issues in DOCTOR SLEEP and BLY MANOR). ABSENTIA and OCULUS are fantastic, as is HILL HOUSE.
I first thought this was another Chuckie film and am glad it wasn't. Like you, Kev, I haven't kept up-to-date on my favourite author these last few years. The Newton Brothers know how to compose effective horror scores, but I've yet to hear them do a more "delicious darkness" approach to things, which is usually the only horror film music I can stomach on albums.
Yes, my BIG DILEMMA at the moment is whether to read the story before I see the film. I've yet to see a King film where I haven't already read the story/novel. King himself is calling this film 'one of the good ones' (which means it might be up there with the likes of CARRIE, DEAD ZONE, STAND BY ME, SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION & GREEN MILE).
Yes, my BIG DILEMMA at the moment is whether to read the story before I see the film. I've yet to see a King film where I haven't already read the story/novel. King himself is calling this film 'one of the good ones' (which means it might be up there with the likes of CARRIE, DEAD ZONE, STAND BY ME, SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION & GREEN MILE).
I recommend reading the story first - then you can appreciate how Flanagan translated it to the screen. And the story really is unconventionally structured.
