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.
I found very interesting, and slightly puzzling, that the "end of the universe" side of the story is basically glossed over in the trailer. There's a couple scenes where you see the stars darkening, but there's no way you "get" it if you haven't read the novella. Anyway, I am pretty sure it's gonna be good because Mike Flanagan does quality work, in and out of King (I still remain convinced that Dr.Sleep , especially in the long version, is a masterpiece, it was just released wrongly, should have been streaming) BUT, I doubt that any movie can capture the profundity and deep melancholia of the novella. It's thrilling, uplifting, very human, and ultimately very sad, at the end I was smiling AND getting tearful at the same time.
I found very interesting, and slightly puzzling, that the "end of the universe" side of the story is basically glossed over in the trailer. There's a couple scenes where you see the stars darkening, but there's no way you "get" it if you haven't read the novella. Anyway, I am pretty sure it's gonna be good because Mike Flanagan does quality work, in and out of King (I still remain convinced that Dr.Sleep , especially in the long version, is a masterpiece, it was just released wrongly, should have been streaming) BUT, I doubt that any movie can capture the profundity and deep melancholia of the novella. It's thrilling, uplifting, very human, and ultimately very sad, at the end I was smiling AND getting tearful at the same time.
I'm not thrilled with that trailer. Gives off a "Hallmark TV" vibe, and funny that they've gone to great lengths to eschew King and Flanagan's horror efforts in the past (from the "heart and soul of Mike Flanagan", LOL!), since it's not a horror film.
But hopefully, the film has a little more nerve and energy than that trailer suggested.
I'm not thrilled with that trailer. Gives off a "Hallmark TV" vibe, and funny that they've gone to great lengths to eschew King and Flanagan's horror efforts in the past (from the "heart and soul of Mike Flanagan", LOL!), since it's not a horror film.
But hopefully, the film has a little more nerve and energy than that trailer suggested.
„Hallmark TV“?
You‘re being very cynical, Thor. Do you know the novella? If not, you should read it first. And of course the trailer needs to make sure that this is not a horror film.
It's the whole look and feel I'm talking about....I'm well aware the source material is nothing like that. Hopefully, it's down to rather poor trailer decisions rather than a representative example of how the film really looks and feels.
I really love the trailer. It seems we finally have a movie with a heart and soul. I miss these kind of movies, can't even recall when was the last time a similar movie came out, so naturally I'm glad when one arrives to the cinemas.
It's the whole look and feel I'm talking about....I'm well aware the source material is nothing like that. Hopefully, it's down to rather poor trailer decisions rather than a representative example of how the film really looks and feels.
Rather poor trailer decisions? The whole look and feel of you comment seems to indicate that this movie will just not be your cup of tea.
that much is true (and I have the long version blu ray) But in that case, we would not have even needed the disc, because the movie would have been stored in Netflix. AND it would probably have been very successful , like most of the Flanagan-Netflix stuff has been. The sheer, almost miniseries like, length, but above all the narrative rythm of Dr. Sleep was not right for the big screen, but it was just perfect for TV-
"I found very interesting, and slightly puzzling, that the "end of the universe" side of the story is basically glossed over in the trailer" -------------------- That's interesting, cos my take of it (I've just finally caught up with the story) is that it's NOT about the End of the World at all. That whole opening chapter is from the perspective of one dying man and the worlds and people contained in his own head. When he finally dies...they all blink out of existence...THEIR world within that world goes dark. This is alluded to further with the teacher moment with Chuck in school. It's a VERY slight tale and wasn't a strong King to me (although it's typical lightweight SK and nice enough) and I felt it didn't really know what it wanted to be (premonition/ghost story/nostalgic TZ recollection) and the premonition aspect was contradictory in that Grandpa foresaw others die, but Chuck sees his own death? It will be interesting to see what Flanagan fleshes out and where he takes it (I already spotted a few sex/creed changes from page to screen in keeping with modern ways).
