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Stephen Kingis one of the best storyteller of the twentieth and twenty-first century , which take a crap it challenging to see which movies resonate with him . Many ofStephen King ’s good Holy Scripture , includingThe ShiningandIt , have been adapted as movies , and some have even been adapt more than once . He is be intimate for his revulsion stories , but he is also the generator of the novelette that was conform into the promising and inspiring movieThe Shawshank Redemption , along with writing the novella that is the source material for the upcoming and heartfeltStephen King movieThe Life of Chuck .
King ’s taste in movies is as varied as the wide mountain chain of stories that he has writtenover the years . As view in the bestStephen King Quran endings , the fecund generator knows how to tell and complete a good storey , an fine art form that he recognizes and appreciates in the picture show he watches . Over the years , King has shared his thoughts on many movie , and give way praise where it is due , thereby providing a snapshot of some of his best-loved movies .
10The Hurt Locker
Released In 2009
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From director Kathryn Bigelow come The Hurt Locker , the 2008 oscar win war thriller film that accompany Jeremy Renner as Sergeant William James and his bomb disposal squad as they navigate beyond enemy lines during the Iraq War . The movie explores the trauma and accentuate the soldier face as they essay to disarm active explosive on the bailiwick , with the repercussions beginning to take their price on the squadmates .
King rate his favored movies of 2009 ( viaEntertainment Weekly ) andcrownedThe Hurt Lockeras his favorite motion picture of the year . The 2009 movie have a great sight of decisive acclaim and kick the bucket on to win six Academy Awards , including Best Picture . direct by Kathryn Bigelow , whose work gain her the Academy Award for Best Director , the fib revolved around a bomb electric pig unit during the Iraq War , with two of its phallus flirt by Jeremy Renner and Anthony Mackie , who at the time were not yet part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe .
Stephen King ’s upcoming 2025 repulsion anthology The destruction of the World As We Know It is unambiguously hazardous , yet that risk of infection also inspires self-confidence .
In his rankings , King acknowledged that"bomb disposal is one of the great staples of warfare movies . “However , he emphasise that"it has never been depicted in such terrific detail"as it is inThe Hurt Locker . While he may be known for some of his more supernatural and flaky macrocosm , the mostterrifying Stephen King book momentsare those take root in horrid human dramatic play and fearfulness . The Hurt Locker ’s chilling portraying of turkey electric pig , and how quickly it can go sideways , is just as impactful as some of the most memorable scenes King has written .
9The Stepfather
Released In 1987
The Stepfather is a thriller orchestrate by Nelson McCormick , starring Dylan Walsh as a seemingly perfect man who becomes a severe threat when he insinuates himself into a fractured family . conscientious objector - starring Sela Ward and Penn Badgley , the pic explore the unsettling dynamic and hidden perils of a blended family , where the stepfather ’s charm masks a sinister agenda . This chilling remaking underscores the tension and mistrust in transmitted relationship .
Over the years , King has written his fair share of terrific characters , which make it all the more meaningful when he meet a role he deems to be truly terrific . In a recommendation shared via theBritish Film Institute , King mention that"While we ’re talking about terrify men who come from nowhere , there ’s The Stepfather , with Terry O’Quinn as the homicidal ( but wizardly ) psychotic person looking for a family to love him . “This was 17 year before O’Quinn play John Locke inLost , which became his most well - known function .
Terry O’Quinn gain an Emmy Award for his portrayal of John Locke inLost .
O’Quinn ’s functioning inThe Stepfathermade an impact on King , who wrote about"that classical moment when he goes blank and say , ' Saaay , who am I this meter ? ' before bludgeoning his married woman with a phone . “The story of a murderous man who assumes multiple identity element in his crimson exploits almost finger like the sort of character that King could have written in one of his own report . The Stepfatherwent on to have several sequels , but none lived up to the 1987 movie , with King recognizing what made it particular , and what was never able to be successfully replicate .
8The Changeling
Released In 1980
The Changeling is a supernatural horror - whodunit film by music director Peter Medak , released in 1980 . A composer named John Russell moves to Seattle , Washington , after his married woman and girl are pour down in a tragic car accident , but soon unwrap his new manse may have uninvited guests of the nonnatural kind .
FromCarrietoThe shine , many of King ’s Word of God dole out with supernatural horror . Having publish extensively in this writing style , he is capable to recognise when a movie does supernatural horror well . As shared with theBritish Film Institute,“For supernatural horror , I care Peter Medak ’s film The Changeling , starring George C. Scott in perhaps his last enceinte screen role . There are no monsters bursting from chests ; just a child ’s ball bounce down a flight of stairs was enough to scare the daylight out of me . "
The 1980 movie ’s story of composer John Russell ( George C. Scott ) being haunted by a gone child wasenough to scare away King , the master of repulsion himself . He cognise that less is often more when it comes to most kinds of storytelling , but specially in the horror music genre . The Changelingdid not need fantastic revulsion to scare him , as the dewy-eyed visual of the deceased child ’s ballock bouncing down the stairs was enough to chill him . His appreciation of Scott ’s performance also added another meaningful bed to his enjoyment of the film .
7Night of the Demon
Released In 1957
nighttime of the Demon follows American professor John Holden as he travels to London for a parapsychology group discussion , only to get hold his colleague idle under mysterious consideration . As he investigates , Holden confronts a devil - idolise cult lead by Dr. Julian Karswell , challenging his scientific scepticism .
Some horror stories involve to take their clock time to truly become horrifying and do not fully embrace the defining constituent of their genre until the story reaches its conclusion . This is something that King appreciated when it came to the 1957 movieNight of the Demon , in whichDr . John Holden ( Dana Andrews ) investigates the mystic circumstances besiege a colleague ’s decease . The investigating leads to a minacious cult and demonic forces .
Night of the Demonhas garnered a report as an all - fourth dimension with child repulsion movie , and while some of its scares do not to the full certify until the tense conclusion , it was still enough to win over King .
Via theBritish Film Institute , King stated that"Although it ’s old school , I love Jacques Tourneur ’s Night of the Demon , a pretty wonderful adjustment of M.R. James ’s level , " shake off the Runes " . Tourneur was a adherent of Val Lewton , which think the revulsion here is pretty understated , until the very end . “Night of the Demonhas garner a reputation as an all - clip great revulsion movie , and while some of its scares do not fully certify until the tense ending , it was still enough to win over King .
6Village of the Damned
Released In 1960
Greenwich Village of the Damned , directed by John Carpenter , is a supernatural thriller pose in a small American town where an alien force impregnates the local women . The resulting children , born with eery power and a lack of human empathy , go to awe and suspicion among the villager .
Night of the Demonis not the only British repulsion with scientific discipline - fiction elements that became a favorite of King ’s . He also expressed his delectation ofVillage of the Damnedvia theBritish Film Institute . While some may be dismissive of movies dash in black and white , King liked this aspect ofVillage of the Damned . In addition to the cinematography and overall optical aesthetic , King was impressed by George Sanders ' performance as the master , Gordon Zellaby .
FromStephen King ’s " tike of the Corn"short story to Pennywise taking on the form of Georgie Denbrough chanting"You’ll float too"inIt , King ’s stories often feature unsettling children . It should occur as no surprise thatVillage of the Damned ’s creepy-crawly fry resonated with him , as they would have been a lifelike paroxysm for many of the stories that King has pen . Creepy minor and former school repulsion is unsurprisingly a winning combination in this case .
From director Kathryn Bigelow comes The Hurt Locker, the 2008 oscar winning war thriller film that follows Jeremy Renner as Sergeant William James and his bomb disposal team as they navigate beyond enemy lines during the Iraq War. The movie explores the trauma and stresses the soldiers face as they attempt to disarm active explosives on the field, with the repercussions beginning to take their toll on the squadmates.
5The Last House On The Left
The Last House on the Left is a 2009 horror thriller about Mari Collingwood , a teen whose sojourn to town with her friend Paige lead to a terrific encounter . As her parents holiday at their distant lake house , the event set off an unforgettable and harrowing night .
As per his rankings shared viaEntertainment Weekly , afterThe Hurt Locker , The Last House on the Leftwas King ’s pet picture show of 2009 . Being a remake of Wes Craven ’s 1972The Last House on the Leftdid not have any negative shock on King ’s attitude toward the 2009 reading . In fact , King declare thatThe Last House on the Leftwas"easily the most glorious remake of the X . “He praise the filming and the performance ofBreaking Bad ’s Aaron Paul .
Movie
Tomatometer Score
Popcornmeter Score
The Last House on the Left(1972 )
63 %
50 %
The Last House on the Left(2009 )
The Stepfather is a thriller directed by Nelson McCormick, starring Dylan Walsh as a seemingly perfect man who becomes a dangerous threat when he insinuates himself into a fractured family. Co-starring Sela Ward and Penn Badgley, the film explores the unsettling dynamics and hidden perils of a blended family, where the stepfather’s charm masks a sinister agenda. This chilling remake underscores the tension and mistrust in familial relationships.
42 %
52 %
The Last House on the Left ’s storysees two woman kidnapped in what becomes a worrisome turn of events . King liked that"the story wee sense , and , most significantly , Last House‘s moral compass points to true north . “As if this congratulations was not enough , King concluded his acclamation for the movie by saying that"This motion picture is on equation with The Silence of the Lambs . “While the remake ’s general reputation never converge this barroom , King securely believed that the flick extend to such an telling height .
4Billy Elliot
Released In 2000
The coming - of - age dramatic play Billy Elliot follows the journey of a young boy who let out a mania for ballet amidst the coal miner ’s smasher of the 1980s . direct by Stephen Daldry and featuring Jamie Bell as the nominal Billy , the picture explore themes of class , sex , and self - discovery , all set against the backdrop of a cultivate - course community in turmoil .
While many of King ’s favorite movies are in the repulsion or thriller genres , one of his favorite movies does not light anywhere close to either of these categories . In hisEntertainment Weeklyreview ofKill Bill Vol . 1 , King conclude by saying,“Most times the movie turn out to be a rat , but sometimes you find a material classic like ' The Way of the Gun , ' ' Billy Elliot , ' or ' Mystic River . ' When that materialise , I can steal this year ’s World Series slogan and put it to even good use : I live for this . "
Since this was the end of the reassessment , and the review was not aboutBilly Elliotin the first place , he did not elaborate or provide specific contingent about why he revel the musical adjustment so much . However , it is not difficult to conceive of the news report ’s report of hopefulness and resiliency resonating with him , along with superb music . As grim as King ’s stories can be , some of them are also filled with stories of hope and resilience , withRita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemptionbeing one of the most well - known examples .
3Mystic River
Released In 2003
Mystic River , engineer by Clint Eastwood , blossom the story of three childhood friends — Jimmy , Dave , and Sean — whose lives are disrupted by a tragical household issue . Their bond are tested as they present preceding traumas and navigate the ensuing complexities of offence and justice .
In the sameEntertainment Weeklyreview where he praisedBilly Elliot , King also expressed how much he enjoyed watchingMystic River . While King was profoundly dissatisfied withKill Bill : Vol . 1 , he usedMystic Riveras an example of a satisfying picture show that succeeds in many areas where the Quentin Tarantino pic fails . This begins with the basic element ofMystic River"building character and say an actual story,“with top executive detail how the picture show succeeds at micturate him invested from the start .
Mystic River deliver one of the most heartbreaking endings of any crime thriller and foreground Clint Eastwood ’s talent for fictional character psychology .
The Changeling is a supernatural horror-mystery film by director Peter Medak, released in 1980. A composer named John Russell moves to Seattle, Washington, after his wife and daughter are killed in a tragic car accident, but soon discovers his new residence may have uninvited guests of the otherworldly variety.
While he discussedKill Bill : Vol . 1and many other moving-picture show as being mostly forgettable , he argues thatMystic River"will burn itself into your remembering . Twenty years from now , you ’ll be able to call back Sean Penn ’s fearsome cries of grief when he realise his daughter is stagnant . “On every level , the 2003 Clint Eastwood - directed moving picture was a victory in King ’s eyes . It stuck with him to the point that other movies blanch in comparison and made him think back to the impact thatMystic Riverhad on him .
2The Autopsy Of Jane Doe
Released In 2016
The Autopsy of Jane Doe is a shuddery horror moving-picture show that follow father - and - son coroners who encounter a highly unusual and disturb autopsy . As they delve deeper into the interrogation of an unidentified woman ’s body found at a law-breaking scene , they uncover increasingly outlandish clues that let on a dingy and terrifying secret . The picture masterfully fuse supernatural element with a claustrophobic mise en scene to create a tense and gripping mystery .
One of King ’s more recent favorite movies isThe Autopsy of Jane Doe , which he share a concise , but glow review for onX(formerly Twitter ) . He resume the 2016 supernatural repugnance movie as"Visceral horror to rival noncitizen and other Cronenberg . Watch it , but not alone . “Much like comparingThe Last House on the Leftremake toThe Silence of the Lambs , itspeaks book to compareThe Autopsy of Jane Doeto Ridley Scott’sAlien , an indisputably phenomenal work of science - fiction horror .
It is a great example of how King expend his platform to highlight flick that might otherwise not have had as much pic .
Night of the Demon follows American professor John Holden as he travels to London for a parapsychology conference, only to find his colleague dead under mysterious circumstances. As he investigates, Holden confronts a devil-worshiping cult led by Dr. Julian Karswell, challenging his scientific skepticism.
As if the comparison toAlienis not enough , he also sings the movie ’s kudos by comparing it to the other deeds of revulsion filmmaker David Cronenberg . The mystery surroundingThe Autopsy of Jane Doeis intriguing and King ’s testimonial to not watch it alone is the ultimate endorsement of how scarey the floor proves to be . It is a great example of how King uses his program to foreground movies that might otherwise not have had as much exposure .
1Duel
Released In 1971
Schindler ’s List , Jurassic Park , andJawsare often weigh to beSteven Spielberg ’s best movies , but King has an unlawful favorite movie from the director ’s filmography . Via theBritish Film Institute , King describesDuelas Spielberg ’s " most inventive film , and stripped to the marrow : one man , one truck , one fight to expiry . “A trucker ’s life being endanger by a demonic hand truck is generally not thought of as one of the best assumption behind a Spielberg motion-picture show , but it clearly worked for King .
There are , of course , parallels betweenDueland theStephen King bookChristine , whose plot is centered on a machine that is possessed . King was not bother by the fact thatDuelwas a made - for - TV movieand was thoroughly entertained by the movie ’s simple and extortionate premise . Duelis the kind of moving-picture show that can be easily dismissed , peculiarly when compare to Spielberg ’s other whole kit and boodle . Stephen King ’s high praise is a admonisher that easily dismissed movies have their merits and can strike a chord in unexpected ways .
Sources : Entertainment Weekly , British Film Institute , Entertainment Weekly , X / Twitter
Village of the Damned, directed by John Carpenter, is a supernatural thriller set in a small American town where an alien force impregnates the local women. The resulting children, born with eerie powers and a lack of human empathy, lead to fear and suspicion among the villagers.
find out the tardy tidings and filmography for Stephen King , known for The Dark Tower series , The Stand , IT , The Shining , Carrie , Cujo , Misery , the Bill Hodges trilogy , and more .
The Last House on the Left is a 2009 horror thriller about Mari Collingwood, a teen whose visit to town with her friend Paige leads to a terrifying encounter. As her parents vacation at their remote lake house, the events set off an unforgettable and harrowing night.
The coming-of-age drama Billy Elliot follows the journey of a young boy who discovers a passion for ballet amidst the coal miner’s strike of the 1980s. Directed by Stephen Daldry and featuring Jamie Bell as the titular Billy, the film explores themes of class, gender, and self-discovery, all set against the backdrop of a working-class community in turmoil.
Mystic River, directed by Clint Eastwood, unfolds the story of three childhood friends—Jimmy, Dave, and Sean—whose lives are disrupted by a tragic family event. Their bonds are tested as they confront past traumas and navigate the ensuing complexities of crime and justice.
The Autopsy of Jane Doe is a chilling horror film that follows father-and-son coroners who encounter a highly unusual and disturbing autopsy. As they delve deeper into the examination of an unidentified woman’s body found at a crime scene, they uncover increasingly bizarre clues that reveal a dark and terrifying secret. The film masterfully combines supernatural elements with a claustrophobic setting to create a tense and gripping mystery.
Discover the latest news and filmography for Stephen King, known for The Dark Tower series, The Stand, IT, The Shining, Carrie, Cujo, Misery, the Bill Hodges trilogy, and more.
