Category Archives: Stephen King

2014, Abuse of Women, Acceptable for teenagers, Amazon Prime, Amusing banter, Based on a Book, Bloody scenes, Creepy, Detective, Disturbing Image, Happy Family Gatherings, Murder, Serial Killer, Sex Scenes, Stalker, Stephen King, Stephen King, Strange Ending

A Good Marriage (2014)

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From IMDB:

After 25 years of a good marriage, what will Darcy do once she discovers her husband’s sinister secret?

From Amazon Prime you can stream this 1 hour 41 minute complete film.

Based on a short story by Stephen King, this suspense thriller is about a wife who accidentally discovers that her husband of 25 years is a serial killer of women whom he first tortures before killing them. You learn this at the very beginning of the story and is not here a spoiler.  Really the question is: Having made this discovery what does she do next?

Darcy Anderson, the wife is played by Joan Allen who played Colonel Margaret Rayne in the TV series The Killing,  Bob Anderson, the husband, is played by Anthony LaPaglia whose resumé is enormous.

LaPaglia’s portrayal of a man darkly stalking his next victim is what you would expect.  What is more surprising is his loving behavior toward his wife even after she makes the discovery. Hard to believe, but it actually works!

Absence of any violence  or torture (although there are photographs of the victims)  obviates the need to cringe.

What would you do if you discovered that your spouse is a serial killer?

2014, Based on a Book, Clever Plot, Detective, Ethical struggles, Explicit sexual discussion, Plot Twist, Psychological Thriller, Revenge, Serial Killer, Sex Scenes, Stalker, Stephen King, Suspense, Violent

Stephen King’s A Good Marriage (2014)

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From NetFlix:

With a serial killer on the loose and a disheveled stranger stalking her, devoted wife Darcy Anderson has further cause for alarm after she unwittingly uncovers an ominous secret about her husband that threatens their happy marriage — and her life.

There’s no mistaking a Stephen King plot with its sinister twists and turns and always a touch of revenge. “A Good Marriage” is no exception.

Acting is good on all counts. Since seeing him in 2001 in the film “Lantana”, I have always rooted for Anthony LaPaglia.

Stephen King paints a surprising interaction between husband and wife. Their marriage seems so happy and normal as the story starts. And then the fun begins, proving that not all serial killer stories need be alike.

Although the film is not that special, neither is it a waste of time.

2001, Could Be Sad, Feel Good Not For Children, Revenge, Stephen King, Suspense

Hearts in Atlantis (2001)

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From NetFlix:

This coming-of-age drama set in the 1960s is another one of Stephen King’s short stories adapted for the big screen. Anthony Hopkins plays an elderly man with bad eyesight and a second sight who’s a boarder in a widower’s home. He befriends the woman’s young son, who reads to him and learns of his mysterious power and the danger he’s trying to escape. On the heels of the success of King’s The Green Mile, this film’s tepid reviews surprised many.

Anthony Hopkins has not been a consistently good actor. In fact, as I see it, he has been in some really second-rate movies and his acting at times has been horrible (examples: Dracula or The Mask of Zorro). In “Hearts in Atlantis” he is acceptable. It is the story that held my attention. You do have to suspend some disbelief because the supposedly 11 year old boy has some lines that are just too mature and observant for a kid that age. And did J. Edgar Hoover, for all his cross-dressing faults, really employ psychics to fight communism ? Maybe I should read the original Stephen King short story. I would still call this a feel-good, but not for children (who might not understand the mother’s rape scene). There is one bashing scene, but this is not a violent film.

2007, Horror, Stephen King

The Mist (2007)

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From NetFlix:

After a brutal thunderstorm pounds a small town, the residents
discover a malevolent mist hangs over their homes, killing anyone
who remains outside. Trapped in a grocery store, a band of survivors
must make a stand against the deadly fog. Based on a story by horror
maestro Stephen King and directed by multiple Oscar nominee Frank
Darabont, this spine chiller stars Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden
and Andre Braugher

While watching this Stephen King horror story, daughter Kate and I recoiled in terror while Kate’s
boy friend Nigel yawned in boredom. I thought the story was quite an engrossing trip. And
the film influenced a dream I had that night.

Stephen King is too good to just present horror for horror’s sake. In this film he asks the question:
when put into a dangerous situation that may require bravery or sacrifice, how would most
people react ? Forget the silly monsters (which are really creepy). Marcia Gay Harden was
her usual well-acting self as a religious fanatic (read that “nuts”) who rabble-rouses to perfection.
I have never heard of Thomas Jane who put in a good performance as the lead (of course, since
he is from Baltimore).

There is no sex in the film. But this movie could scare the living daylights out of small children, as
well as adults named “Tony”.

Stephen King published a collection of his short stories called “Skeleton Crew”
in which the first story is the original “The Mist”. It is very similar to the film
plot. But to tell you the truth, I prefer the film plot over the novella.

Be afraid, be very afraid,

1986, Could Be Sad, Feel Good For All, Stephen King

Stand By Me (1986)

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From NetFlix:

In this Rob Reiner dramatization of Stephen King’s novella, The Body,
a writer ( Richard Dreyfuss) tells the story of how he and three other
boys sought adventure and heroism. In the 1950s, in the woods of
Oregon, the boys set out to find a missing teen’s dead body. What
they find out about themselves along the way, though, means even
more in this coming-of-age tale co-starring River Phoenix,
Corey Feldman, Wil Wheaton and Jerry O’Connell

Beautiful, nostalgic, at times sad. You can just feel Richard Dreyfuss’
wave of sad long-lost memories while sitting in that car.
This Stephen King novel is a sweet classic.

1990, Could Be Hard To Watch, Horror, Not Feel Good, Revenge, Stephen King, Suspense, Violent

Misery (1990)

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From NetFlix:

In this creepy thriller based on Stephen King’s book, Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates) rescues her idol, romance novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan), after a horrible car accident. But she morphs from nurturing caregiver to sadistic jailer upon discovering that Sheldon plans to kill off his literary heroine, Misery, in his next volume. Bates’s disturbing performance as the psychotic Annie netted her a Best Actress Oscar.

The book is quite good especially compared to the movie. The movie vaguely resembles the book but still offers the same roller coaster ride. It’s just fun at a B level. Kathy Bates as the crazy captor and James Caan as the captive are a hoot. Bring along your strong stomach for some of the violence.