The British Film Institute has announced Stephen King On Screen, a season of film and television dedicated to one of the most frequently adapted and popular writers in horror culture.
Running at BFI Southbank in London, England, from September 1st to October 3rd, the season will include screenings of lauded adaptations such as The Shining, Carrie and The Shawshank Redemption, talks and discussions, plus a special Birthday Weekender (21 – 23 September), that includes a Film Quiz and a Stephen King Summit.
One of Stephen King’s most celebrated creations gets a modern update in Andrés Muschietti’s new adaptation of It (2017), which previews on Monday 4 September ahead of its UK-wide release on Friday 8 September.
The Mist (2007) is a deft blend of heady Lovecraftian horrors and biting social commentary, in which an inexplicable fog brings forth an army of deadly creatures, leaving a disparate gang seeking refuge in a grocery store. To open the Stephen King Weekender, on King’s 70th birthday on Thursday 21 September, there is a rare screening of the film in Darabont’s preferred black and white version, as was his original intention.
Television proved an ideal vessel for Salem’s Lot (Tobe Hooper, 1979), King’s story of a sleepy Maine town infiltrated by vampires; a heavily edited two-hour cut was released theatrically in Europe, but the full-length version that will be screened in the season most effectively captures the spirit of the original text.
Meanwhile, the author has selected five of his personal favourite horror films. These films will run alongside Stephen King on Screen. King has commented on each of the five films, explaining why he chose them.
The Changeling (Peter Medak, 1979): “For supernatural horror, I like Peter Medak’s film The Changeling, starring George C. Scott in perhaps his last great screen role. There are no monsters bursting from chests; just a child’s ball bouncing down a flight of stairs was enough to scare the daylights out of me.”
Night of the Demon (Jacques Tourneur, 1957): “Although it’s old school, I love Jacques Tourneur’s Night of the Demon, a pretty wonderful adaptation of M. R. James’ story, Casting the Runes. Tourneur was a disciple of Val Lewton, which means the horror here is pretty understated, until the very end.”
Village of the Damned (Wolf Rilla, 1960): “On the subject of British horror (wrapped in an sci-fi bow), you can’t do much better than Village of the Damned, directed by Wolf Rilla and – like Night of the Demon – shot in beautiful black and white. It’s an adaptation of The Midwich Cuckoos, by John Wyndham, and George Sanders does a stellar job as the schoolmaster tasked with teaching some very strange pupils.
The Hitcher (Robert Harmon, 1986): “The Hitcher is a terrifying road movie stripped back to basics. What sets this apart, other than some spectacular stunts, is the amazing performance of Rutger Hauer as the mysterious and homicidal John Ryder. “Where did you come from?” asks the terrified kid Ryder is chasing. “Disneyland,” Ryder whispers back.”
The Stepfather (Joseph Ruben, 1987): “While we’re talking about terrifying men who come from nowhere, there’s The Stepfather, with Terry O’Quinn as the murderous (but charming) psycho looking for a family to love him. There’s that classic moment when he goes blank and says, “Saaay, who am I this time?” before bludgeoning his wife with a telephone.”
Tickets will be on sale to BFI members from 1 August and general public from 8 August 2017.
