The year 2017 has seen a lot of screen adaptations for the works of Stephen King. Dubbed a "Master Of Horror," it's not surprising that the author's literary efforts are being welcomed in another medium, where his horrific creations can be given new life.
'1922,' a story of guilt and consequence
Director and screenwriter Zak Hilditch recently adapted one of King's better-known works, "1922." It is a novella that follows the story of a farmer named Wilfred James.
Without spoiling too much of the story, let's just say that at the start of the narrative, James is already being consumed by guilt for a murder he knowingly and willingly committed.
The story starts in a hotel room, with the farmer writing a sort of confession letter.
The story has trademark elements of King's writing. There's a certain sense of the story being grounded and realistic. Of course, there were also some supernatural elements here and there, but for the most part, the viewer gets the feeling that the situations presented in the narrative can actually happen in real life.
This is one of King's strong suits— crafting horror that is relatable and is made horrifying by the fact that it could happen to your neighbor, your friend, your family, or even to you.
However, the film adaptation is not without its flaws. A report by The Verge tells us that "1922" has its problems, "though they mostly stem from King’s source material."
A little flawed, but still amazing
Apart from one surprising change, director Hilditch mostly sticks to the King's original writing.
While that in itself is a safe bet, the decision carries the usual problems when adapting a work of literature on-screen.
According to the same report by The Verge, Zak Hilditch does not take as much time as King with introducing us to the characters. While this does not hurt the horror itself, it does give viewers some distance from the cast, with the audience perhaps being less empathic of their plight.
For example, the film races to how the protagonist undertook the murder. But it merely glosses over the reasons why he did it, or if murder is something that is "out-of-character" for him.
The Verge assures us that actor Thomas Jane's performance as the unfortunate farmer is very good. However, this does not make up for whatever personality the adaptation steals from the main character.
This is one of the critics' biggest gripe for the film. But overall, "1922" does not fall short of expectations. It still gives audiences what a Stephen King adaptation promises to deliver: the creeps that only a master story-teller of horror can deliver.
"1922" debuted on October 22, and is available for streaming on Netflix.