Author Stephen King has been a prominent figure in imaginative horror and supernatural fiction for decades now. With the recent releases of the It films and upcoming Salem’s Lot and Tommyknockers reboots, along with talks of a possible remake of the dystopian sci-fi The Running Man, this literary force of nature shows no signs of stopping. Given the recent King releases and reworkings, along with the success of the epic It revamps, we can’t help but wonder what other film or miniseries adaptations from this author could do with a modern coat of paint.
Here are 10 of the best choices that are on our radar.
The Langoliers
Sure, this film/miniseries may have been pretty cheesy and even dull at times, complete with some crudely animated creatures. Yet, this is all the more reason that The Langoliers could use a sprucing up. Its emphasis on these animated orbs with teeth makes it a great contender for a modern coat of cinematic, CG paint. An improvement in the production value could benefit this film a great deal.
Besides, beneath its somewhat cheap aesthetics lies a premise that’s pretty cool and thought-provoking. Given the capabilities of modern filmmaking, there’s certainly is a lot that could be done with a premise of time rifts and alternate timelines frozen in place.
Thinner
The notion of unforeseen, uncontrollable curses can be a frightening one, especially when said curse is literally whittling down your very physical being. Such is the premise behind this ‘96 film, Thinner, based on the novel by the same name.
Like our previous entry, this one received a pretty mixed reception, and no doubt had its moments of cheese. Still, the concept of a protagonist being cursed with a constantly thinning body is a fun one to play with. It could be amusing to watch a remake laced with some greater cinematic flair and bombast; perhaps some more thrilling action as Billy clashes with Tadzu and company. You could certainly have some fun with CG and more elaborate makeup given the myriad of body-altering curses that permeate this film.
Silver Bullet
The werewolf motif might have seemed a little stock 60, or even 30, years ago. Though these days, outside of the occasional Twilight, these once-prominent figures of horror seem mostly absent, and due for a zombie-like renaissance.
As this entertaining horror flick dates all the way back to 1985, we could definitely do with a modern rendition or reimagining of this cult classic. Despite its now-dated visuals which can border on looking a bit silly, the core of a creepy premise is certainly there. Given the right direction and production, Silver Bullet could see its full terrifying potential if only the werewolves were dressed up with some more modern renderings. One can certainly imagine a sleek, epic rework by the likes of Burton, Tarantino, or del Toro.
Rose Red
Given that Netflix cranks out reboots and expansions of existing properties at a high volume, how about a slickened, more grandiose remake of Rose Red? Given the quality and success of that thriller, it would be cool witnessing a Stephen King take on The Haunting of Hill House. It makes sense, given King and director Craig Baxley’s show was actually inspired by Shirley Jackson’s ‘59 novel – which also birthed that Netflix program.
While we don’t necessarily need the “in your face” bombast and buckets of blood the It remake received, this spooky tale could benefit from a modern coat of paint. The eerie haunted mansion setting could be crawling with some neater special effects and creepier imagery.
Cat’s Eye
One of the more overlooked and underrated works from a Stephen King adaptation has to be this anthology; a trio of very different, but equally thrilling tales from the author’s Night Shift short story collection.
The film kicks off with a man trying to cut his smoking addiction by enlisting in an organization that uses rather rough, unorthodox tactics to get their patients to quit. The next tale features a gambler who gets himself in hot water and is forced to traverse a skyscraper ledge. The unifying element is a cat, who wanders from story to story, before meeting a young girl being terrorized by a troll. Yes - there’s quite a bit that goes on in this thriller. Cat’s Eye makes a terrific contender for a remake, as this troll can use a cinematic overhaul in its design. Yet, there’s also potential to perhaps toss in a couple more unused horror stories from King’s Night Shift.
The Running Man
Given the current climate in entertainment that embraces dark, dystopian sci-fi and twisted thrillers, a more grandiose reboot of The Running Man would fit right in. One can’t help but think of properties like The Hunger Games or Syfy’s recent campy gorefest, Blood Drive, as potential inspiration for an awesome revamp. At the same time, the core of The Running Man’s existing story - a man forced to take part in a violent game show - is a fun one to explore as is.
There’s definitely potential to rev up the visual spectacle and the dazzling special effects, which a premise like this screams for. You’d probably have to bump up the year which the film’s set in quite a bit though, as “2025” doesn’t exactly work contextually anymore…
Storm Of The Century
Like many on our list, Storm of the Century has the backbone of an entertaining narrative that simply begs for a modern sprucing up, complete with some more action and epic special effects.
While ‘99 isn’t too far removed, the relatively limited budget that comes with producing a made-for-TV series coupled with the two decades of age can make this look a touch dated now. A large-scale revamp could work as a thrilling diaster-meets-horror film, or could even be extended into a dramatic, creepy TV series. This tale of survival, with its myriad of characters and sinister villain, could really use more airtime than the 3 meager episodes it was allotted.
Maximum Overdrive
The comedicially-tinged thriller is another trait in films that seems to be on the upswing, with unique romps like Krampus taking the spotlight. Thus, it would seem like the ideal conditions for this campy King horror to go full-throttle with a comeback.
One could imagine a sort of Final Destination or Wes Craven vibe, given the slew of deadly inanimate objects that spring to life and wreak havoc on people. There’s endless potential for some slickened production value and crazy CG that can create some even more over-the-top action scenes. You’ve also got over 3 decades worth of technological improvements with the featured gadgets themselves. This invites the possibility of creepy “smart devices” and the like terrorizing people with greater efficiency.
Christine
Much like our previous entry, this classic antique of a film could probably do for a sleeker, more modern redesign. The vintage Plymouth Fury, which comes to life and kills those who scorn it, can be a creepy prospect considering a person’s vulnerability to this mobile hunk of steel. Yet, a sequel or remake that features our more sophisticated modern-day death machines would certainly produce some thrills.
This is probably one of the largest King properties that remains untapped in recent history. Given this fact, and the distinct qualities prominent in this supernatural horror, Christine is surely due for a new paint job.
The Shining
What better way to follow up the recently-released sequel, Doctor Sleep, than to revisit this classic ‘80 film from which it originated, The Shining? While it would be tough to match the creepy intensity of Jack Nicholson’s performance, a more cinematic, visually nuanced retelling of this eerie tale could hold a ton of potential.
A modern, more expansive Overlook Hotel could be laced with some even spookier visuals and frightening manifestations. Perhaps we could even get a TV show in soft reboot fashion which hones in on a new set of characters settling into a more rundown version of the hotel in the present day.
