Stephen King Films FAQ

by Scott Von Doviak

Over the past four decades, the Stephen King movie has become a genre unto itself. The prolific writer's works have spawned well over 100 adaptations for both the big and small screen, ranging from modern classics of horror (Carrie, The Shining) to Oscar-nominated fare (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile) to unapologetic, B-movie schlock (the King-directed Maximum Overdrive). The filmmakers to put their stamp on King's material include acclaimed auteurs Stanley Kubrick, David Cronenberg, and Brian De Palma; masters of horror Tobe Hooper, John Carpenter, and George Romero; and popular mainstream directors Rob Reiner, Frank Darabont, and Lawrence Kasdan.
Author Scott Von Doviak provides background information, analysis, and trivia regarding the various films and television productions, including “Bloodlines” sections on related works and “Deep Cuts” sections collecting additional odd facts and ephemera. All you ever wanted to know about the king of horror onscreen can be found here.

Genres: Nonfiction, Film

400 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2014

About the author

I am the author of three books on film and pop culture: Hick Flicks: The Rise and Fall of Redneck Cinema, If You Like The Terminator, and Stephen King Films FAQ. I have been a freelance writer for more than two decades, including stints as a film critic for The Fort Worth Star-Telegram and television reviewing for The Onion's AV Club. My debut novel Charlesgate Confidential was called "terrific" by Stephen King and named one of the top 10 crime novels of 2018. My 70's set thriller Lowdown Road will be published in July 2023 by Hard Case Crime, I live in Austin, Texas with my wife Robin and our pets Sully and Chloe.

Reviews

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Available March from Applause Books/ Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the review copy via netgalley.

Author Scott Von Doviak provides background information, analysis, and trivia regarding the various films and television productions, including “Bloodlines” sections on related works and “Deep Cuts” sections collecting additional odd facts and ephemera. All you ever wanted to know about the king of horror onscreen can be found here.

Now we all know what a Stephen King fanatic I am so this book was an absolute must read for me as I do watch every adaptation going and was definitely interested in finding out more, hearing other opinions and seeing if there were any that I had missed.

This held a plethora of information within its pages and I found it extremely interesting - I dipped in and out of it, managed to get a little list out of it of adaptations I had missed and generally had a lot of fun with it. As someone who knows Mr King's books inside out and upside down but didnt know QUITE so much about how some of these stories came to screen, it was fascinating reading.

Mr Von Doviak's writing is terrific - sometimes this sort of reference material can be very "dry" even if you are interested in the subject matter but in this case I found it to be extremely involving, humerous in places and certainly well researched. I doubt there is much more to be said on the subject of King adaptations and as soon as the paperback is available I shall be getting a copy for my Stephen King shelf. Its something I will go back to again and again.

All in all a must have for any Stephen King fan and an enjoyable read for anyone.

Happy Reading Folks!

[Ghostie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for anyone who enjoys watching Stephen King adaptations. (And who likes to read about horror movies in general) This book serves as a pretty good companion to the adaptations. It is not stuffed full with useless information. But instead filled with the smaller unknown facts and stories. From the behind the scenes with directors and screenwriters. Every adaptations section is never more then 3-4 pages. Just enough information to get you interested in seeking them out. The author, Von Doviak, has been a fan of Stephen King and his books for about 30 years, he states in the preface.

Von Doviak also shares information about the horror movies that came before King. The films that inspired his books, and inspired the people who adapted them. Gives you a good insight as to how the industry came to be what it is today. And how the horror films of old came to be so loved.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves learning about horror movies, or about Stephen King's notoriously, so bad that they are good, adaptations.

[Joshua Wiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have many a book on the various movies made from Stephen King's writings. They all pale in comparison to this tome. From Carrie to the endless parade of Children of the Corn movies to the more recent Under the Dome tv show, this book covers every movie or mini-series to date. From the pre-production process to the behind the scenes drama to the good and bad of the finished product, this book covers it all. If you are a horror fan, a Stephen King, or a movie fan, you won't regret picking up this book.

[Horror DNA · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is no name more synonymous with horror than Stephen King. Whether or not you like his books, there is no denying that no one person is better known when it comes to bringing the scares to a global audience. His countless works have spawned over one hundred film adaptations (including TV mini-series and episodes), from shorts to full-length features and from indie to Hollywood-produced. Scott Von Doviak attempts to tackle those films in his latest book, Stephen King Films FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the King of Horror on Film.

I have to admit, before cracking this book open, if you had told me there were over a hundred titles based on the work of King, I would have scoffed. But when you sit down and think about it, you've probably seen many of them or maybe even some of their sequels (that most likely weren't endorsed by the horror king – no pun intended). Hell, there may even be some titles in this book that would surprise the casual horror fan.

You can read Steve's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.

[Daniel DeLappe · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book that could have been a great read if the author understood his subject beyond the surface

[Samantha Hussey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quintessential read for any Stephen King fan that also loves movies.

[April (The Steadfast Reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted here: The Steadfast Reader : King's March : Stephen King Films FAQ

When I picked up this book I expected a glossy coffee-table book that would be a lot of pretty (or gruesome) pictures and a few fun facts. Wrong. Let me re-emphasize: This is not a coffee table book. While this book is billed to be about the Stephen King genre of horror - it starts out as a history of horror films themselves. The first few chapters chronicle the earliest silent horror films through Universal Studios 'creature features' which we know inspired the young King. It's an extraordinary look into the history of cinema. I really enjoyed these chapters despite them not being strictly about Stephen King films.

Once Von Doviak delves into the King 'genre', there's really no turning back. This book is four hundred pages and it is dense. There are photographs and pictures, but not as liberally as expected. He tries to keep the films in chronological order within sub-categories. So all of the theatrical releases take up a chapter, followed by made for TV movies, right into the mini-series. The scope of Stephen King filmmaking is breathtaking, he's been nearly as prolific in movies has he has been as an author, and that's really saying something.

Von Doviak brings up King movies that I didn't even know existed. If nothing else this volume is thorough. I found it to be an extremely enjoyable read - but then I'm a hard-core Stephen King fan. (Still, how did I not know that Rob Reiner directed Misery?) Each movie is summarized (with no regard for spoilers), analyzed, and then the reader is given some history behind the making of the film.

The author also covers Stephen King in other media, including comic books, musicals, and yet-to-be-produced films and TV projects.

On a personal note, I have always enjoyed the ABC mini-series of The Stand (please please please if this is made into a movie, let it be a trilogy) - this book was able to articulate what exactly was unsatisfying about it. I always felt something was a little 'off' with the mini-series and Van Doviak posits that it's the actor cast as Randall Flagg. YES. NOW I KNOW.

I'd recommend this book to serious Stephen King fans and serious horror movie buffs.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Marian Weaver · Rating 3 out of 5]

Von Doviak is an unashamed, self-declared fan of King's work - but that doesn't mean the various adaptations made from it get a free pass. This is no gushy piece of uncritical adulation. Quite the opposite, actually. What you get is incredibly thorough - a good history of how each film (or TV adaptation) came into being, anecdotes from on-set and a review that, if anything, is rather harsh.

I mean, I'm as appalled at the next person at some of the howlers out there - The Mangler, for instance, dear god - but von Doviak pulls no punches. And that's where I'd have to say the book suffers. With very few good reviews (notably Kubrick's The Shining and, of all things, Pet Sematary, the more I read, I found myself occasionally wondering why he wrote this at all.

That being said, it's clear the author is well across his material, not only that written by King, but the wider field of cinematic horror. And that's this book's strength; it situates King well in the genre. For bonus points, there's even a number of anecdotes that show just how pervasive King's influence has been. (For example, how a never-realised proposed film between King and Spielberg led to Poltergeist.)

By far the funniest part of the book is von Doviak's record of his marathon viewing of all the Children of the Corn movies. Really, this guy should get a medal for subjecting himself to those. Or perhaps some free therapy vouchers. His personality shows through here, and I found that really engaging. If he were to write like this all the time, come out from behind the anonymous non-fiction persona and marry that engage style with his encyclopedia knowledge ... well, I'd be lining up to buy more of his work.

[Katie(babs) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any Stephen King fan will love this book. This book would be great taught as a college course. It's gives a nice overview of all the King books, short stories and screenplays that were made into movies and TV mini series and the such. Most of King's book adaptations don't do well at the box office, but most of his work has been adapted to the screen regardless. There's little interesting tidbits of information I never knew, such as King directed Maximum Overdrive and how he loved collaborating with George Romero (for Creepshow) and Frank Darabont (The Green Mile).

Chockful of Stephen King goodness. Also Kathy Bates is well respected within these pages, as well as the movie The Shining, even though King had less than positive things to say about the movie and Stanley Kubrick.

Must read!

More at Booklikes: http://katiebabs.booklikes.com/post/7...

[Chuck White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a big Stephen King fan, ever since I first read FIRESTARTER, way back in 1982. As a rule, I always read a King book first, before seeing one of the adaptations. I always find this improves the movie for me, as I can fill in the story with what I read in the novel. So being a fan of both King and horror films, I was looking forward to getting some insight on each of the films. Well, brother, let me tell ya, I was not disappointed. A great read, fun, with humour in the right doses. Lots of facts and trivia that I wasn't aware of. I was sad when this one ended.


Highly recommend to Stephen King fans, horror fans and film fans

[Steven Spoelstra · Rating 4 out of 5]

An up to date history of King on the big screen. Need I say more?

[Jp992751 · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book with a lot of facts that really bring the movies to life. A lot of behind-the-scenes information. At times a bit stagnant but still overall and enjoyable read.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to own if you grew up reading the books and watching the films of Stephen King. Wonderful trivia on his films and books.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.The Shinning is the greatest movie ever.