King on Screen is a fan flick. More so, it is a nostalgic fanboy flick sprinkled with notable horror icon Stephen King collaborators that meanders until the end credits and leaves you wondering, “just exactly who this film is made for?” The answer to that question is that this documentary was made for anyone introduced to King through his film adaptations who, like most, ingest every King IP including the ones that you know will not be handled well. In that respect, director Daphné Baiwir has a film with a ready-built fanbase that only requires a modicum of effort to appease. Unfortunately, save for a few “geek-centric” moments, King on Screen does not deliver on a higher level than the baseline expectations King fans will have of it. The film is an exploration into the work of a handful of directors who have had the opportunity to adapt King’s work for the big and small screen. It’s a tirade of anecdotal blurbs laced with clips and trailers, containing sparse moments of “oh that’s cool” truth bombs that do not really amount to any groundbreaking revelations.
King on Screen begins with a drawn-out opening credit sequence accompanied by a short film sprinkled with King easter eggs. The sequence also features actors and directors recognizable to King film fans. It is a cute eye wink for those “in the know,” but it can be a headscratcher for the uninitiated. It is an idea that polarizes the newcomers, and it lasts long enough to give them the incentive to turn away, not feeling welcomed in the world the film wants to celebrate. After the elongated sequence, the film segues into a jump-cut “trailer-esque” sequence bombarded with stock music and rapid-fire interview clips. After a little after 10 minutes, it settles down and begins to find its groove. The content boils down to directors speaking passively about their personal experience with specific King movies.
Although there is not much to chew on, King on Screen is most interesting during sequences featuring Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Mist) and Greg Nicotero (the Creepshow TV series). These moments offer the best behind-the-scenes stories and some good insight into King’s connection to the making of their projects. There is also remarkably interesting footage featuring Shelly Duvall on the set of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining where we see some of the stress and turmoil during the shoot. The films featured in the documentary are not presented in any order, and there are many not even mentioned that would have proven worth receiving some insight. The biggest omission is the absence of King himself. Although he has stated that the adaptations are extensions that do not have any bearings on his literary work, it would have been awesome for him to sound off on films inspired by his work as a fan himself.
King on Screen does not have the replay value of your favorite Stephen King movie. If you want to initiate someone to the world of the horror maestro’s cinematic adaptations, just show them the movies. The attempt here is middling at best. The filmmakers did just enough to get it done, knowing that the fans of King’s adaptations are going to show up, regardless.
Photo courtesy of Dark Star Pictures
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