The Dark Half vs. The Dark Half
November 23rd 2006 23:04
It seems a mute point. Will there ever be a movie adaptation of a Stephen King novel that’s actually really good? The simple answer is, probably no. There hasn’t been so far, and pretty much every thing King has written has been turned into a feature or a short. So why should we hold out hope, because hope springs eternal? Only in a King novella I believe.
King published The Dark Half in 1989. At story’s end King (as he often does) cites the initiation and completion dates of the writing process. In this case; November 3, 1987 – March 16, 1989. It took him nearly a year and a half to write the novel. Not bad. The movie version probably took three months at the most. But hey, most of the job is done, so the filmmakers should be able to concentrate on making one hell of a good job. You’d think.
Unfortunately, director (and screenwriter) George Romero failed to do the King novel justice. The movie ends up like nearly every other King adaptation; mediocre, at best.
The novel seems to polarize King fans. I’ve read posts on sites where many readers think of it as one of King’s weakest books. Others, like myself, think of it as one his better novels, more driven, less likely to go off on some tangent the way King often does (particularly in his latter works). The tale of a troubled writer, Thad Beaumont, his wife Liz and their two twins becoming inexorably embroiled in the incredibly nasty Master Plan of Thad’s ghost-twin (and pseudonym) George Stark, is a stunning example of the duality of the writer: the real person and the mind of the narrator.
It’s been openly discussed that The Dark Half was King’s response to the exposure of his own alias author; Richard Bachman, whom he used to pen several novels early in his career (Different Seasons collection, Thinner). And also it gave him the opportunity to play with his own concepts and attitudes on the whole writing process; the desires and frustrations.
The novel brilliantly builds character and tension with George Stark causing all manner of upset and a steadily escalating supernatural hold over the real world. The last quarter of the novel is a superbly described vision of a nightmare.
Director Romero, a long-standing friend of King’s, should’ve taken Stark by the horns. Apparently he was slated to direct Pet Sematary (1989), but that fell through, so he grabbed The Dark Half (and tore the pages). He was also meant to direct an adaptation of The Stand, but hey. Knowing how dark some of Romero’s films have been (Martin, Day of the Dead), The Dark Half (1993) movie should’ve been as charcoaled as one of Stark’s Berol Black Beauty graphite pencils. Instead it condenses the novel reasonably well, but jettisons any of the surrealism which gave the novel its joie de vive. The movie plays almost like a slasher flick, except not as graphic.
I'm sure if the movie had been made five years later (and with a bigger budget) the surreal sparrow imagery would've been much better realised. Perhaps a remake in a few years time? (I hear the ghostly voice of George Stark chuckling ...)
Timothy Hutton was okay as Thad Beaumont, but it was an unconvincing decision to have Hutton play George Stark as well, regardless of the fact that they’re meant to be twins. In King’s novel Stark is described as an imposing man indeed, shoulders almost as broad as a Gridiron player, very short blonde hair, and a face which borders on remarkable. Thad looks nothing like this; slim, handsome, and dark-haired. At least Romero kept the clumsy aspect.
Amy Madigan wasn’t charismatic enough as Thad’s wife Liz. Stark is meant to find her attractive, which in turn is meant to aggravate the situation. But that is not apparent in the movie at all. Michael Rooker, like Hutton, was adequate as Sheriff Panghorn, the trailing Good Man. But adequate and okay in a King movie adaptation just ain’t good enough.
The Dark Half novel has some of King’s most striking and powerful imagery. It also conjures some brilliant and original ideas about the inner demon; one’s shadow self and the fine line between dark desires and happy thoughts.
There’s still hope. Romero is currently filming an adaptation of King’s From a Buick 8. I haven’t read it, but I hear it’s a dark and violent tale. Go get ‘em boys! And get it right this time! Don’t make me tell you twice!!
As for me, I hear my crow black Toronado growling in the garage. Best I pull my driving gloves on and ride her to the end of the line, huh hoss?
* the images on this page were taken from the following wikipedia pages:
The Dark Half and The Dark Half (film)
Unfortunately, director (and screenwriter) George Romero failed to do the King novel justice. The movie ends up like nearly every other King adaptation; mediocre, at best.
The novel seems to polarize King fans. I’ve read posts on sites where many readers think of it as one of King’s weakest books. Others, like myself, think of it as one his better novels, more driven, less likely to go off on some tangent the way King often does (particularly in his latter works). The tale of a troubled writer, Thad Beaumont, his wife Liz and their two twins becoming inexorably embroiled in the incredibly nasty Master Plan of Thad’s ghost-twin (and pseudonym) George Stark, is a stunning example of the duality of the writer: the real person and the mind of the narrator.
It’s been openly discussed that The Dark Half was King’s response to the exposure of his own alias author; Richard Bachman, whom he used to pen several novels early in his career (Different Seasons collection, Thinner). And also it gave him the opportunity to play with his own concepts and attitudes on the whole writing process; the desires and frustrations.
The novel brilliantly builds character and tension with George Stark causing all manner of upset and a steadily escalating supernatural hold over the real world. The last quarter of the novel is a superbly described vision of a nightmare.
I'm sure if the movie had been made five years later (and with a bigger budget) the surreal sparrow imagery would've been much better realised. Perhaps a remake in a few years time? (I hear the ghostly voice of George Stark chuckling ...)
Timothy Hutton was okay as Thad Beaumont, but it was an unconvincing decision to have Hutton play George Stark as well, regardless of the fact that they’re meant to be twins. In King’s novel Stark is described as an imposing man indeed, shoulders almost as broad as a Gridiron player, very short blonde hair, and a face which borders on remarkable. Thad looks nothing like this; slim, handsome, and dark-haired. At least Romero kept the clumsy aspect.
Amy Madigan wasn’t charismatic enough as Thad’s wife Liz. Stark is meant to find her attractive, which in turn is meant to aggravate the situation. But that is not apparent in the movie at all. Michael Rooker, like Hutton, was adequate as Sheriff Panghorn, the trailing Good Man. But adequate and okay in a King movie adaptation just ain’t good enough.
The Dark Half novel has some of King’s most striking and powerful imagery. It also conjures some brilliant and original ideas about the inner demon; one’s shadow self and the fine line between dark desires and happy thoughts.
There’s still hope. Romero is currently filming an adaptation of King’s From a Buick 8. I haven’t read it, but I hear it’s a dark and violent tale. Go get ‘em boys! And get it right this time! Don’t make me tell you twice!!
As for me, I hear my crow black Toronado growling in the garage. Best I pull my driving gloves on and ride her to the end of the line, huh hoss?
* the images on this page were taken from the following wikipedia pages:
The Dark Half and The Dark Half (film)
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Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
Health Focus
Poetry Lighthouse
MS Paint Art
Good image, looks like some of my computer art there?
c u soon,
katyzzz
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
The only Stephen King movie that I thought was reasonably well done was Misery, but then that was less surreal than some of his other books (though it's a bloody long time since I've read the book).
Interesting to see what they can do with From a Buick 8. I haven't read that book yet.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
yes a little spectral chaos at work ....
cheers!
Kylie,
Don't bother with the dull film version. Keep the richness of the novel alive in your mind ....
Comment by Adrian
Philosophy Blog
Comment by Nina
TV Babble
I will be very surprised if the adaptation of From a Buick 8 is any good. Having read the book, I think it may be difficult to execute without looking unreal and cheesy.
Comment by Anonymous
But is everyone forgetting The Shawshank Redemption? Or The Green Mile?
These were awesome King adaptations - in fact the films may have even surpassed the books!
Comment by Nina
TV Babble
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
I haven't included King books that weren't really horror .... Shawshank Redemption is a great film, and a decent novella ... so that is a rarety indeed.
In all honesty I've never read or seen The Green Mile, but it didn't look like a horror to me ...
Comment by K.L. Almeroth
Motherhood
The Dark King,
Loving this post. Your stuff just gets better and better! Brilliant...
So glad you finished the book (over a decade late, but hey?) and enjoyed it.
One of my fav King books (as I've already said).
And thank you for classifying the Romero-King relationship....I now finally know!
I can only hope, wish, pray, sell my soul to the devil, that Romero does the movie adaptation of Cell. He has to. HE HAS TO.
I don't think Romero will fuck this one up. This is his chance to do it right!
You've got to go steal, borrow or buy a copy of Cell. You'll like it.
Probably not as in-depth as his earlier books, as in the way of characters, but a true horror zombie (but not zombies) fest. Seriously creepy, too.
Alright, got a couple more posts of yours to catch up on,
K.L.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
muchos gracias amor!
I'm afraid to say Romero is not making Cell. it is being directed by Eli Roth who made Cabin Fever and Hostel, neither of which I liked.
Romero is, however, directing From a Buick 8. Have you read that? Apparently pretty gruesome.
I will wait til Cell moves from a trade paperback to a paperback.
I bought 2nd hand paperbacks of Pet Sematary and Christine at Bondi markets the other day. I'm gonna read those next (again), haven't read them in about twenty years. Woo-hoo!!!
Comment by K.L. Almeroth
Motherhood
To the Dark Prince,
I'm disappointed about Cell....don't know if I can watch it, what with Eli Roth doing it!!
I'm an old-school horror fan, that's for sure....all the gore looking ridiculously fake, and hilarious moments throughout...
I'm a bit scared by this new breed of horror....the Saws and the Hostel....
I haven't read Buick. I will have to...
So happy to hear you're out there, hunting old paperbacks...one of my fav pastimes...(apart from drinking, that is)....
Pet Semetary is an all-time fav. Its funny, I finished Cell today, and went through my King collection, thinking I'd read Pet Semetary again (for like the millionth time)....but I've recently reread Misery (which I love; I find that book absolutely hilarious, and Annie - who I can only envisage as Kathy Bates now - absolutely terrifying and deranged), and now Cell.
Was missing my Dean Koontz fix.
Have you read Shadowfires, by him?
Another classic zombie book. I picked that one up instead to read.
Your horror pal - particularly in books,
K.L.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
What Koontz would be good to start with? What's his best?
They haven't turned many (or any??) of Koontz's books into films have they?
Comment by K.L. Almeroth
Motherhood
Actually, a lot of his books have been made into movies....
Just seriously shitty ones!
The new Frankenstein series of his is pretty cool....Shadowfires is a classic....
Phantoms....
The Watchers is my all-time fav, but its not as horror as the others.
Koontz is brilliant. He's a God.
Lightning, The Bad Place....Servants of Twilight. Any of his old stuff is more horror, and brilliant - the Frankenstein series is the only exception here. This is new work of his, but such a return to his classic horror, it warms my heart!
Rereading Shadowfires, and I love it. One of my favs of his.
If you can pick up King secondhand, you'll find Koontz, too.
K.L.
Comment by K.L. Almeroth
Motherhood
Actually, Hideaway is one of the few Dean Koontz books that has been made into a great movie...
With Jeff Goldblum, and Alicia Silverstone....you may have seen it?
That one's great, as well as The Watchers, done in the 80's...starring Corey Haim! One of my favs as a young girl!!
K.L.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
I thought Hideway was terrible from memory. I reviewed it years and years ago. But I may have my wires crossed. I'm a big Jeff Goldbum fan. Was that the one with the cave??
Comment by suitably*wounded
Eternal Days; Author: Illness, M.
~says the woman, ironically, about to read Lisey's Song.... I hope (Santa??)
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Lisey's Song? Say wha ...? Isn't that a romance???