It’s possible you saw the trailer for The Long Walk and were surprised to discover it was based on a novel written by Stephen King.
It does seem that as long as the world keeps spinning, there will always be another King short story or novel you’ve never heard of that’s somehow being turned into a film.
If you’re interested in checking out these underrated Stephen King films, the Watch With Us team has you covered. Here’s where to stream three of the very best.
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‘Gerald’s Game’ (2017)
Helmed by The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass creator Mike Flanagan, Gerald’s Game was long thought to be unfilmable due to the nature of its twisted plot. While on a remote getaway, a bit of sexy roleplay runs horribly afoul. As Jessie Burlingame (Carla Gugino) is handcuffed to the bedposts, her husband, Gerald (Bruce Greenwood), suffers a heart attack and dies, leaving Jessie imprisoned with no apparent means of escape. Jessie struggles to free herself and wrestles with her inner demons – while a real one is out there watching her.
The film takes place entirely on the bed where Jessie is handcuffed and inside her own memories. Flanagan does an excellent job of keeping the action moving where he can while ratcheting up the tension bit by bit, creating a suffocating, claustrophobic atmosphere. Gerald’s Game’s climax is so utterly gruesome you may have to look away, but it’s not just violence for the sake of it – for a film that takes place on a bed, the story is totally engrossing.
Stream Gerald’s Game on Netflix.
‘The Life of Chuck’ (2024)
Flanagan has managed to cement himself as something of a Stephen King savant – in addition to Gerald’s Game, he directed King’s The Shining sequel, Doctor Sleep. The Life of Chuck isn’t a horror or a thriller but a fantasy drama about an ordinary man named Chuck (played by Tom Hiddleston) who appears to be somehow connected with the death of the universe, and the story charts Chuck’s life in reverse chronological order.
The Life of Chuck is a moving celebration of life as well as death, in a story that paints a portrait of the simultaneous joy and suffering of existence. In addition to Hiddleston, the film has a stacked cast featuring stellar supporting performances from Jacob Tremblay, Mark Hamill, Karen Gillan and Nick Offerman.
Rent The Life of Chuck on Amazon Prime Video.
‘The Running Man’ (1987)
While it’s set for a refresh directed by Edgar Wright and planned to release later this year, Stephen King’s 1982 novel The Running Man was first loosely adapted for film by screenwriter Steven E. de Souza (Die Hard), with Arnold Schwarzenegger starring. The film is set in a dystopian future and follows Schwarzenegger’s Ben Richards: a convicted criminal playing against his will on a sadistic reality game show in which he must race for his freedom or be hunted and killed.
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The 1987 film is noted for retaining the general premise and names of characters, while the upcoming 2025 adaptation is purported to be a more faithful interpretation of the source material. However, it’s hard to go wrong when it comes to Arnold, and the movie is a perfect fit for him – it showcases a thrilling mixture of science fiction and good, old-fashioned action.
Stream The Running Man on Paramount+.
