RYAN MEYER
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NOTHING PEAK BLOG

30. Stephen King Favorites

8/30/2019

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"Hello..." 

It's only been a week since my last post, but I know I missed a week in the last month or so, and I can't hold back my excitement for next week's release of IT: Chapter 2, so I wanted to discuss some of my favorite Stephen King stories. I'll talk about the books and novellas in this countdown. So here are 5 of my favorite Stephen King stories, to get us prepared to head back to Derry, Maine in less than a week! 
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image from IMDb.com

5. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon (1999)

One of King's shorter novels, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon does so much with so little, and I found that immensely effective. Isolation, fear, and King's recurring theme of youth resonate throughout these pages. It probably didn't help that I was also deep in the woods of Maine when I read this book for the first time, but it certainly freaked me out. With only a portable radio to keep her company, being in the mind of a small child lost in the woods is both painful and intense. 

4. "The Body"
​(from Different Seasons, 1982)

I think we've all seen the film adaptation of "The Body," Stand By Me. It's a grounded, charming, yet heavy coming-of-age story. I think anyone can relate to at least one of the four main characters. And again, it's a simple story laced with King's intricate details, unique characters, and realistic dialogue. That's one of my favorite things about King's writing: his dialogue and characterization are (for the most part) gripping and real, even if some of his stories can border the bizarre. "The Body" is a great, albeit heartbreaking story that I think everyone should read. 

3. Carrie (1974)

King's first novel, Carrie, is the classic tale of a bullied high school girl who discovers telekenetic powers. Wait, that wasn't everyone's high school experience? Regardless, Carrie's timid nature matched with her terrifying and strict religious mother create a dichotomy that is enthralling. Once Carrie discovers and begins to understand her abilities, it's only a matter of time before she begins to... stick up for herself. To put it lightly! This is a great study of teenage culture at the time as well as a look into religion and broken family dynamics. 

2. The Shining (1977)

Often associated with the Stanley Kubrick film adaptation, The Shining is an excellent display of a man's descent into madness. And perhaps more covered by King's original novel, Jack's descent begins long before he brings his family to the Overlook Hotel. From the whispers in his ear, to the ominous animal hedges, to that damn boiler, this book is one of my favorites of King's, because it always had me on the edge of my seat. It has so many layers that the movie touches upon, but doesn't (understandably so) necessarily dive into.

1. 'Salem's Lot (1975)

To put it short: this book scared the shit out of me. The scene alone with the undead vampire boy tap, tap, tapping at his old friend's window in the night was terrifying. 'Salem's Lot is perhaps the best rendition of vampires in pop culture, besides, of course, Stoker's classic vampire, and the Universal adaptations of Dracula's story. A small town, rumblings of the goings-on in the old house at the top of the hill, and mysterious disappearances are a perfect blend for the base of this dark and looming novel. It's something I think about all the time. And while the miniseries doesn't exactly hold up, that window scene is still scary as hell!
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image from StephenKing.com
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image from StephenKing.com
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image from StephenKing.com
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image from StephenKing.com
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image from StephenKing.com
What are some of your favorite King stories? Are you excited for IT: Chapter 2 and the other Stephen King movie adaptations on the horizon? Let me know what you think in the comments, and tell me what you hope to see in the future, whether it's a novel or a film/TV adaptation!

- Ryan

​Buy Haunt here. Preview my books here. Find me on social here. ​​​​​​​​​
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29. Movie Review: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

8/16/2019

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I was both excited and anxious to learn about the film adaptation of Alvin Schwartz and Stephen Gammell's Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, a series of books that made chills run down the spines of the kids who got their hands on these creepy tales and the horrifying illustrations that accompanied them. ​Book-to-film adaptations, as we all know, are pretty hit-or-miss. But once I heard that Guillermo del Toro was behind this film, I was all ears. And the trailers alone, giving us glimpses at André Øvredal's direction, kept me eager to see more.
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Movie poster from imdb.com
I won't say I totally remember all of the stories from the first book and their specifics, but I do remember bits and pieces from when I read it as a kid, making each of these bizarre creatures gleam with nostalgia. The film follows a group of teenagers who, on Halloween night of course, break into an abandoned and closed-off house that's seeped in local, small-town lore. Legend has it that Sarah Bellows, the daughter of the family who lived in the house, wasn't allowed outside; she would tell stories to curious children through the walls of the house. When our main group of teens stumbles upon her room, and eventually, her journal full of stories, they learn that stories are much, much more than just words. 
Overall, I did enjoy this film. While I did wish that we knew more about the stories themselves, given that these monsters show up and make certain characters disappear, their designs were great, and the tone of the film was perfect. It reminds me of a del Toro film meets Disney Channel originals like Don't Look Under the Bed and Phantom of the Megaplex. For kids, they're certainly scary. And for adults, they're fun. But Scary Stories takes that extra step further, especially with the disturbing creatures that haunt the screen.

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The acting is strong for a film like this, delivering strong performances from Zoe Margaret Colletti, Michael Garza, Gabriel Rush, and Austin Zajur, our four central characters. Colletti can certainly carry a film, and was impressive for what seems to be her first starring role. I'm interested to see what other projects she takes on. As for the film itself, like I said, I did wish we knew more about the specific stories that "write themselves" in Sarah Bellows' book. We get snippets, as the characters study them to look for who that story will be about, and whether or not they have a chance at saving them. But the movie does leave room for sequels, as there are three books in the series, and definitely room to explore more of the scary stories. 

This isn't a movie I'd necessarily recommend for theater viewing, to be honest. It is fun for those familiar with the books, to see the monsters you recognize on the big screen, but in terms of ultimate payoff, a night at home with the lights off should suffice. It's a fun Halloween-night type of film, close to but not quite reaching the ranks of, say, Trick 'r' Treat. 

Did you see Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark? What did you think? Did you read the books? Let me know in the comments. Let's discuss! 

-Ryan


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