Night Shift by Stephen King

(hb; 1976, 1977, 1978: horror story anthology.  Introduction by John D. MacDonald)


Overall review:

Excellent anthology, all of the stories - many of them admirably varied in their sense of horrors - have something to recommend them.  This is one of my all-time favorite story anthologies.


Standout stories:

1.)   "Jerusalem's Lot":  An evil, haunted town repeatedly draws members of a cursed family into its Lovecraftian clutches over centuries.  This is a loosely linked prequel to a later story in this anthology ("One for the Road") and the novel 'Salem's Lot.


2.)   "Graveyard Shift": A Fourth of July cleaning shift at a mill goes horrifically wrong when the workers discover secret passages beneath its sub-basement.

The resulting film was released stateside on October 26, 1990.  David Andrews played John Hall.  Kelly Wolf played Jane Wisconsky.  Stephen Macht played Warwick.  Andrew Divoff played Danson.  Brad Dourif played Tucker Cleveland (aka "The Exterminator").  Victor Polizos played Brogan.  Robert Alan Beuth played Ippleston. 

Ralph S. Singleton directed the film, from a screenplay by John Esposito.


3.)   "I Am the Doorway":  An astronaut's return to Earth is troubled by forces and visions alien to his nature - elements and visions which may change those around him, as well.


4.)   "The Mangler":  A demon-possessed industrial laundry machine - a speed ironer - turns murderous.

With a  lesser writer, this would be a dumb story.  With King, who ties it into timeless penned notions, it is a fun, spooky, perhaps even milestone update of an old idea.  This is one of the best stories in this collection.

The resulting film was released stateside on March 3, 1995.  Robert Englund played William 'Bill' Gartley.  Ted Levine played Officer John Hunton.  Daniel Matmor played Mark Jackson.  Vera Blacker played Mrs. Adelle Frawley.  Danny Keogh played Herb Diment.  Ted Le Plat played Doctor Ramos.  Todd Jensen played Roger Martin. 

Tobe Hooper directed the film, from Stephen David Brooks (billed as Stephen Brooks) and Harry Alan Towers's (billed as Peter Welbeck) screenplay.

Two loosely linked - if linked at all - film sequels followed: The Mangler 2 (starring Lance Henriksen, a direct-to-video flick, released on February 26, 2002) and The Mangler Reborn (another direct-to-video flick, released on November 29, 2005).


5.)  "The Boogeyman":  A man, whose family has been slaughtered, visits a psychiatrist.  Effective twist to this one.

This story has been, or is scheduled to be, filmed as a short several times.


6.)  "Battleground":  A hitman fights for his life against a bizarre array of enemies.  Excellent, worthy of a Twilight Zone episode.

This story became the basis for the debut episode of a television series, Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King.  It aired stateside on June 12, 2006 on the TNT network.  Brian Henson directed the episode, from a teleplay by Richard Christian Matheson.

William Hurt played Jason Renshaw.  Bruce Spence played Hans Morris.  Mia Sara played "Beautiful Passenger". 


7.)   "Trucks":  Another 'murderous machine'-themed tale, this time set as a pluralistic affair, with automobiles and other electronics involved.  Fun, B-movie-esque work.

The resulting film, titled Maximum Overdrive and directed by Stephen King, was released stateside on July 25, 1986.  Emilio Estevez played Bill Robinson.  Laura Harrington played Brett.  Pat Hingle played Bubba Hendershot.  Yeardley Smith played Connie.  John Short played Curtis.  Frankie Faison played Handy.  Christopher Murney played Camp Loman.


8.)   "Sometimes They Come Back":  A high school teacher confronts the strangely youthful bullies who murdered his brother years before.  Unsettling, effective story.

The resulting television film aired stateside on May 7, 1991.  Tim Matheson played Jim Norman.  Brooke Adams (who also co-starred in the King-based 1983 film The Dead Zone) played Sally Norman.  Robert Rusler played Richard Lawson.  Robert Hy Gorman played Scott Norman.  William Sanderson played "Carl Mueller (age 44)".  Nicholas Sadler played Vinnie Vincent.  T. Max Graham played Chief Pappas.

The telefilm was followed by two direct-to-video, loosely linked sequels: Sometimes They Come Back. . . Again (released September 3, 1996, starring Michael Gross, Alexis Arquette and Hilary Swank) and Sometimes They Come Back. . . for More (released on September 7, 1999, starring Clayton Rohner and Chase Masterson).


9.)   "Strawberry Spring":  A string of murders haunts a collegiate-later-family man.  Especially well-written.


10.)   "The Ledge": Twilight Zone-esque fusion of noir and natural horror.  Excellent.

This story was incorporated into the threefold-tale film Cat's Eye, which was released stateside on April 12, 1985.  Lewis Teague (who also helmed the King-based 1983 film Cujo) directed, from a screenplay from Stephen King.  Drew Barrymore (who co-starred in the King-based 1984 film Firestarter) played Amanda (a.k.a. "Our Girl"), one of the characters that links the stories.

Kenneth McMillan played Cressner.  Robert Hays played Johnny Norris. 


11.)   "Quitters, Inc.":  A man, trying to quit smoking, is compelled to do so in startling ways.  Distinctive, clever.

This story was also incorporated into the threefold-tale film Cat's Eye, which was released stateside on April 12, 1985.

James Woods played Dick Morrison.  Alan King played Dr. Vinny Donatti.


12.)   "Children of the Corn": Excellent, creepy tale about an argumentative husband and wife who, traveling through Nebraska, get trapped in a strangely empty town. 

A film short, Disciples of the Crow, was made in 1983.  It was based on this story.

The first resulting full-length film was released stateside on March 9, 1984.  Linda Hamilton played Vicky.  Peter Horton played Burt.  John Franklin played Isaac.  Courtney Gains played Malachai.  Julie Maddalena played Rachel.  Robby Kiger played Job.  Anne Marie McEvoy, billed as Annemarie McEvoy, played Sarah.

Fritz Kiersch directed the film, from a script by George Goldsmith.

Seven loosely linked sequels (many, if not all of them, direct-to-video works) and one remake followed. 

Sequels: Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice (released stateside on January 29, 1993); Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest (released stateside on September 12, 1995, featuring Johnny Legend as a "Derelict Man"); Children of the Corn: The Gathering (released stateside on October 8, 1996, co-starring Naomi Watts and Karen Black); Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror (released stateside on June 21, 1998, co-starring Alexis Arquette - seen earlier in the King-based 1996 flick Sometimes They Come Back. . . Again - and Fred Williamson.  David Carradine and  Eva Mendes also co-starred, as well as Kane Hodder - who has played Jason in several of the Friday the 13th sequels. 

The fifth sequel, Children of the Corn 666: Isaac's Return, was released on October 19, 1999, co-starring Nancy Allen - who appeared in the King-based 1976 film Carrie - and  Stacy Keach.  John Franklin, who made his screen debut as Isaac in the original Children, played Isaac in - and co-scripted - this sequel as well.

Children of the Corn: Revelation, the sixth sequel, was released stateside on October 9, 2001.  It co-starred Claudette Mink, Michael Ironside and Kyle Cassie (who also made in an appearance in a television episode of Stephen King's Dead Zone).

A television remake of the original Children aired on stateside television on September 26, 2009.  It was directed and co-scripted by Donald P. Borchers; author Stephen King was his co-screenwriter.  David Anders played Burton Stanton.  Kandyse McClure played Vicky Stanton.  Daniel Newman played Malachai.  Preston Bailey played Isaac. 

The seventh sequel, Children of the Corn: Genesis, was released stateside on March 17, 2012.  It co-starred Billy Drago and Duane Whitaker.  As far as I know of, it isn't linked to the television remake that aired in 2009.


13.)  "One for the Road": On a winter stormy night, three men (Herb Tooklander, Booth and Gerard Lumley) head out to rescue the latter man's wife and daughter -  whom, unknown to Lumley, he left at the mercy of vampires.

Excellent, gripping expansion tale that builds on the history of "the 'Lot" (as seen in the earlier/first story, "Jerusalem's Lot") and, like that story, links to King's novel 'Salem's Lot.

The resulting 22-minute short film, released stateside on March 1, 2011, was directed and scripted by Paul Ward.

Reggie Bannister played Herb Tooklander.  Adam Robitel played Booth.  Danny O'Connor played Gerard Lumley.  Audrey Walters played Janey Lumley.  Sydney Ackman played Wendy.  Drew Walters played Francis Lumley.


14.)  "The Lawnmower Man":  Fun, gleefully bloody and bizarro tale about a unique yard service company.

The resulting short film was released stateside in 1987.  It was directed by James Gonis, from a script by Michael De Luca.

Andy Clark played Karras.  Helen Hanft played Mrs. Parkette.  E.D. Phillips played Howard Parkette.  Neil Schimmer played Castonmeyer.  Robert Tossberg played Bannerman.

A full-length film, linked to the story in name only, was released stateside on March 6, 1992.  (King sued to have his name removed from the film.)  Brett Leonard directed and co-scripted the film; his co-screenwriter was Gimel Everett.

Jeff Fahey - recently seen in the King-based television series Under the Dome - played Jobe Smith.  Pierce Brosnan, who later starred in the King-based television miniseries Bag of Bones, played Dr. Lawrence Angelo.  Jennie Wright played Marnie Burke. Geoffrey Lewis played Terry McKeen.  Dean Norris - who co-stars with Fahey in Under the Dome - played The Director.  Colleen Coffey played Caroline Angelo.

A loosely linked sequel to the film, Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace, was released stateside on January 12, 1996.  Like its source film, it bears no relation to the King story, aside from its title reference.

Patrick Bergin played Dr. Benjamin Trace.  Matt Frewer played Jobe Smith. Austin O'Brien played Peter Parkette.  Ely Pouget played Dr. Cori Platt.  Molly Shannon played a "Homeless Lady".

Farhad Mann directed the film, from a script by he co-authored with Michael Miner.

Legion by William Peter Blatty

(pb; 1983: sequel to The Exorcist) 

 From the inside flap

"A young boy, a deaf-mute, is found horribly murdered in a mock crucifixion. The kindly, aging detective assigned to the case sees it not only as a crime -- one that calls for all his skill and intuition as an investigator -- but as part of a a larger and more baffling mystery: whether or not a good god can exist if He tolerates such monstrous evil. Is the murderer the elderly woman who witnessed the crime? A neurologist who can no longer bear the pain life inflicts on its victims? A psychiatrist with a macabre sense of humor and a guilty secret? A mysterious mental patient, locked in silent isolation? 

 "As Lieutenant Kinderman follows a bewildering trail that links all these people, he confronts a new enigma at every turn. Why does each victim suffer the same dreadful mutilations? Why are two of the victims priests? Is there a connection between these crimes and another series of murders that took place twelve years ago -- and supposedly ended with the death of the killer?" 

Review

Twelve year after the events of The Exorcist -- Regan MacNeil's little-known demonic possession; the murder of Burke Dennings; and Damien Karras's suicide on the steep M Street/"Hitchcock Steps" -- multiple homicides rock the Georgetown area. The murders are beyond-bizarre weird in their one-killer-consistent M.O.s; a gleefully-macabre wit is at bloody work here. Even more bizarre, their M.O.s are almost dead-on replications of the Gemini (read: Zodiac) Killer, who died years ago. The more Lt. William Kinderman (still ruminating long on Natural, philosophical and religious tangents relating to the nature of evil) learns about the murders, the more they become linked to the Dennings/Karras deaths, cases that were filed away, but never officially solved: these new victims were not chosen at random, it seems. 

 Father Joseph Dyer, friend of Karras and Kinderman in The Exorcist, indirectly aids Kinderman in his investigation. As Kinderman closes in on the killer, the more dangerous -- and crazier -- his life gets, as do the lives of those around him. Blatty once again has crafted a novel that is landmark in its execution. Interplays of warmth (especially relating to Kinderman's interactions with others) dispel much of the cold, alien darkness of the murders, past and present. A sly, macabre wit not only informs the killer's M.O., but the novel itself . 

One nit: Kinderman's ruminations run overlong at times. These ruminations relate to the events of Legion, lending often intuitive and key points (and Kinderman's personality) to the mood of the novel, but a lot of it could've been trimmed, without hurting the overall effect of the novel. That minor nit aside, this spin-off novel not only continues the story begun in The Exorcist, but fully mutates into its own, distinctive work -- an equally-excellent, equally-shocking-blow-to-the-plexus sequel that is ultimately a crime and redemption tale. 

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Novel-author Blatty directed and scripted the resulting film, The Exorcist III, released stateside on August 17, 1990.

George C. Scott played Lt. William Kinderman. Ed Flanders played Father Joseph Dyer. Brad Dourif provided the voice for The Gemini Killer. Jason Miller, who played Father Damien Karras in The Exorcist, played Patient X. Nicol Williamson played Father Morning. Scott Wilson played Dr. Temple. Don Gordon played Ryan.

Dune by Frank Herbert

(hb; 1965: first book in the Dune Chronicles)

From the back cover

"Set in the far future amidst a sprawling feudal interstellar empire where planetary dynasties are controlled by noble houses that owe an allegiance to the imperial House Corrino, Dune tells the story of young Paul Atreides (the heir apparent to Duke Leto Atreides and heir of House Atreides) as he and his family accept control of the desert planet Arrakis, the only source of the 'spice' melange, the most important and valuable substance in the cosmos. The story explores the complex, multi-layered interactions of politics, religion, ecology, technology, and human emotion as the forces of the empire confront each other for control of Arrakis."


Review

Dune is rich in political intrigue, treachery, oracular mysticism, lust, loyalty, love, jihad and societal upheaval, as well as many interesting, often conflicted characters. What makes Dune great is how it's simultaneously personal and emotional, yet coolly distant in an intellectual way, without compromising either of the elements, tracking the course of an empire over three or so years – Herbert manages this balancing act by focusing on the characters, while making them aware of their importance (or lack thereof) in the struggles and violence that consumes them.

This is one of my all-time favorite books. It has been since I read it as a boy (approximately thirty years ago); I've reread it several times since, and every time I read it, I get something completely new out of it – there are so many levels on which to take this landmark work that I foresee more readings of this personal magnitude in the years to come.

Followed by Dune Messiah.

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Dune has been filmed twice.

The first film version was released stateside on December 14, 1984.

Kyle MacLachlan played Paul Atreides. Jürgen Prochnow played Duke Leto Atreides.  Francesca Annis played Lady Jessica.  Alicia Witt, billed as Alicia Roanne Witt, played Alia. 

Richard Jordan played Duncan Idaho.  Patrick Stewart played Gurney Halleck.  Linda Hunt played Shadout Mapes.  Freddie Jones played Thufir Hawat.  Dean Stockwell played Doctor Wellington Yueh.  Max von Sydow played Doctor Kynes.  Jack Nance played Nefud.

Sean Young played Chani.  Everett McGill played Stilgar. 

Kenneth McMillan played Baron Vladimir Harkonnen.  Sting played Feyd Rautha.  Brad Dourif played Piter De Vries.  Paul L. Smith, billed as Paul Smith, played The Beast Rabban.

José Ferrer played Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV.  Virginia Madsen played Princess Irulan.

 David Lynch scripted and direct the film.  Lynch also - uncredited - played a "Spice Worker".

If you see this film, make sure you see the three-hour/Director's Cut version, which makes more sense than the initial/studio-cut version of the film.

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The second version began airing stateside as a three-part television miniseries on December 3, 2000.

Alec Newman played Paul Atreides/Muad'Dib, a role he reprised in the 2003 television miniseries sequel, Children of Dune.  William Hurt played Duke Leto Atreides.  Saskia Reeves played Lady Jessica Atreides.

P.H. Moriarty played Gurney Halleck.  James Watson played Duncan Idaho.  Karel Dobrỳ played Dr. Pardot Kynes.

Uwe Ochsenknecht played Stilgar.  Barbora Kodetová played Chani.

Ian McNeice played Baron Vladimir Harkonnen.  Matt Keeslar played Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen.  László I. Kish played Glossu Rabban.

Giancarlo Giannini played Padishah - Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV.  Julie Cox played Princess Irulan Corrino. 

John Harrison scripted and directed the miniseries.