Skip to content 
Mike Flanagan and Stephen King continue to prove they go together like peanut butter and jelly, but as the director’s adaptations of the writer’s stories evolve how do they stack up?
The director does not hide his love for the King and so far has four adaptations of his stories under his belt – with another one, “The Mist,” on the way and another, “The Dark Tower,” standing as a hope and a dream. Of the four Flanagans entered, the surprising thing is that each of them faced a different challenge uphill. With “Gerald’s Game”, the director accepted a story that should not work as it is on film (ditto for “Life of Chuck”), with “Doctor Sleep” he tried to make a film for both the famous book of the other person “The Shining” and the adaptation of Stanley Kubrick, which is loved by everyone except the King himself.
Then there is “Carrie” on Prime Video in which people immediately asked why a story that had multiple adaptations needed another one, and one that was longer than all the others.
Flanagan never took the easy way out when it came to handling one of King’s stories, and yet it has turned out to be one love hit after another. You can’t go wrong with any of his comments on King’s books, but here they are ranked for your enjoyment.
4. Carrie
“Carrie” is Flanagan’s first King adaptation – though hopefully not his last – and is a modern retelling of the horror author’s first novel. For those who are reluctant to return to a story told so familiarly by Brian De Palma and Sissy Spacek 50 years ago, fear not – the modern side and high school horrors and bullying do not add to the story of a reformed young girl who struggles through an atrophy that also gives her telekinetic powers. Sprint through to the bloody prom, and you won’t be disappointed.
Summer H. Howell and Samantha Sloyan are excellent as Carrie and Margaret White and the extended running time allowed Flanagan to flesh out their relationship. While this may not be the definitive take on King’s novel, it more than deserves its place.
3. Chuck’s Life
“The Life of Chuck” is a Stephen King story that only someone like Flanagan could possibly get right. The short story about the importance of the insignificant life of Chuck Krantz shows all the signs of the kind of stories that Flanagan lives. It’s introspective and critical, with at least one meaty monologue for every actor involved.
“The Life of Chuck” is a great movie that is going to follow in the footsteps of “The Shawshank Redemption” with “oh, THAT’S a Stephen King story?” opinions. Flanagan saw the film within the story.
2. Gerald’s Game
It might seem like a story about a woman who was bedridden for 98% of the running time would get old fast. But not in the hands of Stephen King, and not in front of ace King adapter Flanagan. This Netflix release follows Jessie – played by the always brilliant Carla Gugino – who is handcuffed to her bed after her husband’s heart attack as she tries to spice up their love life.
“Geam Gerald” becomes a story of survival as Jessie faces her own demons and her body begins to fail her without food or water. There are still moments of horror in the film, including a scene near the end that turns stomachs and stays with you long after the credits roll.
1. The Doctor’s Sleep
“Doctor Sleep” and the balancing act that Flanagan achieved deserved more love than it got when it was first released. “The Shining” is one of Stephen King’s most iconic novels, and the Stanley Kubrick adaptation is considered just as popular – by everyone but King himself. So when it came time to adapt the horror writer’s “Shining” sequel, Flanagan found a way to tell a grown-up Danny Torrance story that felt like a continuation of both the book and the elements Kubrick changed for his adaptation.
The director’s cut is the definitive way to watch. The film is long, but moves at such a fast pace that it rarely feels. And for Rebecca Fergusson’s ever-growing fan base, he’ll be relishing how she plays the ferocious Rose the Hat with sickly gusto here.
