The Dark Half (1993)

December 13, 2022 12:18 PM

Thad Beaumont (Timothy Hutton) has had success writing novels under both his real name and his pseudonym, George Stark, which he uses to publish base thrillers. When word gets out that they are one and the same, the author holds a mock funeral for Stark. But after a rash of murders eerily similar to those in the Stark books, Thad and his wife, Liz (Amy Madigan), realize that Stark is real and responsible, and must work with local Sheriff Pangborn (Michael Rooker) to stop him.

Also starring Julie Harris, Robert Joy, Kent Broadhurst, Beth Grant, Rutanya Alda, Tom Mardirosian, Larry John Meyers, Patrick Brannan, Royal Dano, Glenn Colerider, Chelsea Field, Christine Forrest, Jeff Monahan, Jeff Howell, Rik Billock, David Early, Donna Lynne Champlin.

Directed by George A. Romero. Screenplay by George A. Romero. Based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King.

59% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

Multiple streaming options readily available. JustWatch listing.

posted by DirtyOldTown (4 comments total)

Over the years, I've gotten more and more fond of Romero, even his reputedly "lesser" works. I thought this was fine at the time, but I've seen several people insisting it's more fun than I remember.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:34 PM on December 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

huh, I remember liking this book, but never knew it had been made into a movie...
posted by supermedusa at 1:07 PM on December 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

This is one of those movies where I'm not even sure if I actually saw it, or just saw bits of it from flipping channels and was familiar enough with the source material to make it seem to me that I did, but I do like it a fair amount, coming as it did from King being found out as publishing under Richard Bachman, and also because the car in the movie has the self-made bumper sticker "HIGH-TONED SON OF A BITCH" just like the one in the book.
posted by Halloween Jack at 1:08 PM on December 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

This is one of the best big-budget King adaptations when considered on its own merits, either as a film or specifically as a horror film. Once upon a time, it was commonplace for critics AND fans to say that movies based on on King's works were lousy, or succeeded in spite of the source material. That tide turned a while ago, but the pendulum has now swung to the point where absolute howlers are praised on social media for clout or social capital. This one was always good--a fine movie when it came out, quieter than some of the other adaptations. I rewatched it a year or so ago, and I thought it could stand comfortably among King films, and also wasn't so far removed from the current "elevated horror" (I know, I know) moment that it was no longer a living thing, or a preserved thing purely of its moment.

As a side note, I've read and reread 99.9% of what King has published under his own name and known pseudonyms, and this remains one of my favorites. A tight, forceful narrative with well drawn characters. An Easter egg or two for the King fans, but none that add or subtract appreciably for general readers.
posted by cupcakeninja at 6:22 AM on December 14, 2022 [1 favorite]