Stephen King has 337 writing credits on IMDb (with another 22 works in development or awaiting release). There is, therefore, room for an exploration of the writer’s work through the prism of the adaptations of them.
Daphné Baiwir’s documentary breaks down both the history of Stephen King’s works on screen and the themes that resonate from them, with clips from many of the best works and talking heads from some of the key players. Its always a giddy thrill to see the likes of Mike Flanagan and Frank Darabont talk about their adaptations (some of the most celebrating works are from them). This is a documentary has the access needed to tell its story and often tells it well.
Yet where King on Screen falls down is in the lack of diversity of voices offered. Many of the voices trend towards being those held by white, male figures. And all give good insight into the power of King on screen. But it feels like it holds this documentary back. When one director talks about how his film has been praised as feeling like it is directed by a woman, one can’t help but cringe from this. It can’t help but feel like broadening the voices of this work would have made it a much more interesting watch.
It’s also a highly uncritical look at the writer’s work, which is to be expected given the voices it draws from. As it stands this feels like one for existing King and genre fans only.
Daphné Baiwir’s documentary breaks down both the history of Stephen King’s works on screen and the themes that resonate from them, with clips from many of the best works and talking heads from some of the key players. Its always a giddy thrill to see the likes of Mike Flanagan and Frank Darabont talk about their adaptations (some of the most celebrating works are from them). This is a documentary has the access needed to tell its story and often tells it well.
Yet where King on Screen falls down is in the lack of diversity of voices offered. Many of the voices trend towards being those held by white, male figures. And all give good insight into the power of King on screen. But it feels like it holds this documentary back. When one director talks about how his film has been praised as feeling like it is directed by a woman, one can’t help but cringe from this. It can’t help but feel like broadening the voices of this work would have made it a much more interesting watch.
It’s also a highly uncritical look at the writer’s work, which is to be expected given the voices it draws from. As it stands this feels like one for existing King and genre fans only.