Stephen King Doesn't Want People To Call The Life Of Chuck…

Summary

The Life of Chuck movie adaptation features an emotional story that strays from King's usual horror genre.
King expressed fear of critics calling it "corny," but cheesy elements add charm to his horror movies.
More King adaptations are in the works, including a Netflix remake of Cujo and a prequel to IT on HBO Max.

From the first few moments of the trailer for the movie adaptation of Stephen King's short story The Life of Chuck, it's clear that this is a different story than his usual terrifying fare. A man thinks about the wonders of the universe, dances in a town square, and reflects on the various life experiences he's had, along with the people he's met. There is no menacing grin from Pennywise the Dancing Clown or vampires taking over a small town. The movie's emotional core makes it memorable and heartwarming, and star Mark Hamill praised its "optimistic" tone.

In a recent interview, King said he's scared that critics will say his latest release is "corny," but I'd argue that some of the greatest horror movies based on the popular author's books have a cheesy tone. However, I think that's okay, and it's what makes them so great.

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By Aya Tsintziras

Stephen King Said He Was "Terrified" Critics Would Call The Life Of Chuck "Corny," But What About Pet Sematary And Salem's Lot?

Louis Creed (Dale Midkiff) with his son Gale Creed (Miko Hughes) in Pet Semetary (1989)

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal along with The Life of Chuck writer and director Mike Flanagan, Stephen King talked about the emotional movie. He said.

'It’s not like I’m saying, 'Oh, people are gonna see Stephen King in a brand new light!' The thing is, I’m terrified of reviews that say, “This is corny.” But I have a strong belief that joy is also a valid exploration. In the story, there are a lot of things that are very unpleasant, including a man’s decline from a brain tumor. But you have to understand that moments of joy are also a part of the human experience."

While I agree that at first glance, The Life of Chuck seems much cornier than King's horror work, I would say that some of his most memorable horror adaptations are cheesy rather than incredibly scary. I'm thinking about 1989's Pet Sematary and the 2024 adaptation of Salem's Lot. Pet Sematary, which is on the streaming service Paramount+, has genuinely creepy moments, particularly when Gage Creed (Miko Hughes) dies and then back to life. However, I wouldn't say I've been scared any time that I've watched it. I didn't find the 2019 remake particularly frightening, either, and while it's not all that different from the original, it's a decent enough story about a family who desperately wants to rewrite the past.

I also consider Salem's Lot a corny, guilty pleasure kind of horror movie. It's not the best King adaptation and wasn't well-received by critics, but there's something comforting and familiar about it, especially for fans of the author's work. I always like seeing eerie stories set in a small town and I liked the movie, but I agree with other fans and critics that, by the end of the movie, it left a lot to be desired. Still, it's hard to watch it and not think that it's a cheesy story. After all, there are more than a few TV shows and films about vampires, and it doesn't stand out much.

Sure, some of King's adaptations feature genuinely scary creatures, including Night Flier. I was also unsettled by Pennywise in both IT movies. I don't think that every King adaptation is scary, but that's fine with me. King's work is emotional, moving, and compelling, and many of his characters are likable, relatable people trying to do the right thing in strange situations. Misery is my favorite King adaptation and while it's not full of jump scares or ghostly creatures, it examines interesting topics like the price of fame and celebrity and when fandom goes too far.

More Stephen King Horror Movies (& Three TV Shows) Are On The Way

It Welcome to Derry Official Teaser Trailer

Stephen King fans can rest assured that his scary tales are still being adapted for the big and small screen. Up next is the Netflix remake of Cujo, which may or may not include the novel's original ending. I'm intrigued by the MGM+ series The Institute, the adaptation of the novel that George R.R. Martin loved, and HBO Max's upcoming prequel IT: Welcome to Derry. Mike Flanagan is also making a Carrie TV series for Amazon Prime Video, which I'm sure is going to be as excellent as his other horror TV shows.

There's also the movie adaptation of King's novel The Regulators, which was announced back in 2022. According to Deadline, King said he was "delighted" about it, and it would be a horror/Western film. The story follows four people called "regulators" who show up on a street one day and decide to kill people who go outside. While there hasn't been an update since, this may be still in the works.

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