Stephen King at the Movies by Ian Nathan
Palazzo Editions (October 2019)
224 pages; $28.93 hardcover
The World of IT by Alyse Wax
Harry N. Abrams (September 2019)
224 pages: $24.49 hardcover; $16.79 e-book
Reviewed by Blu Gilliand
If there’s one thing we as horror fans have never been deprived of, it’s Stephen King adaptations. From major novels like The Shining and Misery to minor stories like “The Mangler” and “Secret Window, Secret Garden,” virtually every corner of King’s bibliography has been mined. If you count sequels and remakes, there are more than 80 film and television adaptations of King’s work…and counting.
In the wake of all of this activity, there have been a number of books written tracking King on the screen. An early example is Jessie Horsting’s Stephen King at the Movies, a thin paperback featuring the snarling vampire from Tobe Hooper’s Salem’s Lot adaptation. In the last couple of months two more entries have been added to this burgeoning list: Ian Nathan’s Stephen King at the Movies and Alyse Wax’s The World of IT.
Nathan’s effort is a slick hardcover that provides quick looks at each piece of the overall Stephen King filmography. Because of the sheer amount of material it covers there’s not a ton of depth, but it’s a great place for fans just starting their journey through the cinematic King-verse to start.
Nathan doesn’t gloss over the less successful King adaptations like Return to Salem’s Lot and Desperation, but these entries aren’t hatchet jobs, either—Nathan generally just acknowledges what didn’t work, and moves on.
By contrast, the usual heavy hitters like Stand By Me are awarded multi-page spreads with plenty of photos and more comprehensive discussion. Nathan’s not breaking new ground here—most of what there is to say about these films has already been said—but a book like this is fun to leaf through. Maybe you’ll run across a movie you’ve never heard of; or, more likely, one that you’d forgotten.
Stephen King at the Movies proudly bills itself as “A Complete History of the Film and Television Adaptations from the Master of Horror.” This is a statement that’s true as of this writing, but likely to be incorrect within a few months’ time. Not for a lack of trying, mind you—the last two entries cover IT Chapter Two and Doctor Sleep, followed by a brief rundown of adaptations in the works (which includes the Netflix version of In the Tall Grass). The coverage of those films is scant at best, but fear not…if it’s more IT coverage you crave, then more IT coverage you shall have…
…in the form of Alyse Wax’s giant making-of compendium The World of IT. This lavish book is as much for the movie-making junkies among you as it is for the King fans. It’s packed with storyboards and concept art (including some impressive pieces by IT director Andy Muschiette), and production photos (including some great candid shots of the cast on set between takes).
Wax adds depth to all this eye candy with comprehensive reporting on the making of both chapters of this version of King’s opus. She has compiled a wealth of information from talent in front of and behind the cameras. After taking in so much about the decisions that were made in shaping King’s material for the screen, you’ll approach future viewings with a fresh set of eyes.
We hear over and over these days about how we’re living in a “Stephen King Renaissance.” With King continuing his strong output, and with a new generation of filmmakers turning their talents to his works old and new, and with exceptional efforts like Stephen King at the Movies and The World of IT documenting the wealth of material out there, it’s hard to argue against the idea.
