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needful StRings

Another Stephen King movie, I'm getting bored... No! Please don't get me wrong! It's just: lately there's ALWAYS one of his movies in the theater! There pretty good, but it's too much! But anyway, NEEDFUL THINGS is an exciting movie, I have invented a word for it: it's "splashable". That means, it's quite good. Like all the novels of King, the story is original (as usual), and the music is excellent. MAX VON SYDOW plays an the bad guy. He's a great actor. He performed a "splashable" good work as the priest in THE EXORCIST (also with LINDA BLAIR from BEDROOM EYES II). ED HARRIS, we all know him as the general from THE ROCK, plays the cop, and BONNIE BEDELIA (the wife of John McClane in DIE HARD I & II) plays ED's wife. Yes, it's a good movie, but it's not the best of King.

It's Not Stephen King's Fault

Fans of Stephen King books will probably hate this film since the most compelling elements are lost in the transition from book to screen. Fans of Stephen King movies may tolerate it a bit more. If you sit through the long version which is about 160 minutes then you are either bored to tears or worship Stephen King. The film is not scary and it has no humor or comic relief, but somehow it has a compelling element that makes us watch. I think the name of that element is Ed Harris. He's a superb actor although he brings nothing special to this film.The film is about a small town in Maine called Castle Rock where a strange shopkeeper opens a store that mysteriously has something for everyone in town. Something tailored to them that they would love to have. The shopkeeper Leland Gaunt (Sydow) AKA Satan manages to use the trinkets to turn the town against each other. Sheriff Pangborn (Harris) is the local law and the only one not enticed by the strange new dealer. From there you need to see the film or read the book to see how it goes and I believe in this case the book may be more satisfactory.As a bit of trivia the town of Castle Rock, Maine is fictional and is named after the production company Castle Rock Entertainment. There is even a lighthouse to match the trademark. The film in fact was filmed in British Columbia, Canada. If it matters to anyone half the cast has previously appeared in movies derived from Stephen King books.

Loved the book, Hated the movie.

Just didn't like the movie. Do yourself a favor and read the book.

Good book, the movie is a let down

The screenplay is a far cry from the original novel. First of all, many of the book's main characters are completely missing. Where's Ace Merrill? Replaced by a one minute extra character (the Treasure Island book guy.) The book is also much more suspensful and has a lot more dark humor buried in it. I didn't expect the film to be as elaborate as the book but this film just simply is a poor cinematic work all around in addition. Cheap. Incomplete. Bad effort. Read the book and watch something more worthwhile.

Good Book Ok Film

First let me say that I'm a big fan of the book, which is far better than the film. Not that the movie is bad though. It's accuatly quite good. I gave the movie four stars because of it's great cast, good music, and great direction, but if I had to recommend anything it would have to be the three hour cut that airs on TBS every now or then. It's a good movie but please read the book, It's much better.

THE TOTAL IS...YOUR SOUL!

stephen king is the man. he really knows his stuff. this man has stories, that are on a whole different level. most of his movies are hard core, creepy, and they make you stop and think about some things. needful things is just another of his good ones. there's something about these small town, quiet, and isolated places that are so fitting for wicked things to happen. like the devil coming to town and setting up shop for example. i really like this movie. stephen king isn't about the gore and scare the crap out of you kind of stuff. he hits it on the, slowly but surely will give you chills, level. needful things is like that. it's about a small town called castle rock. one of those places where everybody knows everybody, and if you're not from there then you stick out like a sore thumb. well, in comes a new visitor, to open an antique store. great things to sell. what a coincidence that most of the things he sells mean so much to these people in one way or another. and they all come with just one small price: your soul. although they don't realize it, until it's to late. why the new guy is satan himself, but hiding very well under the face of a very gentle and kind old man. he couldn't possible be evil. well, all hell breaks loose, everybody wants to start killing and hurting everybody else, until the small town folk just get rid of themselves. and who's going to care that a small town went crazy. all goes as planned until the towns sherriff comes in play. he suspects the newcomer, and digs and digs, until he finds out what's going on. of course he becomes the hero, but can he stop the madness before it's to late? good movie and very good actors. ed harris, one of my favorites, tackles this role with determination. can't help but watch him. as for satan himself, max von sydow, nice job. believable. just another of stephen kings memorable films.

For a King adaptation, its pretty good

I've actually never taken the time to read the book, however I've read many other of King's book; and everytime their adaptations come out I feel soorry for him. However this story is entertaining, nothing more or less. Its not scary but it does give some thrilling scenes, which pretty much make the movie. Mr. King should be proud of this movie, because thats as good as it will ever be.

Needful King

Set in the small township of Castle Rock - a fictional location created by Stephen King - 'Needful Things' is the tale of an antiques shop run by Leland Gaunt, the Devil himself, played by Max Von Sydow. As the proprietor of the New England business, Gaunt gets his claws into the town, just as antiques dealer Straker did in the King masterpiece 'Salem's Lot'.Sheriff Alan Pangborn (Ed Harris, 'The Creepshow' & 'The Stand') does not buy the salesman's evil pitch. He sees straight through Gaunt's evil plan immediately.Incidentally, Pangborn also turns up in King's 'The Dark Half' and is played in the subsequent movie by Michael Rooker. Ace Merril from 'Stand By Me' also appears in King's novel but is omitted from the movie. In fact there is much missing from the movie that can be found in the novel, but this is always the case with Stephen King adaptations. The movie does not let fans down, though ... the characters are well acted, dark and moody ...Gaunt practically buys his way into the township, offering the residents antiques of their choice in return for payment of their souls. It is up to Pangborn and Polly Chambers (relation of Chris Chambers in 'Stand By Me' aka 'The Body') played by Bonnie Bedelia ('Salem's Lot') and schoolboy Brian Rusk to bring down Gaunt.Typically 'Needful Things' is set in small-town Stephen King Maine --- a part of the world that will forever be associated with the horror author. The scenery is stunning, especially the coastline. There is plenty of action as well as a thriller feel and some very amusing moments too. Fans of 'Salem's Lot' will identify with this film, notably the similarities in story and characters. Evil invades a small town, slowly influencing its inhabitants, especially the obligatory young boy (related to King's own childhood escapades perhaps?) So enter 'Needful Things' and indulge your curiosity. But a little curiosity shop this is not. Probably one of the better Stephen King adaptations.Also stars Amanda Plummer and J.T. Walsh Matt Lee-Williams, Salisbury, UK

Faust revisited

Despite the fact that this film is based on yet another Stephen King novel, it is worth watching -- especially for the performance by Max von Sydow as the "old boy himself."I watched the "director's cut" once on TV that had many scenes in it which were cut from the theatrical version. None of the restored scenes was especially good. It is interesting to note that practically every moment of Max von Sydow's performance is in both versions. He holds the screen with every sly look, every smooth utterance. He is a true joy to watch in this retelling of the Fause legend. It proves what a wonderful actor he is -- he has played Jesus (THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD), Ming the Merciless (FLASH GORDON), and many other parts. Playing the Devil allows him to chew the scenery in grand style.

Not The Worst Movie I've Ever Seen

Eventhough others have liked this movie, I have found it to be quite boring. The acting was okay, but the film itself was just displeasing to me.

I thought it at least deserved two stars, because the movie kept me wondering what was going to happen next. It was a good thing I got this video at the library for free, other than paying $2.29 at my local video store.

Max Von Sydow's role as Lucifer was weird. That's another reason I gave this movie two stars. I never thought that a man more powerful than the President would have listened to the people and leave their town. You would've at least figured he'd turn out to be some horrifying creature. But I guess when Stephen King wrote the book he wanted to add some realism to it.

If you're going to rent this movie, it should be on a two-for-one night. Just so you know you haven't wasted your money.

very poor

I am a big stephen king fan and have read most of his books and seen many of the movies though the transition from book to movie on a lot of kings books are bad this was exeptionally poor. The characters which were created so well on page come out very bleak on screen. the actors seemed to have trouble connecting with their characters and you can tell on screen. This movie is terrible even for a king adaptation. I give this movie 3/10

Another unsuccessful King movie translation

STAR RATING: ***** The Works **** Just Misses the Mark *** That Little Bit In Between ** Lagging Behind * The Pits Based on another of Stephen King's lengthy novellas, this takes place in the sleepy little New England town of Castle Rock (also the name of the film's production company!), where a new antiques store, the titular Needful Things, has opened. The owner and proprietor, Leland Gaunt (Max Von Sydow) hides, you might say, a devilish secret. There's an item in his store that everyone in the little town wants-a small cash price upfront is first required, before a far more sinister price is asked for. As suspicion, hate and madness tear the town apart, it falls to police chief Alan Pangborn (Ed Harris) to restore order and save the town from a terrifying end...I read the novel of Needful Things earlier this year, and was eager to watch the movie adaptation again to compare them (like that was going to be any contest!) But it had been deleted on video and DVD and I couldn't find anywhere to rent it from. So I was happy when I finally found it in a flea market whilst on a shopping trip...It's one of the cruelest ironies that King novels are generally the best to read but when they get adapted to screen nine times out of ten they are complete junk, as is the case here. The material that makes his books great simply doesn't translate into a movie script very well, for some reason. And I suppose there's always the question: why bother watching this when I could be reading the book again instead? I appreciate that some are simply too lengthy (i.e. It, The Stand) to be made into a complete screen work with all the situations and characters included, but there's no reason this one couldn't have included all the material from the book. As a result, a lot of key characters from the book (i.e. Ace Merrill) are not included at all and we have some terrible character development that means we don't care about the characters that are involved since they are so stripped of depth and motivation- for example we have one character from the book, Danforth Keaton, who murders his wife toward the end yet we were shown no build-up to hint at any reason that he didn't get along with or hated her and so it has no impact when it happens, unlike in the book where there was a lot of depth invested and it really involved you to find out what happened to the characters involved. All the material in the script to fill in the cracks, if you like, is really stupid and corny and the typically goofy stuff that gets included in King adaptations like this.Most of the film's problems are that it deviates so far away from the book but there's also some terrible acting from a cast that obviously can't feel for the daft material they're being asked to perform. In the 90s, a lot of King's work started skipping the cinema and just being made into made-for-TV/video territory. Rubbish like this must surely hint at why. **

actually, I liked the movie...

But I think that had I not read the book before watching it, I would have been rather disappointed with it.Needful Things was a rather lengthy novel and, unfortunately, very nearly everything in there was important to the plot. Moreover, the movie lacked the texture of the novel because so much of the story was missing.Then again, my mother rather liked this movie as well. She's no fan of Stephen King (she likes Misery, and that's about it) but something about this movie really interested her. She still refuses to read the book. I suspect this is because then she wouldn't be able to enjoy the movie as much.

Stay Away

** May contain spoilers ** Horrible. Just horrible. I loved Stephen King's novel, and this is just a horrible adaptation of it. They change the ending. They change the plot. They changed Alan Pangborne's character from a grieving husband to a happy fiancé. If you are a fan of Stephen King's novel, stay away. Even if You are not, stay away.The book was awesomely dark, even for Steve King. An 11 year old kills himself in the novel. A middle school principal is found with child pornography in the novel. THis is nowhere near as good as the novel.This movie is my least favorite film of all time. I hate this film with a vengeance.

If you read the book, don't bother with the movie

I read Needful Things by Stephen King and when I was finished, I wanted to run right out and see the movie. I thought it would be as terrifying as the book. I was wrong. I do not think this would have been a bad movie had I not read the book, but since I did, I was very disappointed. A number of story lines and characters were left out. While the main plot was the same, none of the other details were. Skip the movie and read the book on this one.

One of the worst movies I have ever seen in my life!

To those that rated more than 1 star, are you guys kidding? This movie was astoundingly horrible! I am normally a Stephen King movie fan. He's written great stories which have become movies such as Carrie, Misery, and so many others. But this movie was bad. Just really really bad. I can't believe this was a spinoff of one of his books! Do I really have to write much more about it other than the fact that it was just really bad? I really can't think of anything I liked in the movie. I've never read the book and this movie makes me not want to. The only reason why I watched this movie was because it sounded like it might be interesting in the pay per view description. Maybe I should have come here to read more about ppl's reviews first. I can't believe anyone would give this movie more than 1 star since it has a terrible and slow plot, horrible acting, and absolutely no climax. It was just flat all the way through. By the time I got watching the first half of it I was really pissed off because nothing entertaining really happens in the movie, like the whole movie throughout! And when something would happen it was just soooo stupid. I can't believe I bothered to watch it all the way through just because I was in the hopes that something good eventually

Needful Things.... edited

I was really disapointed with this edited version of Needful Things. At least give me all the movie content and let me skip the parts I dont want to see.

You Reap What You Sow !

Enjoyed viewing this picture and seeing all kinds of local town folks shopping at a store called: "Needful Things" and being waited on by Max Von Sydow,(Leland Grant), the owner of the shop. Leland Grant is a very warm and charming man who came from Ohio and many other places, unknown to his customers. A young boy enjoyed visiting the shop and obtained a very collectible baseball card and was not able to fully pay for the item; so Leland Grant wrote him in his I OWE YOU book, and gave him the item for a simply favor to accomplish. There are all kinds of strange things going on during the film, pig dung is thrown on laundry sheets hanging out to dry, green apples are thrown threw windows and the list goes on and on. Even romance blooms with the local sheriff and his girl friend, while the entire towns people start hating and hurting each other. This is an okay Steven King film, but I have seen better, and the story is simply about Evil vs. Good.

YANKEE GALS BUST UP THE PLACE: A 5 STAR CAT FIGHT

There are already plenty of reviews, so rather than bore the reader with my interpretation of the entire film, I wanted to focus on a portion. Stephen King is Stephen King and he has kept me up many a long night for my entire adult life. The formula of these stories works well (although I much prefer the Dolores Claiborne stuff as I age along with King), but the fight scene between Nettie and Wilma in "Needful Things" reigns supreme in the annals of cinematic cat fights. This is no grappling match between two well endowed bathing beauties wrasslin' around in the mud. Two middle aged Yankee broads, each holding a misplaced grudge due to a shopping spree at the local antique and "thrift" shop, engage in a second story battle royale using every household weapon they can grab and culminating with a spectacular airborne climax. I never miss this film when it's on, due to the wry and sadistically bawdy screenplay and this particular stunt sequence. The flick gets a four, the fight goes the distance.

A dark comedic joy

Unlike some of King's pieces,there is a touch of comedy and sexiness about Needful Things. From the moment the town's numerous foibles,feuds and vulnerabilities are woven,its is and was intriguing.


I won't lie, you must have a taste for King's sense of humor and use of human imperfections to understand the zest of the story.The thrills are off set by humor and irony. Sadness and jealousy are spiced with curiousity of what will happen next as well as the thought of what does "The Needful Things store" hold for each of us. I, even like the sexual interplay between characters." I do so like a woman who takes care of herself" is just a snippet of what the villian regales us with before exacting his payment for services.

I thoroughly enjoy this offering every time I view it.


Hopefully others have and will, too.