Needful Things (Widescreen)

 

 

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I first read Needful Things about 20 years ago, not long after it was published. One thing I like about Stephen King's stories is how familiar the worlds seem. Then he changes one or two small details and introduces a supernatural element. We still relate to the story because we identify so strongly with the setting he establishes. Like many of King's books, Needful Things is set in the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine.

The movie is not an entirely faithful adaptation of the book, but that's partly due to the length of the original story. A few details are changed to help the story along and other elements are completely omitted. The remaining story still works well as a movie, but it could have been even better.

What would you do if The Devil lived in your town?

Leland Gaunt (von Sydow) opens a store in Castle Rock. Needful Things sells all manner of antiques and collectibles and Gaunt initially appears to be a friendly old man. His first customer is a young boy, Brian Rusk, who has a large collection of Topps baseball cards. After Gaunt asks him to wish for any item he can imagine, Brian thinks of a 1956 Mickey Mantle Topps card. When Brian closes his eyes and touches the card, he can see Mantle playing in a game from decades ago. The card is worth hundreds of dollars, but Gaunt asks for just 95c. The other part of the price is a deed.

The deeds are tricks played on other people. Brian is told to throw turkey droppings at freshly-washed sheets hanging on a neighbor's washing line. He barely knows the woman and so there's almost no chance she will find out that it was him. Gaunt uses this tactic with everyone who enters the store. He somehow has an item that each covets, whether it's sunglasses worn by Elvis Presley, a first edition of Treasure Island signed by the author, or a toy horse-racing game that accurately predicts winners of upcoming races. People are willing to perform tricks to acquire items they desperately want.

Most people don't have a clue what is going on, but Sheriff Alan Pangborn (Harris) sees what Gaunt is doing. The tricks start to become more cruel and dangerous, and some ultimately become fatal. Gaunt apparently travels from one town to the next and feeds off the evil and negative energy.

The biggest flaw in the movie adaptation is a speech designed to give the story a typical Hollywood climax. It seems out of place and unrealistic, but I understand why it was added. That aside, it's one of the best King adaptations. The acting is strong for the most part, with good performances from Amanda Plummer, Bonnie Bedelia and J. T. Walsh supporting the excellent work of Harris and von Sydow.

It's fascinating watching how a few evil deeds can impact a friendly small town. The story is simple, but it seems so plausible.

What would you do to possess your own needful thing?

Overall score 3.5/5

Needful things is a great movie. I base movies on thier originality and you'll be hard pressed to find a movie even close to similar on this. A store called needful things.... All the old stuff that you've lost somehow and a place you can go to get one just like it.. How many times have we said "I'd do anything to get (whatever) back". Here's your answer. The movie takes a few to startup, but you begin to see what's going on and the trouble people get into because of thier needful crap. The movie ends in the longest scene of meyhem In a movie. But the soundtrack is worth the entertainment value.

One thing I've noticed about Stephen King is that he can have problems ending his stories. He's so good at building you up or drawing you in then it's like what's next, what's the point, what do I do with these people? This movie is not an exception. I found this story to be very fun not really scary. I don't know it may have been in 1993 but in 2004 it's funny. But I was very disappointed at the end. I'd say watch it it anyway especially if you're a Stephen King fan. It makes for a good night in anyway.

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4.0 out of 5 stars MAD MAX RETURNS
I had the pleasure to watch this movie and "The Exorcist" in the same week and could only marvel at the underrated performances of Max von Sydow in both. Lisez davantage

Published on Dec 23 2003 by Michael Butts

3.0 out of 5 stars Needing 2.5 stars
Stephen King adaptations are strictly hit-or-miss propositions, and this supernatural thriller from 1993 is definitely a "miss," based on one of King's lesser novels and... Lisez davantage

Published on Oct 25 2003 by Tom Servo

3.0 out of 5 stars Great movie, but....
This was absolutely a wonderful "twist" movie. It's not my most favorite movie, but by the time you finish watching it, you think...wow, that was great. Lisez davantage

Published on Oct 23 2003

2.0 out of 5 stars 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. Lisez davantage

Published on Mar 12 2003

2.0 out of 5 stars An okay movie hurt by a lousy DVD
Like a great many of the DVDs MGM seems to be putting out, this is a fairly empty little disc. As far as special features you get a trailer and... that's it. Lisez davantage

Published on Oct 25 2002 by Blake Petit

4.0 out of 5 stars 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. Lisez davantage

Published on Jun 5 2002

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