As a lifelong admirer of Stephen King‘s works and a connoisseur of Christmas movies, I must say that the holiday season releases of his adaptations have been quite intriguing. The juxtaposition between the warmth and cheer of December and the dark, often chilling tales that King weaves is always fascinating to me.
Out of more than 40 movie adaptations based on Stephen King’s works, just two were released in the month of December, and interestingly enough, “The Shining,” which is one of the closest to being set around Christmas, was not among them. It’s worth noting that this count only includes feature films, so miniseries like “Bag of Bones” from December and 2020’s “The Stand” were not considered. So, you might be wondering, which two Stephen King adaptations had a theatrical release during the holiday season? As for “Storm of the Century,” which was originally written as a miniseries, it didn’t debut in December either – that seems quite surprising.
The One That Makes Some Sense
The movie “The Green Mile” focuses on Tom Hanks’ character, Paul Edgecomb, who is a guard at Cold Mountain Penitentiary’s death row known as “The Green Mile” due to its green-painted hallway leading to the electric chair. Familiar with dealing with questionable inmates like William “Wild Bill” Wharton (Sam Rockwell) and his harsh coworker Percy Wetmore (Doug Hutchison), Edgecomb’s life takes an unexpected turn when a mysterious inmate, John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan), arrives at the prison.
Exhausted by the emotionally taxing company and dismal atmosphere at work, Edgecomb experiences a profound shift in his perspective upon encountering the towering yet compassionate convict John Coffey (played by Michael Clarke Duncan). This isn’t solely due to the man on death row’s remarkably human qualities, but also because of the extraordinary, healing power he seems to wield.
Among the various themes in Stephen King’s serialized novel and Frank Darabont’s film adaptation, several share similarities with common themes found in many Christmas movies. These include not making assumptions based on appearances and learning to accept and appreciate differences between individuals. Movies such as “Happiest Season”, “Let It Snow”, and “Nothing Like the Holidays” all touch upon one or both of these themes.
Essentially, “The Green Mile” centers around a diverse set of characters, some inside and others outside bars, who are struggling to find their way in life. Many Christmas movies share this theme, such as multiple versions of “A Christmas Carol,” “The Grinch,” and “The Family Man.” Interestingly, the theme of transformation is common in these movies, but what stands out even more is love. Countless holiday films revolve around characters needing change, while a multitude of them emphasize the significance of love as well. Examples include “The Holiday,” “Just Friends,” “Love Actually,” and “Hot Fuzz.” The list continues.
The Green Mile is a film known for its gentle atmosphere, and it’s often considered the most compassion-centric adaptation of a Stephen King novel yet. It stands out among other non-horror adaptations like Stand by Me, The Shawshank Redemption, and Hearts in Atlantis. However, The Life of Chuck, set to hit theaters on May 30, 2025, might challenge its position as the most heartwarming film. To put it another way, the central theme of The Green Mile emphasizes humanity’s inherent goodness, rather than its evil tendencies. In contrast, the other December Stephen King movie release leaves viewers guessing about which of these two possibilities is actually reality.
The One That Doesn’t
John Carpenter’s “Christine” narrates the melancholy story of Arnie Cunningham, a shy teenager who lacks self-confidence due to overbearing parents and relentless school bullies. His physique is somewhat scrawny. However, when a dilapidated classic car comes into his life, Cunningham undergoes a transformation. But if you were to ask his friends and family, they wouldn’t necessarily view the change as a positive one. Now, those who had tormented Cunningham are mysteriously disappearing one by one. Yet, it remains unclear whether it is Arnie driving the car or if Christine, the car itself, has found a way to drive autonomously.
It was quite unusual to release the movie “Christine” during the holiday season, especially considering that John Carpenter’s “The Thing” wasn’t exactly suitable for a summer premiere. The storyline about a tormented young man being taken over by a 1958 Plymouth Fury is far from heartwarming or uplifting. Moreover, while most Christmas movies revolve around themes of redemption, “Christine” ventures off in a different direction.
In summary, Christine displays a harmonious blend of the styles of the two Horror Masters, yet neither was known for celebrating or incorporating cheerful themes. It might not have been ideal timing to launch during family gatherings, but it’s still a compelling film worth viewing.
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2024-12-23 22:44