Was the Book Better?: Horror Edition

Comparing 10 of Stephen King’s Scariest Tales

Happy (almost) Halloween, the time of year I like to remind folks of my absolute obsession with the literary classics by horror aficionado, Stephen King. From as early as the third grade—thanks to loose library regulations and a beautiful un-censoring mother—I’ve devoured King’s tales of the supernatural, macabre, and things that go bump at all hours of the day.

Imagine my blissful joy when I began to notice that his books had been turned into films! Dee Wallace and her magical crying gave Donna her power in Cujo. Miko Hughes made me never want to have kids after seeing him as Gage in Pet Sematary. But as great as these adaptations were, would I say they were better than the book?

Let’s single out my top ten favorites and discuss.

1408 (2007) | “1408” in Everything’s Eventual

PLOT: A writer holes up in a haunted hotel room while researching a book. It doesn’t go well.

This is a tough call because both were good. On the one hand, the film stars my beloved John Cusack and the uber-talented Samuel L. Jackson, but on the other, the book focused more on Mike Enslin’s fight against the powers of the room, whereas the film tried to pull at our heart strings by having Mike be estranged from his wife and grieving over the death of his daughter Katie. Advantage: BOOK—only because I hate when films try to force me to sympathize with characters; sorry, Johnny!!

Secret Window (2004) | “Secret Window, Secret Garden” Four Past Midnight (eBook)

PLOT: A writer is accused of plagiarism, and while proving his innocence, things don’t go too well.

I hate to even admit this, but as good as the book is, the ending is wrapped up too nicely for me (a common flaw in many of King’s books). The film, however, expertly executed by the on-screen chemistry between Johnny Depp and John Turturro, turned a hum-drum, slightly forgettable short story into one of the best adaptations of King’s work I’ve ever experienced. Advantage: FILM.

Thinner (1996) | Thinner (Audiobook)

PLOT: A lawyer is cursed by Romani travelers after he’s acquitted of murdering one of their beloved daughters.

After both reading Thinner, and then watching the film (starring Robert John Burke and Joe Mategna) I realized I had a dormant but hungry admiration for revenge stories. This book and film satisfies that admiration. It was hard choosing a winner because they’re both so great, but I’m going to give this win to the book, because what I imagined the characters to look like vs. what the movie and prop folks on the set were able to do, was much scarier. Advantage: BOOK.

Pet Sematary (1989) | Pet Sematary

PLOT: A family is forced to learn the hard way that “…sometimes, dead, is better.”

I saw the film first and loved it because here was Herman Munster (Fred Gwynne) playing a wise and loveable neighbor in a subtle zombie tour-de-force. I read the book much later while visiting my now alma mater in the upstate New York woods, and it made the story that much creepier. So which scared me best? There’s no match for the darkness of upstate to set the stage for a book like Pet Sematary! Advantage: BOOK.

Needful Things (1993) | Needful Things

PLOT: A stranger opens up a curio shop that seems to have everything the locals “need”.

Confession: I’m obsessed with tales that feature the devil in his many forms, going all the way back to The Book of Genesis. And King’s version of Lucifer via Leland Gaunt has stayed with me all these years. When the film came out two years after I’d devoured this book, starring the VERY SCARY Max von Sydow as Gaunt, I was so excited…then quickly let down as the on-screen version turned a ferocious lion of a plot into a helpless kitten. Advantage: BOOK.

Misery (1990) | Misery

PLOT: A writer survives a car accident thanks to his #1 Fan.

Do I even need to go into it? The book is good, for sure. It’s every writer’s nightmare come to life. But the film, THE FILM. Kathy Bates DID THAT. Advantage: FILM.

Carrie (1976) | Carrie

PLOT: A bullied girl’s period awakens dormant supernatural powers; everyone beware!

This is another case of ‘I saw the film first’ but still loved the book, mostly because I wanted to have Carrie’s powers growing up. However, the book did one of those cheesy redemption endings that I loathe so much, and in the end, Spacek acted her butt off. Advantage: FILM.

Dolores Claiborne (1995) | Delores Claiborne

PLOT: A woman is accused of murdering her employer; the truth is a lot darker.

How does one choose between the beautifully written prose of Delores Claiborne the book, and the powerhouse performance (once again!) by Kathy Bates in Delores Claiborne the film? One doesn’t. One simply calls this a draw. Advantage: BOTH.

‘Salem’s Lot (1979) TV Miniseries | ‘Salem’s Lot

PLOT: A writer proves you can go home again, but you’ll absolutely find it’s inhabited by vampires.

Of all the monsters in all of literature, the vampire is my numero uno homeslice. And I love how King approaches this age-old boogey man in ‘Salem’s Lot. I caught the miniseries after I’d read the book, and thought the adaptation was well-made and scary enough. Still, my imagination version of the novel was scarier. Advantage: BOOK.

Children of the Corn (1984) | “Children of the Corn” in Night Shift

PLOT: An unnamed baddie controls some underage religious fanatics; adults not welcome!

King has a way of making kids the scariest beings in his pages. It’s another close call between the book and the film, especially with Courtney Gaines’ eerie AF portrayal of Malachai. Ultimately, I give this win to the film because, to this day, if I see Gaines, I picture him in a cornfield! Advantage: FILM.

Looks like books win by one, but I’d like to take this minute to applaud the filmmakers of these ten King stories for giving it their all and staying true to the scary essence of King’s novels. This fan appreciates it.