I’m gonna force myself to watch a crappy Stephen King movie because of this. I’ll raise a glass to anyone that can get under the skin of this dumb chump.
The Langoliers is one option, a low budget TV-movie adaptation, and it has a few allegorical parallels to today’s events.
Example 1: danger as a function of regression.
For starters, the movie captures the surreal feeling many have re: our corrupted timeline.
The characters’ original timeline continues on without them and they fall further behind the present until the langoliers find them.
With increasing alarm, we’ve watched our timeline fall further and further from the expected path of slow but steady progress, to the point that the darkest chapter of modern history has caught up to us.
Example 2: status quo as a form of paralysis.
The restrained physics of temporal-decay around the airport gives much of the movie its aesthetic of liminal stasis.
Arguably this is not unlike the husk of our former democratic government in slowing the march of progress to a crawl, focusing on conservation of status quo politics. Even now, the government timidly awaits its assimilation by the fascist demagogues, who promise to carve it up and feed it to an endless, insatiable hunger that is eating the planet. (Yeah global elites are the langoliers in this comparison.)
But the allegory fails, because our monsters are weak.
Fascists and their supporters are cowards by definition. Fear and division made them, it is what drives them, and it’s how they drive others. Spreading it is required to maintain their power. So it should come as no surprise that they are most vulnerable to courage and unity. Indeed, wherever these remain, they can only cede ground and lose power.
I’d like to add Dreamcatcher. Nothing spectacular, but what a great cast! I’d say it’s like an airport novel; quick and easy to consume, and rather entertaining.
I first watched The Running Man shortly after finishing the book (which I quite enjoyed), expecting to see a movie adaptation of it, when in fact the most basic details of the premise are the only similarity between the two; as a result, I was pretty disappointed, but from what I remember of it, ‘trashy good time’ is a pretty apt description.
I’d rather watch John Carpenter’s The Fog. The Mist was such a disappointing read. It doesn’t go anywhere, it’s just a bunch of pointless experiences that ends on a random page.
Definitely worth a watch! I had not read the book before watching it, which I think was good going into it.
I enjoyed it as a movie outright, but it wasn’t until I did a report on it for a class that I learned to appreciate a lot of the undertones and imagery that I didn’t catch on the first pass. If you come back after you watch it I’ll tell you my favorite subtle thing I missed the first time (which I’m sure is more obvious in the book)!
I think Stephen King is very good at writing stories, but often very bad at ending them; quite a few of his books have great setups but end in an unsatisfying or anticlimactic way. Very much liked the movie ending, though - was not at all what I expected, and very emotionally impactful.
I’m gonna force myself to watch a crappy Stephen King movie because of this. I’ll raise a glass to anyone that can get under the skin of this dumb chump.
Steven King doesn’t make movies…!? I guess reading one of his dreadful books that never saw a professional editor is too much for a performative gag.
You can read one of his good books instead of watching a crappy movie.
The Langoliers is one option, a low budget TV-movie adaptation, and it has a few allegorical parallels to today’s events.
Example 1: danger as a function of regression.
For starters, the movie captures the surreal feeling many have re: our corrupted timeline. The characters’ original timeline continues on without them and they fall further behind the present until the langoliers find them. With increasing alarm, we’ve watched our timeline fall further and further from the expected path of slow but steady progress, to the point that the darkest chapter of modern history has caught up to us.
Example 2: status quo as a form of paralysis.
The restrained physics of temporal-decay around the airport gives much of the movie its aesthetic of liminal stasis. Arguably this is not unlike the husk of our former democratic government in slowing the march of progress to a crawl, focusing on conservation of status quo politics. Even now, the government timidly awaits its assimilation by the fascist demagogues, who promise to carve it up and feed it to an endless, insatiable hunger that is eating the planet. (Yeah global elites are the langoliers in this comparison.)
But the allegory fails, because our monsters are weak.
Fascists and their supporters are cowards by definition. Fear and division made them, it is what drives them, and it’s how they drive others. Spreading it is required to maintain their power. So it should come as no surprise that they are most vulnerable to courage and unity. Indeed, wherever these remain, they can only cede ground and lose power.
Why not watch one of the good ones, instead? I’d recommend:
I’d like to add Dreamcatcher. Nothing spectacular, but what a great cast! I’d say it’s like an airport novel; quick and easy to consume, and rather entertaining.
I Duddets!
Or if you’re in for a trashy good time, The Running Man starring Arnold Schwarzenegger!
I first watched The Running Man shortly after finishing the book (which I quite enjoyed), expecting to see a movie adaptation of it, when in fact the most basic details of the premise are the only similarity between the two; as a result, I was pretty disappointed, but from what I remember of it, ‘trashy good time’ is a pretty apt description.
And Paula Abdul did the choreography for the dancing girls!
Gonna tack on The Mist to your list.
At the very least it stars Thomas Jane and Andre Bruagher, which is a win in its own right imo.
I’d rather watch John Carpenter’s The Fog. The Mist was such a disappointing read. It doesn’t go anywhere, it’s just a bunch of pointless experiences that ends on a random page.
I actually don’t think I’ve seen The Mist, but now I think I’m going to give it a watch based on your recommendation.
Definitely worth a watch! I had not read the book before watching it, which I think was good going into it.
I enjoyed it as a movie outright, but it wasn’t until I did a report on it for a class that I learned to appreciate a lot of the undertones and imagery that I didn’t catch on the first pass. If you come back after you watch it I’ll tell you my favorite subtle thing I missed the first time (which I’m sure is more obvious in the book)!
Well, that was unexpectedly great. I’d love to hear your favorite subtle thing.
Also curious what the book ending was, if you want to share, @Breadhax0r@lemmy.world.
I think Stephen King is very good at writing stories, but often very bad at ending them; quite a few of his books have great setups but end in an unsatisfying or anticlimactic way. Very much liked the movie ending, though - was not at all what I expected, and very emotionally impactful.
He’s even gone on record that the way they ended The Mist was way better than his written ending. Having consumed both, I’m inclined to agree.
Also the movie ending is so much better. Iirc Steven king even said he preferred it to what he wrote.
He did! I saw your comment after i posted mine.