This 1993 adaptation of Stephen King’s book was originally 3 hours long when it first appeared on cable television (for which it was made) and then was edited into this 2 hour theatrical version. It works well enough but you can tell that there are parts missing especially at the end when the townspeople confess to things we haven’t seen. No matter. Although all the performances are fine notably Amanda Plummer’s and J.T. Walsh’s, the movie belongs to Max von Sydow as the Devil which it should.
He gets the best lines and the best make-up and seems to be enjoying himself immensely. Director Fraser Heston (Charlton’s son) does a workmanlike job in presenting the movie and I mean that in the best possible sense of the word. Well made with story and character first but when effects are needed they do not disappoint. I don’t know who’s responsible (writer or director) but THINGS noticeably draws on 4 other movies; FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE (1974), SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES (1983), THE DEVIL & DANIEL WEBSTER (1941) and the TV adaptation of Stephen King’s own SALEM’S LOT (1979) which only adds to the fun if you know those films.
Castle Rock is a sleepy little New England town about to be turned upside down by a series of sinister events. Sound familiar? An antique black Mercedes drives into town and soon a new curiosity shop called “Needful Things” opens up. The townspeople who visit it soon discover items that are their heart’s desire. They are ridiculously cheap. All the proprietor Leland Gaunt (von Sydow) asks in return, aside from a pittance, is that the person in question do him a favor.
This favor involves doing something to another townsperson without their knowing it so that they’ll blame somebody else. The local sheriff (Ed Harris) tries to keep the peace while everything starts to go wrong around him. Little things balloon into big things and then erupt into brutal violence. Once he figures things out, can the sheriff stop the vicious retaliations? All the while Gaunt relaxes to the strains of Schubert’s AVE MARIA while sipping brandy and smoking cigars. When he looks over his little black book of souls, he has quite a devilish look to his face and hands. There is some choice dialogue including von Sydow’s last line. There’s also some excessive violence but it’s the characters and their deeds that will stick in your memory. I would love to see the full version someday.
The Capsule Critic 