Since the 1970s, the name Stephen King has been synonymous with horror. His vast number of books has spawned a similar number of feature films and TV shows, and together they offer a rich opportunity to consider how one writer's work has been adapted over a long period within a single genre and across a variety of media-and what that can tell us about King, about adaptation, and about film and TV horror. Starting from the premise that King has transcended ideas of authorship to become his own literary, cinematic, and televisual brand, Screening Stephen King explores the impact and legacy of over forty years of King film and television adaptations.

Simon Brown first examines the reasons for King's literary success and then, starting with Brian De Palma's Carrie, explores how King's themes and style have been adapted for the big and small screens. He looks at mainstream multiplex horror adaptations from Cujo to Cell, low-budget DVD horror films such as The Mangler and Children of the Corn franchises, non-horror films, including Stand by Me and The Shawshank Redemption, and TV works from Salem's Lot to Under the Dome. Through this discussion, Brown identifies what a Stephen King film or series is or has been, how these works have influenced film and TV horror, and what these influences reveal about the shifting preoccupations and industrial contexts of the post-1960s horror genre in film and TV.

About the Author

SIMON BROWN is an associate professor of film and television at Kingston University. His previous books include Cecil Hepworth and the Rise of the British Film Industry 1899-1911.

Reviews
"Brown has done an excellent job of bringing together the many film and television King adaptations - the good, the bad and the ugly - and has packaged them into one coherent and, most importantly, accessible volume." * LSE Review of Books *
"[A] seminal text...Thoroughly researched and engaging." * Popular Culture Studies Journal *
"A unique, valuable addition to the academic world...this text grants an innovative perspective that will pique the interest of many scholars...As a result of its meticulous construction, Simon Brown's text provides an original, valuable contribution to the humanities." * Journal of Popular Culture *



Book Information
ISBN 9781477314920
Author Simon Brown
Format Paperback
Page Count 240
Imprint University of Texas Press
Publisher University of Texas Press
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 36mm