Stephen King's The Dark Half | Alex Ross Perry

[Cremildo]

MGM has set Alex Ross Perry to adapt and direct The Dark Half, a new adaptation of the 1989 Stephen King bestseller. Perry popped after writing, directing and producing Her Smell, the drama that premiered at 2018 Toronto, and for which Elisabeth Moss is Independent Spirit Awards nominated for her portrayal as a self-destructive rock star.

Perry plans a reinvention of a story first turned into a 1993 MGM film by the late zombie impresario George Romero. That film starred Timothy Hutton as an author whose books sell okay and have a literary vibe to them. They don’t sell nearly as well as grisly crime thrillers he writes under an alter ego. Once his pseudonym is exposed, the author and his wife decide to give the other author a ceremonial burial. And then the people who were involved in doing that start turning up dead as it appears the alter ago has taken on a life of his own. source

[Monterey Jack]

The Romero movie, while not great, was a fine adaptation of the book, so I don't see the point in this when there are so many King novels and short stories that have not been adapted to the big screen yet.

[Mystic]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

The Romero movie, while not great, was a fine adaptation of the book, so I don't see the point in this when there are so many King novels and short stories that have not been adapted to the big screen yet.

I agree. I can't imagine that audiences are clamoring for a remake / reboot (whatever) of this film. This is another clear example of the "creative rot" at work in Hollywood, and the almost constant rehashing of material that's already been done in a cinematic sense. Why not adapt a story or novel that has not been done instead of doing another pointless and unwanted remake?

[snipemonkey]

I wouldn't mind seeing another adaptation. The Romero film isn't bad but it suffers mightily for the miscasting of Timothy Hutton. His "bad" half is just not particularly scary. He doesn't do threatening well at all. If he'd switched rolls with Michael Rooker it might have been a classic.

[Monterey Jack]

I mean, remaking Pet Sematary I was fine with, because the 1989 version was lousy, but Romero's version was very faithful to the book, and holds up fine (some wonky split-screen F/X aside), so what's the point, other than King remakes are "in" right now? How about doing The Dark Tower again and doing it RIGHT this time?

[Elgie]

I’m interested in seeing what Perry does with it.

[captainron_howdy]

I'm actually pretty fond of the Romero film, Timothy Hutton did a great job with that/those performance(s). This does seem like a strange one to remake, then again I'm sure every studio is hot for anything King right now.

[Cremildo]

I disliked the novel a lot and have no interest in seeing Romero's take, so I'm fine with this. What interests me is seeing Perry tackle commercial genre filmmaking.

[PS-RagE]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

I mean, remaking Pet Sematary I was fine with, because the 1989 version was lousy, but Romero's version was very faithful to the book, and holds up fine (some wonky split-screen F/X aside), so what's the point, other than King remakes are "in" right now? How about doing The Dark Tower again and doing it RIGHT this time?

Dark Tower is a huge, convoluted tale more suitable for a multi-season TV series than to try to take to the big screen. Also, I dunno how well the last book go over with today's audience.

[JohnCarpenterLives]

"Interesting! I'm already a fan of Romero's! Wonder what can be done with a bigger budget?"

*Perry plans a reinvention...*

"Oh, never mind."

[Jay H.]

I'm a big fan of the original, so I'll pass on the remake.

[EvaDK]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

The Romero movie, while not great, was a fine adaptation of the book, so I don't see the point in this when there are so many King novels and short stories that have not been adapted to the big screen yet.

Yep, same. Romero's film is fine, although dated.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

I mean, remaking Pet Sematary I was fine with, because the 1989 version was lousy, but Romero's version was very faithful to the book, and holds up fine (some wonky split-screen F/X aside), so what's the point, other than King remakes are "in" right now? How about doing The Dark Tower again and doing it RIGHT this time?

The Dark Tower is becoming a series.

https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/dar...ke-1203169085/

[EvaDK]

Originally Posted by Gacivory

The Dark Tower is becoming a series.

https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/dar...ke-1203169085/

Halfdan The Black cast as The Man In Black.

[Monterey Jack]

Originally Posted by EvaDK

Yep, same. Romero's film is fine, although dated.

Aside from the "twinning" split-screen F/X (and the lousy CGI sparrows at the climax, which Romero groused about looking "like garbage!"), what's that dated about it? Adding touch-screen cell phones and the internet wouldn't change the overall shape of the story in any reasonable way.

[Captain James]

I have a very soft spot for The Dark Half. I enjoyed it at the cinema and continue to watch it every so often on DVD. I do buy Hutton as Thad/George. His dual performance works for me. It has a certain atmosphere about it and I'm sure I'll continue to return to it.

Looking forward to seeing the new film though.