Alabamians and Stephen King fans are excitedly awaiting the June 2025 release of “Life of Chuck,” a movie based on a King novella that was filmed in and around Mobile. “Life of Chuck,” starring Tom Hiddleston and based on a story from the collection “If It Bleeds,” is a lighter tale from the legendary horror author.
But it’s not the first time Alabama and Alabamians have been featured in King’s film adaptations. From writers to actors to film locales, Alabama has been connected to at least 10 King films. If you know of other ties, feel free to email kkazek@al.com.
The list below is in chronological order:
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‘Children of the Corn’
This 1984 horror classic about a town where children murder all the adults and worship a mysterious corn god starred Linda Hamilton and Peter Horton in the lead roles, portraying a couple who accidentally happens on the town. If you watch closely, you’ll see veteran Alabama actor R.G. Armstrong playing a mechanic who comes to a bad end. Armstrong, born in Pleasant Grove, was a staple in western films and TV shows throughout the 1960s and ’70s. He died in 2012.
‘Firestarter’
This 1984 film is best known for the performance by young Drew Barrymore as a little girl with the power to start fires with her mind. Based on King’s 1980 novel, the film also featured Oscar-winning actress Louise Fletcher, who was born in Birmingham, Ala., as Norma Manders. Fletcher is known for “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” “Cruel Intentions” and “Flowers in the Attic.” She died in 2022. “Firestarter” was remade in 2022.
‘Tales from the Dark Side: The Movie’
This 1990 film featured three vignettes in the style of 1950s horror comic books. IMDb says: “To stall a witch plotting to eat him, a boy reads her horror tales dealing with a collegian’s resurrection of a mummy, a murderous cat, and an artist’s pact with a gargoyle.” King wrote one of the segments.
Michael McDowell, who was born in Enterprise, Ala., wrote two segments of the film: Lot No. 249 and Lover’s Vow. Michael was also a screenwriter for the 1988 film “Beetlejuice” as well as 1993’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” He died in 1999.
MORE: ‘Beetlejuice’ creator from Alabama was collector of the macabre
‘Sleepwalkers’
This lesser-known 1992 film is about a “mother-and-son team of strange supernatural creatures” who “move to a small town to seek out a young virgin to feed on,” IMDb says. The film starred Brian Krause and Alice Krige as the mother and son. It also featured a brief appearance by Glenn Shadix, a Bessemer, Ala.-native who died in 2010, as Mr. Fallows. Shadix is best-known for portraying Otho in the film “Beetlejuice,” which was written by late Alabama author Michael McDowell.
‘The Dark Half’
This 1993 film about a writer who can’t control his darker side is based on the 1989 novel of the same name. It stars Timothy Hutton as an author who becomes a murder suspect and Amy Madigan as his wife. It also features two people from Alabama. Veteran character actor Michael Rooker, born in Jasper, plays Sheriff Alan Pangborn and Beth Grant, born in Gadsden, plays Shayla Beaumont.
Rooker is known for playing Yondu in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” series and had roles in more than 100 films and TV shows including “The Suicide Squad,” “The Walking Dead,” “SEAL Team” and “True Detective.” Grant is known for “No Country for Old Men,” “Willy’s Wonderland,” and the current TV show “Mayfair Witches.”
‘Thinner’
This quirky 1984 novel was initially published under King’s pseudonym, Richard Bachman. IMDb describes the plot of the 1996 film this way: “An obese attorney is cursed by a gypsy to rapidly and uncontrollably lose weight.”
The screenplay for the 1996 film version was co-written by Alabama author Michael McDowell, who was born in Enterprise, Ala. He died in 1999. He was also screenwriter for “Beetlejuice,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Tales from the Darkside.”
‘Dreamcatcher’
This 2001 alien tale is known as one of King’s grossest books. The 2003 film version – which starred Thomas Jane, Jason Lee, Timothy Olyphant, Morgan Freeman and Donnie Wahlberg – was considered a box office bomb.
Montgomery, Ala.-born character actor Michael O’Neill – known for roles in “Transformers,” “Dallas Buyers Club” and “Secondhand Lions” – portrays Gen. Matheson in “Dreamcatcher.”
‘Rose Red’
This 2002 miniseries was not based on a book – King wrote it for television. It stars numerous well-known actors such as Emily Deschanel, Nancy Travis, Melanie Lynskey, Julian Sands and Judith Ivey. It stars Huntsville, Ala., native Julia Campbell in the pivotal role of the ghost of Ellen Rimbauer, the original builder of the home. Campbell is best known for playing mean girl Christie in “Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion” and appearing in dozens of TV shows.
The tale of a haunted house that can change itself was inspired by the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, Calif. It can now be purchased on DVD and has become a fan favorite.
‘Gerald’s Game’
Released in 2017 on Netflix, “Gerald’s Game” tells the story of a married couple trying “to spice up their marriage in a remote lake house. After the husband dies unexpectedly, the wife is left handcuffed to their bed frame and must fight to survive and break free,” the IMDb synopsis says.
It stars Carla Gugino and Bruce Greenwood in lead roles. It was filmed in and around Mobile and Point Clear, Ala.
‘The Life of Chuck’
This movie, to be released in July 2025, is based on one of King’s lighter stories from the collection titled “If It Bleeds.” It was filmed entirely in Alabama, in and around Mobile.
The fantasy tells the story of Charles Krantz, played by Tom Hiddleston, in reverse chronology. The film version is described on its IMDb page as a “life-affirming” tale.
King’s website describes the book’s plot: “‘The Life of Chuck’ is three separate stories linked to tell the biography of Charles Krantz in reverse, beginning with his death from a brain tumor at 39 and ending with his childhood in a supposedly haunted house.”
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