SCREEN GUIDE: STEPHEN KING SEASON at BFI
COMING SOON: STEPHEN KING ON SCREEN at BFI — 01 SEP to 02 OCT 2017 — Tickets on sale 08 AUG at 11.30am.
The landing of a new BFI brochure is a call to arms for all adventurous film fans. SEPTEMBER — OCTOBER 2017 has arrived and our eyes are hellbent on new season STEPHEN KING ON SCREEN. Combining a preview of IT (2017) and a raft of King-themed events and adaptations, there’s much to sink our teeth into.
Let us know what you’ll be booking for in the comments below.
BIG TOP ATTRACTIONS
The season offers up some excellent attractions:
- NIGHTMARES & DREAMSCAPES (01 SEPT) launches affairs and is “an entertaining, breakneck romp through the innumerable adaptations of King’s work”. Best King movie? Expect arguments…
- PREVIEW: IT (04 SEPT): “One of Stephen King’s most terrifying creations gets a modern update in what’s bound to be the horror spectacle of the year”. There’s rumour that Tilda Swinton was sought after as the new Pennywise which conjures images of Steve Bell’s Theresa May — it can’t be that terrifying, surely?
- CHRISTINE prowls both Britain’s largest screen (BFI IMAX, 13 SEPT) and the BFI’s smallest room (STUDIO, 03 OCT) — take your pick.
- There’s a screening of THE MIST in B&W (21 SEPT & 02 OCT), director Frank Darabont’s preferred version and a stunning fine-tune of his finished film. Be warned: that ending gets even bleaker…
- FROM STORY TO SCRIPT (09 SEPT) gives screenwriters a chance to workshop new ideas inspired by The Master of Horror and a STEPHEN KING WEEKENDER (22 to 23 SEPT) celebrates the author’s 70th birthday with a FILM QUIZ and SUMMIT.
- Finally, STEPHEN KING PICKS is all about the great man’s favourite films including NIGHT OF THE DEMON (03 & 07 SEPT) and VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED (10 & 13 SEPT).
SINGLE-O EXHIBIT
If we could see just one? We’d pick MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE (09 & 12 SEPT), King’s only stint in the directorial chair and a film trashed by him and almost everyone else upon release. It’s possibly our favourite King movie for repeat viewings and is all-too rarely seen on the big screen*. Now, we don’t hold with ‘so bad it’s good’ theories at RADIANT CIRCUS, preferring to follow a filmmaker’s intentions, no matter how odd the journey. King might never want to direct again, but MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE’s campy tale of killer trucks brought to life by a passing comet never fails to put a big grin on our tired faces.
ALL HAIL THE KING!
*If there’s ever a film we would love to see at the BFI IMAX, MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE is it…
Featured image: IT (2017)