Needful Things (1993) - Episode 132

Our Hail to the King series concludes (for now) with another anomaly from the venerable author's assemblage of adaptations - director Fraser C. Heston's 1993 take on his 1991 megatome Needful Things.

In the quaint New England town of Castle Rock, the opening of a new store causes quite a stir - but just how big a stir will soon become explosively apparent. Local Sheriff Alan Pangborn (Ed Harris), recently transferred in and looking for a break from the chaos and violence of the big city, referees minor skirmishes between neighbours - while the owner of the mysterious emporium Needful Things, Leland Gaunt (Max Von Sydow), spies an opportunity to turn up the heat by offering each citizen in town the one item they desire most in the world, for impossibly low prices. At least, in cash terms - each deal involves a favour, a prank, a simple trick played secretly on a fellow citizen. Tricks that threaten to ignite long-simmering tensions that may engulf the whole place in flame and fury.

With the book an early King favourite for Devlin, he introduces Gali to this Golden Age of King movie version, released when the author's ubiquity was absolute. But, will it still take pride of place on the cinematic mantle, or does he now have buyer's remorse? Buy now. Pay later.

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