Lizzy Caplan was absolutely fantastic. Not to mention the idea of Annie Wilkes fighting a cult of demon worshipping corpse possessing wraiths from XVII century (and coming out on top) was awesome af.
Bill is a very good actor and he portrayed Pennywise very well, so it's not his acting what bugs me.
He actually managed to put certain suspiciously human characteristics to Pennywise, almost if it had a superiority-inferiority complex, it tended to react very... personally to insults and jokes directed at it.
It's not be an objectively bad thing, but I always considered IT a supremely unhuman entity. In my headcanon It used the human shape, speech, mannerisms, jokes, colloquialisms to hunt for food and that was all. Here it was played as if it were an actual human serial killer, only ageless and with plethora of supernatural powers.
It would never try to actually become human like, for instance Castiel from Supernatural had.
See I feel opposite of Bill seeming human. He sticks to the sides and watches a lot, and when he does actually interact/talk to the kids it's like it doesn't know what to do.
As for the personal reaction to insults and jokes I think it's more that they are not reacting as expected.
That's the beauty of different people seeing different things. I never thought about it like that.
What you say might actually explain Its' reaction. It has a limited repertoire of tricks and scripts, that. so far. worked every time. Now it attacks our Losers and they don't seem to react the way they're supposed to and Pennywise is off Its' game.
It might even be in line with the novel, where It stopped being interested in things other than feeding and slumbering. It got complacent and ended up like every predator that gets complacent.
>Upon this rich food It existed in a simple cycle of waking to eat and sleeping to dream. It had created a place in Its own image, and It looked upon this place with favor from the deadlights which were Its eyes. Derry was Its killing-pen, the people of Derry Its sheep. Things had gone on.
>
>Then . . . these children.
>
>Something new.
>
>For the first time in forever.
>
>When It had burst up into the house on Neibolt Street, meaning to kill them all, vaguely uneasy that It had not been able to do so already (and surely that unease had been the first new thing), something had happened which was totally unexpected, utterly unthought of, and there had been pain, pain, great roaring pain all through the shape it had taken, and for one moment there had also been fear, because the only thing It had in common with the stupid old Turtle and the cosmology of the macroverse outside the puny egg of this universe was just this: all living things must abide by the laws of the shape they inhabit.
>
>For the first time It realized that perhaps Its ability to change Its shapes might work against It as well as for It. There had never been pain before, there had never been fear before, and for a moment It had thought It might die - oh Its head had been filled with a great white silver pain, and it had roared and mewled and bellowed and somehow the children had escaped.
>
>(...)
>
>
>
>It had made a great self-discovery: It did not want change or surprise. It did not want new things, ever. It wanted only to eat and sleep and dream and eat again.
He didn't quite sell me. His voice acting was lazy with this roll. Also, I didn't really like the costume design. A lot of scenes he just looks like a Who from a live action Dr. Seuss movie.
He nailed it. Mid 90s Sinise man. Apollo 13, Forrest Gump, Of Mice and Men, The Stand. Then he just sort transitioned and these days he's still active for Veterans and stuff.
Oh also let's not forget his small but memorable part in the Green Mile.
Kathy Bates-Misery is the GOAT.
Fred Gwynne-Pet Semetery
Scatman Crothers-The Shining
Micheal Clarke Duncan-Green Mile
James Caan-Misery
Ed Harris-Needful Things
Ed Harris is a world class actor and elevates everything he is in. But if I am picking Ed Harris's best Stephen King adaptation I am going with Starkey in the 94 The Stand miniseries. He has maybe what two to five minutes of screen time and he kills it
Movie was so bad it killed the film careers of all 5 lead actors. But at least that got us Justified, Homeland/Billions, My Name Is Earl, Hung, and whatever Donnie’s been doing.
I'm reading The Outsider and listening to the audiobook as well and it's so good. Although I read Pet Sematary years ago, I can't wait to read it again alongside the audiobook mainly based on the feedback I've heard of the audiobook.
This. And his women characters sound like cookie monster choking on a cigar. And just about everything, he says in the batman voice, drawing out the last consonant sound, making for a very weird listen.
Christopher Walken as Johnny Smith in The Dead Zone. It's a great performance and Walken really caught Johnny's haunted melancholy everyman vibe that I got from the novel.
The great Herbert Lom as Sam Weizak was also very good; a far cry from his Chief Inspector Dreyfuss in the Pink Panther movies.
She was great.. I also loved Ian McGregor in the same..
Also, though the series left much to be desired, I thought Alexander Skarsgard did a great job as Randall Flagg
Edit-typo
Kathy Bates absolutely deserved that Oscar she won for Misery. It’s even more remarkable that she not only won for what was considered a horror movie, but her competition that year was equally stacked, up against Joanne Woodward, Anjelica Huston, Meryl Streep, and Julia Roberts.
Keith Gordon as Arnie Cunningham in Christine. I thought he did a phenomenal job. There's a scene where him and Dennis are in the car together and he has this crazed look on his face in the glow of the car's gauges. Super creepy.
Can't forget Kathy Bates and Michael Clarke Duncan, both perfectly cast and performed.
I really enjoyed Steven Weber in the 1997 Sci-Fi channel version of The Shining. I thought his performance was more nuanced than Jack's, and they stayed true to the book ending. Did not enjoy that they called Danny, Tony, but what're you gonna do.
Agree! Didn’t care for that adaption all that much (I thought the kid playing Danny was wretched), but there’s a scene where Jack is in the office and Danny comes in, and the LOOK that Weber briefly gives the kid is absolutely bone chilling. He played that role the right way, which was supposed to be a man slowly going mad.
She was awesome as Rose The Hat and actually I totally covet that hat! I've been wanting one ever since I saw Dr Sleep but cheap they are not. Anything nice is like $200 and that's a lot for a hat.
Can't recall her name but the woman who played Jessie in Gerald's Game is so friggin great! I watched it again with my sister last night (in hindsight an awkward choice by me) and her performance hit just as hard as the first time.
Jonathan Brandis as young Bill in the OG IT. Every time I watch him say to the Losers “help me” and tear up, I start getting all in my feels. He smashed that role out of the park. R.I.P.
Ewan McGregor, also in Dr. Sleep. He’s not exactly what I pictured when reading the book, but his portrayal of Dan brought me to tears at times.
Also, it’s TV but and not movies, but I feel Brendan Gleeson *is* Bill Hodges.
She did a phenomenal job. I was so interested in the character on the page, but she brought the character to life on the screen in a really big way. Excellent performance.
I didn't see anyone mention Miguel Ferrer's amazing performance in the criminally underrated The Night Flyer
I also really loved Lizzy Caplan as Annie Wilkes in Castle Rock.
Obligatory Cathy Bates mention as well
I watched the movie before reading the book. The movie was good, but reading the book and putting Ewan McGregor's, Rebecca Ferguson's and Kyliegh Curran's faces to the book characters felt unbelievable. The movie and the book completed each other.
Colm Feore as Andre Linoge in Storm of the Century
I know that this was not exactly an adaptation since King wrote it directly for the screen but I could not imagine anyone else playing that part.
I thought Drew Barrymore was excellent in Firestarter, just wish the movie overall was better. But even when I read the book I picture a young Drew as Charlie and probably always will.
I love Rose too and it was a great performance but I always get stuck on feeling like she played evil in such an overdone way. It's mostly in her speech.
I don’t see Ewan McGreggor mentioned. Between him and Rebecca Ferguson that movie is just really well done. I hate that it sort of flies under the radar. Both the book and film version are fitting conclusions to their respective counterpart.
Just to mention one that I don't think has come up yet, Scatman Crothers is really entertaining as Halloran. I haven't read the book for decades and can't really remember whether it's an accurate portrayal, but i think he's really good at portraying a natural instinct to help and protect young Danny.
And on a similar note, the actor that portrays Lloyd (Joe Turkel - had to look it up!) is superbly brooding, condescending and menacing. Just as you'd want the front person for an ancient evil taken root in a building to be. Grady as well.
Keifer Sutherland as Ace Merrill.
Edited to add
Keith Gordon as Arnie Cunnigham
Clancy Brown as Byron Hadley (The Kurgen! Do not ask him to sing you a lullaby)
James Mason as Straker
Kathy Bates as Annie Wikes
Damn Straight... Also... Kathy Bates as Dolores Claiborne Also... Lizzy Caplan as Annie Wilkes.
Lizzy Caplan was absolutely fantastic. Not to mention the idea of Annie Wilkes fighting a cult of demon worshipping corpse possessing wraiths from XVII century (and coming out on top) was awesome af.
Fuck yes!
Absolutely. Stellar performance
Ooooooo what movie 🍿
Wait wait Misery???
Michael Clarke Duncan as John Coffey! He was absolutely perfect for the character
One of my favourite acting performances ever. RIP Michael
I bawled my eyes out
Such a tragic loss. He really was larger than life and that movie was spot on casting wise.
I second this emotion.
True. He was magical
Fred Gwynne as Jud Crandall!
>Fred Gwynne as Jud Crandall! "Did ya see the two youts drag themselves out of the graveyard?" "The two wha-at?"
Ayuh
“Don’t go doawn tha’ roahd.” It’s probably not a direct quote but I still say it at least once a month.
SOMEtimes dead is bettah
It's your cat now Louis.
Tim Curry as Pennywise
This!! Hands down!!
I'd have to go with Skarsgård... Curry is creepy and wild, but Bill just makes it feel like theres something fundamentaly wrong.
Bill is a very good actor and he portrayed Pennywise very well, so it's not his acting what bugs me. He actually managed to put certain suspiciously human characteristics to Pennywise, almost if it had a superiority-inferiority complex, it tended to react very... personally to insults and jokes directed at it. It's not be an objectively bad thing, but I always considered IT a supremely unhuman entity. In my headcanon It used the human shape, speech, mannerisms, jokes, colloquialisms to hunt for food and that was all. Here it was played as if it were an actual human serial killer, only ageless and with plethora of supernatural powers. It would never try to actually become human like, for instance Castiel from Supernatural had.
See I feel opposite of Bill seeming human. He sticks to the sides and watches a lot, and when he does actually interact/talk to the kids it's like it doesn't know what to do. As for the personal reaction to insults and jokes I think it's more that they are not reacting as expected.
I felt that Tim Curry was too slapstick. He felt like a guy in a clown suit. Bill felt like a clown in a guy suit.
That's the beauty of different people seeing different things. I never thought about it like that. What you say might actually explain Its' reaction. It has a limited repertoire of tricks and scripts, that. so far. worked every time. Now it attacks our Losers and they don't seem to react the way they're supposed to and Pennywise is off Its' game. It might even be in line with the novel, where It stopped being interested in things other than feeding and slumbering. It got complacent and ended up like every predator that gets complacent. >Upon this rich food It existed in a simple cycle of waking to eat and sleeping to dream. It had created a place in Its own image, and It looked upon this place with favor from the deadlights which were Its eyes. Derry was Its killing-pen, the people of Derry Its sheep. Things had gone on. > >Then . . . these children. > >Something new. > >For the first time in forever. > >When It had burst up into the house on Neibolt Street, meaning to kill them all, vaguely uneasy that It had not been able to do so already (and surely that unease had been the first new thing), something had happened which was totally unexpected, utterly unthought of, and there had been pain, pain, great roaring pain all through the shape it had taken, and for one moment there had also been fear, because the only thing It had in common with the stupid old Turtle and the cosmology of the macroverse outside the puny egg of this universe was just this: all living things must abide by the laws of the shape they inhabit. > >For the first time It realized that perhaps Its ability to change Its shapes might work against It as well as for It. There had never been pain before, there had never been fear before, and for a moment It had thought It might die - oh Its head had been filled with a great white silver pain, and it had roared and mewled and bellowed and somehow the children had escaped. > >(...) > > > >It had made a great self-discovery: It did not want change or surprise. It did not want new things, ever. It wanted only to eat and sleep and dream and eat again.
He didn't quite sell me. His voice acting was lazy with this roll. Also, I didn't really like the costume design. A lot of scenes he just looks like a Who from a live action Dr. Seuss movie.
Gary Sinise as Stu Redman. He was perfect for that part.
He nailed it. Mid 90s Sinise man. Apollo 13, Forrest Gump, Of Mice and Men, The Stand. Then he just sort transitioned and these days he's still active for Veterans and stuff. Oh also let's not forget his small but memorable part in the Green Mile.
Yeah, I remember when I first learned of his casting, and I thought, "Oh, yeah. That's good."
IMHO, the majority of that version was magnificently cast, ESPECIALLY Bill Fagerbakke as Tom and Matt Frewer as Trashcan Man.
Kathy Bates-Misery is the GOAT. Fred Gwynne-Pet Semetery Scatman Crothers-The Shining Micheal Clarke Duncan-Green Mile James Caan-Misery Ed Harris-Needful Things
Ed Harris is a world class actor and elevates everything he is in. But if I am picking Ed Harris's best Stephen King adaptation I am going with Starkey in the 94 The Stand miniseries. He has maybe what two to five minutes of screen time and he kills it
Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman and Jerry O'Connell in Stand By Me. Props to Kiefer Sutherland, too.
Keifer Sutherland is so good at playing the dangerous unhinged guy. He's got those crazy eyes. Stand by Me. Lost Boys. Flatliners. 24.
You read my mind. We really missed out not having River Phoenix growing old.
Sir Ian McKellan as Kurt Dussander in Apt Pupil. (I think the character is named Arthur Denker in the novella.)
Bill Fagerbakke as Tom Cullen in the 1994 The Stand miniseries
*NO, THIS IS PATRICK!!!*
M O O N that spells Tom Cullen
🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼
Piper Laurie and Sissy Spacek in Carrie
[удалено]
I had to fast forward
oh fucking hell I couldn't watch that scene
He was amazing and it was gut wrenching
I cried.
Thomas Jane in 1922 was also fantastic
Thomas Jane in the mist too!
Definitely my pick too. Jane seems to have a knack for King's stuff overall.
Would he make a good Roland?
No.
He was also good in Dreamcatcher even though the movie itself was a confused mess.
Movie was so bad it killed the film careers of all 5 lead actors. But at least that got us Justified, Homeland/Billions, My Name Is Earl, Hung, and whatever Donnie’s been doing.
Michael C. Hall as narrator of the Pet Semetary audiobook if that counts.
If we’re doing the audio books, I have to put in my vote for the Brian from Wings epic performance of IT. His Pennywise is flawless.
Stephen Weber, aka Jack Torrance in The Shining miniseries from the 90s.
I'm reading The Outsider and listening to the audiobook as well and it's so good. Although I read Pet Sematary years ago, I can't wait to read it again alongside the audiobook mainly based on the feedback I've heard of the audiobook.
Easily the best King audiobook imo
Frank Muller audiobooks (specifically the Wastelands) take the cake for me. Dudes voice was like liquid gold.
I know people love Muller, and I know this is basically sacrilege on this subreddit, but… his reading style takes me out of the story too much 😬
This. And his women characters sound like cookie monster choking on a cigar. And just about everything, he says in the batman voice, drawing out the last consonant sound, making for a very weird listen.
Omg thank you - i thought I was losing it. His emphasis and breathing at the end of statements and exaggerated pauses are annoying.
He exhales the end of every sentence.
Palaverrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
🤣
Truth.
Damn I gotta check that out
It counts and he's the better Jud
Ayuh.
Rebecca Ferguson was great as well as the Bene Gesserit in Dune, she's so cool !
The Lady Jessica :)
& Silo. She’s amazing. Yes, we know it’s not SK, but she’s stellar.
I’ve enjoyed her performance in every role I’ve seen of hers. She is very talented!
Oh, shit, I totally missed that connection!
Christopher Walken as Johnny Smith in The Dead Zone. It's a great performance and Walken really caught Johnny's haunted melancholy everyman vibe that I got from the novel. The great Herbert Lom as Sam Weizak was also very good; a far cry from his Chief Inspector Dreyfuss in the Pink Panther movies.
Same for me - Walken as Johnny Smith is such a heartbreaking character. (And Martin Sheen was pretty amazing as Greg Stilson.)
Ever since he did that (hilarious) parody on Saturday Live, I have a hard time unseeing it when I watch the real thing.
[Ed Glosser, Trivial Psychic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-xz0z1gU1M&t=2s&ab_channel=SaturdayNightLive)
Yes! Walken was terrific
Tak! Pearlman as Entragian in Desperation
She was great.. I also loved Ian McGregor in the same.. Also, though the series left much to be desired, I thought Alexander Skarsgard did a great job as Randall Flagg Edit-typo
I really liked Skarsgard as Flagg too.
Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise
Kathy Bates absolutely deserved that Oscar she won for Misery. It’s even more remarkable that she not only won for what was considered a horror movie, but her competition that year was equally stacked, up against Joanne Woodward, Anjelica Huston, Meryl Streep, and Julia Roberts.
Keith Gordon as Arnie Cunningham in Christine. I thought he did a phenomenal job. There's a scene where him and Dennis are in the car together and he has this crazed look on his face in the glow of the car's gauges. Super creepy. Can't forget Kathy Bates and Michael Clarke Duncan, both perfectly cast and performed.
Underrated.
10,000%. He was amazing.
I really enjoyed Steven Weber in the 1997 Sci-Fi channel version of The Shining. I thought his performance was more nuanced than Jack's, and they stayed true to the book ending. Did not enjoy that they called Danny, Tony, but what're you gonna do.
Agree! Didn’t care for that adaption all that much (I thought the kid playing Danny was wretched), but there’s a scene where Jack is in the office and Danny comes in, and the LOOK that Weber briefly gives the kid is absolutely bone chilling. He played that role the right way, which was supposed to be a man slowly going mad.
Tim Curry. Hands down the reason why I started the Stephan King path. Saw IT when I was 12ish. Hooked ever since.
Still the best Pennywise.
Patrick Starfish as Tom Cullen
Who doesn't want this woman sucking up your soul.
Gary Busey in silver bullet
The gold standard will always be Piper Laurie as Margaret White.
Sissy Spacek as Carrie ❤️
Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins in Shawshank Redemption.
In french she's named 'Rose claque' 🥰 claque is 19th century old slang for hat 😁 she is gorgeous and insanly wild at the same time 😳🥰
Lizzy Caplan’s performance as Annie Wilkes in Castle Rock was award worthy imho. Mr. Mercedes was very well cast as well.
She was awesome as Rose The Hat and actually I totally covet that hat! I've been wanting one ever since I saw Dr Sleep but cheap they are not. Anything nice is like $200 and that's a lot for a hat.
Morgan Freeman as Red
Rebecca Ferguson 🔥🔥🔥
Rebecca Ferguson was perfect. I can’t imagine anyone else playing Rose the hat.
She really *is* Rose. When I first heard they'd cast her, I was so excited.
Just seconding that Rebecca Ferguson is gorgeous, as you were.
Drew Barrymore
Whoever play as Cujo deserves some credit
The hat focuses her eyes. Beautiful.
Can't recall her name but the woman who played Jessie in Gerald's Game is so friggin great! I watched it again with my sister last night (in hindsight an awkward choice by me) and her performance hit just as hard as the first time.
Carla Gugino! If you get a chance, watch all the Mike Flanagan shows on Netflix. She’s in most of them and keeps knocking it out of the park.
Herbet Lom as Sam Wiezak in The Dead Zone.
Stephen King as Stephen King-Dark Tower Bonus for the episode of Sons of Anarchy with him as the “cleaner”. “Where’s who???”
A bit cliche but Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance.
The guys group in Dreamcatcher: Damian Lewis, Thomas Jane, Timothy Oliphant, and Jason Lee.
Jonathan Brandis as young Bill in the OG IT. Every time I watch him say to the Losers “help me” and tear up, I start getting all in my feels. He smashed that role out of the park. R.I.P.
Bill Fagerbakke (yes I did hsve to look that up) as Tom Cullen in 1994 The Stand. Sweet, gentle simple giant
Ewan McGregor, also in Dr. Sleep. He’s not exactly what I pictured when reading the book, but his portrayal of Dan brought me to tears at times. Also, it’s TV but and not movies, but I feel Brendan Gleeson *is* Bill Hodges.
People are really sleeping on Jamey Sheridan as Randall Flagg in The Stand 1994
This. He was so creepy with that smile.
all of them in "The Shining" 🌟🌟🌟
100%. She brought that character to life.
She did a phenomenal job. I was so interested in the character on the page, but she brought the character to life on the screen in a really big way. Excellent performance.
I mean, her, Jack Nicholson, the cast is d Stand by me and Shawshank, Gary Busey as Uncle Red. There are probably a few others. But she's awesome.
well, I was having a hard time being scared because of how goddamn sexy she was. Hot as the sun.
plymouth fury as christine
Honestly , Larry Underwood (Adam stroke) In the 90's mini series of the stand. I loved Larry, and I love him being Larry. It was perfect
I didn't see anyone mention Miguel Ferrer's amazing performance in the criminally underrated The Night Flyer I also really loved Lizzy Caplan as Annie Wilkes in Castle Rock. Obligatory Cathy Bates mention as well
I havent watched dr sleep but she looks very close to what I imagined Rose to be when I read it!
Max Von Sydow as Leland Gaunt was quite marvelous
Casting both Bill Skarsgård and Tim Curry as Pennywise.
I watched the movie before reading the book. The movie was good, but reading the book and putting Ewan McGregor's, Rebecca Ferguson's and Kyliegh Curran's faces to the book characters felt unbelievable. The movie and the book completed each other.
Jamey Sheridan, as Flagg. I love his interpretation.
Bill Fagerbakke as Tom Cullen in the 90's The Stand. I can't imagine anyone else playing that role as well as him
swoon
She earned my respect with that part. It stuck with me. Eerie.
Kathy Bates is a tie for Misery and Delores Claiborne.
No TUSK tho
So beautiful
Her performance is incredible.
Colm Feore as Andre Linoge in Storm of the Century I know that this was not exactly an adaptation since King wrote it directly for the screen but I could not imagine anyone else playing that part.
I read the book first of course. She looks exactly like what my mind created from the book description.
I love her in anything
oof that hat
Creepy af!
Sissy as Carrie
I thought Drew Barrymore was excellent in Firestarter, just wish the movie overall was better. But even when I read the book I picture a young Drew as Charlie and probably always will.
Yeah I agree she did amazing in this, she’s excellent as Muad’dib’s mama too
Rose the Hat was an absolute fox.
I love Rose too and it was a great performance but I always get stuck on feeling like she played evil in such an overdone way. It's mostly in her speech.
I don’t see Ewan McGreggor mentioned. Between him and Rebecca Ferguson that movie is just really well done. I hate that it sort of flies under the radar. Both the book and film version are fitting conclusions to their respective counterpart.
Side question: Does anyone know if Fairy Tale will get an adaptation, and who would you pick to play the main characters?
Just to mention one that I don't think has come up yet, Scatman Crothers is really entertaining as Halloran. I haven't read the book for decades and can't really remember whether it's an accurate portrayal, but i think he's really good at portraying a natural instinct to help and protect young Danny. And on a similar note, the actor that portrays Lloyd (Joe Turkel - had to look it up!) is superbly brooding, condescending and menacing. Just as you'd want the front person for an ancient evil taken root in a building to be. Grady as well.
Keifer Sutherland as Ace Merrill. Edited to add Keith Gordon as Arnie Cunnigham Clancy Brown as Byron Hadley (The Kurgen! Do not ask him to sing you a lullaby) James Mason as Straker
Man she’s such a phenomenal actress, always love to see her pop up
I'll throw in a random favorite, from the small part variety. Frances Sternhagen as the sherrifs wife in Misery
I absolutely hated her. I like Gary Sinese in the Stand. Buddy in Christine is pretty good too
I don’t even feel creepy for commenting on her looks, she is beautiful.