Stephen King Says He Is "Still Very Proud" of This Forgotten TV Adaptation
Its perfect three-episode format, chilling philosophical undertones, and tense atmosphere of isolation and hopelessness make it a must-see for fans of the master's work.
Of the many adaptations of Stephen King's works, some are big hits, while others have been unfairly overlooked, and the king of horror himself often favors the less obvious ones.
His favorite TV adaptation is the 1999 miniseries Storm of the Century, which he says is on par with his best novels.
According to Stephen King, 'Storm of the Century' Is as Good as the Best of His Novels
In an interview for the book Hollywood's Stephen King by Tony Magistrale, the writer admits:
“My favourite made-for-television production is Storm of the Century. I love that as a piece of work, and I am still very proud of it. In my mind, it is as good as the best of the novels.”
King noted that the series turned out exactly as it should have – tough, unlike the standard television stories with happy endings:
“It's not like any other miniseries that you'll see on any of the other networks – you know, the happy-time, everything-works-out-happily-in-the-end program. It's very realistic.”
What Is 'Storm of the Century' About?
The story takes place in Little Tall, a small town on an isolated island engulfed by an unprecedented snowstorm. In the midst of the storm, a mysterious stranger named Andre Linoge arrives in town.
After committing a murder, he surrenders to the police without resistance. However, he then begins to blackmail the entire community by publicly revealing the darkest secrets of every resident.
'Storm of the Century' Is an Exemplary Stephen King Adaptation Every Fan Must Watch
Storm of the Century is unique – it is not a film adaptation of a book but rather an original screenplay written by King specifically for television.
The series masterfully explores one of King's key topics – the nature of evil and how fear can destroy a community, forcing ordinary people to compromise their consciences.
Rather than being a story about fighting a monster, Storm of the Century is a merciless examination of moral choice. The inhabitants of a small town must decide what is more important: morality or survival.
What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Storm of the Century'?
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Storm of the Century has 84% from critics and 82% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
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On IMDb, the series has a score of 7.3/10.
Where to Watch 'Storm of the Century'?
Storm of the Century is available to stream on Hulu, Disney+, and Peacock.
