Journey step started: May 6, 2022
Journey step ended: Sep 10, 2022
Click the Google sheet to the right to see every item covered on this step of the journey.
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Strawberry Spring
Day 190: Jul 9, 2022
I’ve officially reached the halfway mark of Night Shift. Onto the 11th story in the book, “Strawberry Spring”!
“She was brainy, too; until the time of her death”
(about a young woman who was decapitated 😂)
What a fun little story! Around 10 minutes to read and it felt like poetry. It also had a surprise ending that I didn’t see coming.
Night Shift’s “Strawberry Spring” has been interpreted as an 8-part audio drama. Based on this promotional clip below, they seem to have expanded on the story considerably!
Day 191: Jul 10, 2022
The first ep of the audio drama version of “Strawberry Spring” was of a decent quality if not all that captivating. There are 8 episodes so you have to allow time for setup. The main character sounds just like Jack Nicholson!
The main character is voiced by Garrett Hedlund but if you had said it was Jack Nicholson I wouldn’t have been shocked.
The biggest surprise was Milo Ventimiglia. You MUST watch This is Us. Some of the best writing ever done for television
Episode 2 of “Strawberry Spring” moves the plot along further, but they’re telegraphing the “surprise twist” too strongly. The scene with the diner bullies was a bit tropish and awkwardly scripted.
Actual dialog:
“Rach… Uh… I know you’re pregnant. But you’re being jealous… And now you’re being emotional.”
Delivered in the most unemotional deadpan voice ever. CRINGE!
Hearing the analysis of Ep 2 by David Farrington is a lot more interesting than actually having listened to Ep 2.
Day 192: Jul 11, 2022
Listened to Episode 3 & 4 of the audio drama podcast of “Strawberry Spring”. I’ll post the links in the thread below as well as to David Farrington‘s review of each. But honestly, I’m just plowing through these. 😴😴😴
Day 193: Jul 12, 2022
Another day and another two episodes of the audio drama podcast of “Strawberry Spring”. I wish I could share David Farrington‘s enthusiasm for this series, but it’s really dragging for me.
Day 194: Jul 13, 2022
I finished off the final two episodes of the audio drama podcast of “Strawberry Spring”. It was ok, nothing I would tell any SK fan to rush out an read. It would’ve been better served as a 4 part series, not eight.
The best part about the last episode was that it was the last episode. I know this is supposedly the first podcast of a Stephen King adaptation but there’ve been a several audio-only productions including BBC Salem’s Lot and an 80’s “The Mist” in 3D audio!
And the last word on “Strawberry Spring” is David Farrington‘s recap. In which there was an incredible surprise at the end that I almost missed!
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The Ledge
Day 195: Jul 14, 2022
I now begin the 12th story of the Night Shift collection, a tale called “The Ledge”.
“I invited you up because I thought we should have a little man-to-man chat, Mr Norris. Just a pleasant conversation between two civilized human beings, one of whom has made off with the other’s wife.” BAM!
What an opening to hook the reader in!
I enjoyed that story. A psychological thriller rather than horror. I look forward to seeing the adaptation when I get to “Cat’s Eye”.
My only complaint with The Ledge is this: Can a pigeon really do that much damage to your ankle? I mean, is there research that supports this? I found it implausible.
Day 398: Feb 2, 2023
***circling back***
Two Guys to the Dark Tower Came read the psychological thriller, “The Ledge”.
The Lawnmower Man
Day 196: Jul 15, 2022
Today, I’m reading the 13th story in Night Shift, the infamous “The Lawnmower Man”. Like “Trucks”, this story is much better known for the terrible movie “adaptations” that arose from it.
“Cautiously, Harold told the voice how Pastoral Greenery could help him. Had it come to this, then? Were lawn-cutters starting their own businesses and hiring office help?”
A quaint a moment from the 70s! If King only knew the multi-billion dollar industry lawncare would become!
OK – that was the nuttiest story I’ve read in this collection so far. Completely bonkers!
Next up, before getting to the movies, there’s a graphic novel I’m going to check out.
Man, if they ever DID put this in a movie, I would buy tickets opening night!
Some aspects of the story are pure 70’S. Others are eerily very current.
So there’s a very low budget video adaptation from 1987. It looks like they attempted to capture the comic book more than the original short story.
Yep… Faithful to the story! Does this make it better than the Hollywood version that came out 5 years later?
This is what makes Chat Sematary stand out. They wander into obscure corners of the SK world nobody else is even aware of! Here, they tracked down one of the co-creators of that college film adaptation of “The Lawnmower Man”. Incredible!
Day 197: Jul 16, 2022
Say a prayer. Light a candle. Send good vibes my way. I’m about to start watching those infamous “The Lawnmower Man” movies.
Whew! I’m glad THIS never came to pass! 😂
I’m watching the “Director’s Cut” edition with an additional 40 minutes of footage, which if the studios only had allowed to be left in at the theaters, this film would’ve swept the Academy Awards.
How they survived to eventually produce the Lord of the Rings trilogy is the real story here.
Planet of the Judge Dredd Apes
This feels like a Tron ripoff, exactly 10 years after Tron came out.
What’s the problem with a little lawn beefcake?
Day 198: Jul 17, 2022
Today, I’ll complete the 1992 film “The Lawnmower Man” – the Director’s Cut! Don’t expect clips/comments along the way, though. I provided plenty yesterday from the first half and I don’t expect things to change much in pt. 2
To give “The Lawnmower Man” its fair credit, this may be a helluva movie to watch when completely stoned.
I can always count on Film Sack to make lemonade out of a lemon like “The Lawnmower Man”.
Day 199: Jul 18, 2022
I just finished listening to the The Losers’ Club‘s “Lobstrosities” episode in which you learn that film “The Lawnmower Man” had its roots in Scientology.
Next up is The Losers’ Club again with their Ka-mmentary Track for “The Lawnmower Man”.
Now, I’ll listen to this commentary, but they are NOT going make me watch this movie again. Nope. That’s just too cruel of an ask.
Day 200: Jul 19, 2022
200 consecutive days of Stephen King! Feels like a milestone that ought to be celebrated. But here I am, mired in the clippings of The Lawnmower Man. So I’ll just quietly recognize this day & spend some time with The Kingcast.
The best part of this The Kingcast episode is the deep dive into the short story itself. Other podcasts weren’t as thrilled with the written piece, but I found it to be a really good morsel – nothing deep, but left a pleasantly disturbing aftertaste.
About Pierce Brosnan and his earring:
“He’s a cool scientist. Like a George Michael scientist.”
“He turned them into Dippin’ Dots!”
😂😂😂
I’ve got some extra time tonight to watch David Farrington‘s Vlog about The Lawnmower Man. I love how he included a clip of a 1980 speech by SK himself where he talked about the short story!
Same actor!
Day 201: Jul 20, 2022
My ass is grass and the movie is “The Lawnmower Man” as reviewed by The Kingcast, Joel McHale and BenDavid Grabinski. I’m glad to see I wasn’t the only one who got suckered into watching the extended edition!
Day 202: Jul 21, 2022
Stephen Kingcast does a mea culpa and circles back to give his thoughts on “The Lawnmower Man”. He initially forgot to cover this movie, but he might have been better off had he not.
The newest addition to my journey is Dark Tower Radio with years of material and covering topics not many others did. I’m enjoying their take on two of the stories I’ve read in Night Shift so far.
Day 203: Jul 22, 2022
I erred a bit in my sequence and had Derry Public Radio‘s episode with one of the creators of the “Dollar Baby” faithful adaptation of the short story “The Lawnmower Man” after the big-budget film. Circling back for this interview!
Day 204: Jul 23, 2022
It’s been an absolutely delightful day, and here I am about to ruin it by watching “Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace”.
Nice to see they picked up RIGHT where the previous one left off. Because there were so many unanswered questions, you see…
I see the effects team who did Jurassic Park went immediately to work on this classic.
Sounds like John Williams went to work on Lawnmower Man 2 after scoring Jurassic Park as well.
The scariest thing about Lawnmower Man 2 is this cringe-worthy Jim Carey impression.
“Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Bored”
Day 205: Jul 24, 2022
Finishing off “Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace”. The pundits are correct – this may have been the worst movie ever released.
The cackling laughter is extraordinarily painful to my ears. And then the sudden shift to the Butthead laugh at the end “uh huh huh huh huh” is bizarre!
Have to give this 1996 movie credit: They coined the term “iPhone” ELEVEN YEARS before it was actually invented!
(ok, they may have said “eye-phone”, but that’s just nitpicking. Also, shout-out to the phrase “jacking-in”.)
“From the dark mind of Stephen King… this absolute piece of shit most definitely did not originate!”
Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace
Taking on the impossible task of trying to find meaning in “Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Jobe’s War in Cyberspace” is The Kingcast and “Room 237” director, Rodney Ascher!
Nothing like a terrible sequel to bring fondness for an otherwise awful film. But here is The Losers’ Club waxing poetic about “The Lawnmower Man,” saying it was “terrible in all the right places” while “Lawnmower Man 2” is just “terrible in all the places”.
Day 398: Feb 2, 2023
***circling back***
Two Guys from the Dark Tower Came review the short story “The Lawnmower Man” and its various adaptations.
Day 509: May 24, 2023
***circling back***
Day 567: Jul 21, 2023
***circling back***
Finally, I get to read about the infamous adaptation of “Lawnmower Man”.
I didn’t realize the tagline for Lawnmower Man was:
“God made him simple. Science made him a god.”
The font was so small on the poster, I didn’t even notice it. And WHO APPROVED THAT TAGLINE??? It’s so cringeworthy!
I had forgotten that even though the filmmakers completely abandoned the written source material, they did co-opt the use of “The Shop” in Lawnmower Man.
Having just recently wrapped up Firestarter, The Shop is still top of mind!
Day 568: Jul 22, 2023
***circling back***
I truly feel sorry for Stephen Jones, author of “Creepshows: The Illustrated Stephen King Movie Guide” for being forced to cover all of those horrible King-related films that I myself have suffered through.
For example, Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace.
Crazy to think that the original Lawnmower Man movie, as awful as it was, was actually a mild box office success and spurred thoughts of a “franchise” of cyber-related movies!
Those involved in Lawnmower Man 2 claimed in interviews that it was superior to the first film in story, acting, emotional impact and special effects.
They must not have seen the final result that I did. It was godawful.
Thankfully, we were spared from this:
Quitters, Inc.
Day 206: Jul 25, 2022
I’ve finally escaped the clutches of “The Lawnmower Man”. It had gotten to the point where I even loathed mowing my own damn lawn.
But today, I get to move on to the next story in Night Shift!
I smoked until the day my daughter was born. I suspect “Quitters, Inc.” is going to resonate well with me!
“He took out his pack of cigarettes, looked around, and saw there were no ashtrays.”
I was just talking with some one how pervasive ashtrays were. In cars, at restaurants. Hell, we’d make ashtrays in arts & crafts as gifts for our parents!
“…we have to start by realizing how difficult it is to cure an addiction to tobacco. The relapse rate is almost eight-five per cent. The relapse rate for heroin addicts is lower than that.”
I went to fact check this but the search results were too depressing.
‘Are you really trying to quit, Dick?’
Oh please, oh please let this be an actual line in the movie rendition!
I’ve got a little extra time tonight, so let’s visit “Cat’s Eye” from 1985 which has a couple of these Night Shift stories in it, including “Quitters, Inc.”
Cujo makes an appearance!
I will take some pleasure in watching James Woods be tortured for the next hour or so.
That segment of “Cat’s Eye” was quite faithful to “Quitters, Inc.” It was quite refreshing compared to the abomination of the Lawnmower Man movies.
But still, I found the short story to be more engaging than the film adaptation.
Day 207: Jul 26, 2022
Finishing off the film “Cat’s Eye” today, with the 2nd story in this trilogy of tales based on Night Shift’s “The Ledge”.
It’s amazing that Robert Hays didn’t become a bigger star after his success with the Airplane franchise in the 80’s.
A creature more terrifying than Pennywise himself!
This adaptation of “The Ledge” was faithful to the story, but otherwise forgettable.
Last in this trilogy is an original story called “The General” which is about some little creature (not a cat) that invades a house. We’ll see if it’s any good.
This adaptation of “The Ledge” was faithful to the story, but otherwise forgettable.
Last in this trilogy is an original story called “The General” which is about some little creature (not a cat) that invades a house. We’ll see if it’s any good.
Meh. Cat protects girl by killing a little ogre. Parents don’t believe girl until it’s too late.
Overall, “Cat’s Eye” isn’t as miserable as Lawnmower Man 2 or The Mangler 17. But it didn’t give me anything positive to remember it by either.
Day 208: Jul 27, 2022
Revisiting “Cat’s Eye” with my friends over at The Losers’ Club. Listening here early in the morning so sadly can’t participate in the drinking game! Although, based on the rules, I’d be blind drunk by the end of “Quitters, Inc”
Now listening to Chat Sematary‘s take on “Cat’s Eye”. They feel this film has importance in Stephen King filmography, even if it’s not one of the classics that come to mind. The self-referential nature to all of SK’s works up to that point is key!
Had a long drive home, but it went faster with The Kingcast and Rich Sommer keeping me company and chatting about “Cat’s Eye”. I agree with Rich and thought the little ogre segment was the weakest. It was “Labyrinth” without any of the charm.
Most noticeable to me was that this The Kingcast episode was recorded on Election Day, Nov 2020. They couldn’t have imagined the absolute shitshow that was going to follow that day!
Day 209: Jul 28, 2022
Who knew “Cat’s Eye” was such a beloved movie? Stephen King Cast calls it a “hidden gem”.
Yep, he gave it 4 out of 5 “Generals”!
Day 210: Jul 29, 2022
The final word on “Cat’s Eye” goes to Dark Tower Radio and they’re a bit more blunt about this film’s “hokeyness”.
There a Hindi film based on “Quitters, Inc.”. Imma gonna give it a watch.
From the very first seconds of this movie, I can tell I’m in for a good time. Look at everyone who signed off on its awesomeness!
“Eros International”? Am I in for some sort of foreign adult entertainment?
That opening scene, where a guy wakes up in some sort of Siberian military camp and is killed trying to make a run for it in the snow to get a pack of cigarettes…
That was some surreal videography. I really liked it!
Yeah, that’s definitely not James Woods.
Day 211: Jul 30, 2022
I continue to watch “No Smoking”, a Hindi take on Stephen King’s “Quitters, Inc.”
Let me tell you, this movie is INFINITELY better than what we got with “Cat’s Eye”, which wasn’t bad itself!
Even though I know the story, in this movie the stakes feel higher, the mystery feels deeper, and the acting far more intense. I wonder if Stephen King himself ever saw this?
These producers took that story of Quitters Inc and really jacked it up a notch into the level of the supernatural. I dare say this might be the best film I’ve seen in this journey since Doctor Sleep.
Day 212: Jul 31, 2022
I just finished “No Smoking”, a surreal Hindi take on Stephen King’s “Quitters, Inc.”
What a bizarre & enjoyable thing to watch! Took the original story and made it take some LSD.
This was the corollary to the crazed James Woods party scene in “Cat’s Eye”.
Here it was a nightclub with a 15 minute song & dance about smoking.
The main character’s brother is compelled to attempt to kill himself over and over throughout the duration of a cigarette being smoked. But no matter how hard he tries, he’s not allowed to die until that cigarette is finished. At which point he slips on a banana peel and ☠️!
Like something out of a Tarsem Singh film (think “The Cell” and “Immortals”).
I found many of the scenes visually stunning. Other scenes were such Monty Python-ish non-sequitors!
And throughout it all, you knew you were watching a retelling of the Stephen King story! 😀
Imagine you made it into a big budget film and you’re given the role of “OTHER DWARVES”.
Oh, don’t you recall there being dwarves in Stephen King’s “Quitters, Inc.”? They might have taken a few liberties in this film.
Day 213: Aug 1, 2022
Amazingly, I’m not the only one who watched “No Smoking”, the over-the-top Hindi take on Stephen King’s “Quitters, Inc.” First up is Chat Sematary where I learned this movie actually bombed at the India box office.
It was interesting to observe that Stephen King got ZERO credit anywhere in this film despite ripping off the entire story of “Quitters, Inc.”
A great in-depth breakdown of “No Smoking” by The Kingcast and Midnight Mass stars Kate Siegel and Rahul Kohli!
I really enjoyed that episode. I can’t disagree with any of the criticism about the plotting and story structure. Indeed it was a mess. But I was enthralled with the style, not the substance, and it felt like I was watching someone else’s fever dream.
Day 399: Feb 3, 2023
***circling back***
The Kingcast and special guest David Bruckner review the trilogy of stories that make up the film “Cat’s Eye”.
Day 400: Feb 4, 2023
***circling back***
My favorite film reviewers, Film Sack, took on “Cat’s Eye” as part of their Halloween horror series last October and I’m excited to finally get around to listening to this!
Day 568: Jul 22, 2023
***circling back***
Next is an article from “Creepshows” about Cat’s Eye.
Lewis Teague, the director of Cat’s Eye, had previous directed Cujo and was quoted saying, “It’s a chance to go back and do things right.”
Cujo is the next book in my journey and I wonder what Teague thought he had to improve upon in his film adaptation of that story.
Day 596: Aug 19, 2023
***circling back***
This morning, I’m listening to the Kingslingers talk about the movie Cat’s Eye. It’s rather timely that they put out this episode last week since this film was directed by the same guy who directed Cujo.
I Know What You Need
Day 214: Aug 2, 2022
Moving on from the topic of smoking and quitting, today I read the 15th story in Night Shift, “I Know What You Need”.
“She was thinking about how quietly you could grow to depend on a person, almost like a junkie with a habit.”
Truth.
“He’s made you love him by knowing every secret thing you want and need, and that’s not love at all. That’s rape.”
Whoa.
“And a last one, bound in old, cracked leather, the title almost rubbed off the binding by much handling, smelling vaguely like rotted fish: Necronomicon.”
Look, I love a good HP Lovecraft reference as much as the next guy. But I’m not a fan when it’s just a throwaway Easter egg
It was good to hear Dark Tower Radio‘s interview with Julia Marchese and learn about her efforts to take “I Know What You Need” to the big screen. Hopefully, she will take on the entire Dark Tower saga next!
Day 215: Aug 3, 2022
Watching sun-kissed David Farrington and his vlog on the last three Night Shift stories I just read: “The Lawnmower Man”, “Quitters, Inc.” and “I Know What You Need”.
Surprise fact: SK wrote Lawnmower Man at the age of 16!
(Note: David took many of his YouTube videos private, including this episode)
Had a second go-round with Julia Marchese about “I Know What You Need,” this time with Stephen King Podcast. Down here in the South, I’m not likely to be able to catch it at a film festival, so hopefully there’ll be an alternate way to watch Julia’s work!