With so many streaming services available today, it can be extra challenging to track down something worthwhile to watch. There’s so much checking out, especially in the horror space, that it can regularly feel overwhelming. For me, it’s especially hard to stay up-to-date, and if I miss something at the time of release, it’s almost impossible for me to find the time to revisit a film, let alone remember I’ve even missed it at all. Which is to say, if you’re a Stephen King fan like I am, you might have missed 1922 based on King’s novella of the same name. Luckily, the hidden gem is streaming now on Netflix and I’d absolutely encourage you to check it out. It’s arguably one of the best Stephen King adaptations of all time.
Per Netflix: A farmer pens a confession admitting to his wife’s murder, but her death is just the beginning of a macabre tale. Based on Stephen King’s novella.
The Mist’s Thomas Jane stars alongside Neal McDonough and Molly Parker. Writer/Director Zak Hilditch is no stranger to genre films, either. While 1922 is his only Stephen King adaptation, his 2024 release We Bury the Dead is generating positive reviews, and the apocalyptic drama These Final Hours was a sleeper gem when released in 2013.
Stephen King, remarking on the inspiration for the novella, wrote, “1922 was inspired by a nonfiction book called Wisconsin Death Trip (1973), written by Michael Lesy and featuring photographs taken in the small city of Black River Falls, Wisconsin. I was impressed by the rural isolation of these photographs and the harshness and deprivation in the faces of many of the subjects. I wanted to get that feeling in my story.” Both the novella and film are ambiguous and terrifying, targeting that King sweet spot of leaving the most frightening moments to the audiences’ imagination.
In a previous Dread Central ranking of Stephen King adaptations available on Netflix, 1922 even cracked the second spot, just barely edged out by Gerald’s Game. If you’ve been craving some more Stephen King, especially after the disappointment that was this year’s Salem’s Lot (check out our review here), I’d encourage you to visit or revisit 1922. It’s a conversation starter, for sure, and as the year winds down, it’s exactly the kind of gothic treat worth enjoying.
What do you think? Are you a fan of 1922? Did you miss it at the time of release like I did? What other Stephen King adaptations are worth seeking out? Let me know over on Twitter @Chadiscollins.
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