Forgotten Stephen King Thriller is Only Free to Stream This Week: “A classic can’t be replicated”
There are countless beloved adaptations of Stephen King’s output. After all, he has had more of his stories adapted than any other living author. But there are still quite a few screen renderings based on the writer’s work that don’t get the adoration they deserve. One such example is now streaming for free on Pluto. More specifically, I’m talking about the 1985 werewolf drama Silver Bullet.
The film functions as a coming-of-age tale and a family drama wrapped up in a story about a werewolf stalking a small town. The relationship between young Marty (Corey Haim) and his uncle Red (Gary Busey) is well-handled, stirring up some legitimate emotion. Busey’s performance here is arguably among his best work. Despite all that, Silver Bullet wasn’t an overwhelming box office success, and it didn’t win over many critics upon release. However, the picture eventually managed to amass a cult audience through home video and network television broadcasts.
Daniel Attias directed the film from a screen treatment penned by Stephen King himself. Silver Bullet marks Attias’ feature film debut. Interestingly enough, it’s the only film he’s ever directed. However, Attias didn’t leave the entertainment industry following this King adaptation. Instead, he found his stride helming television and has amassed an impressive resume, directing episodes of numerous iconic series over the past decades.
Genre fans are in luck! This forgotten gem is available to stream for free via Pluto and Hoopla for only three more days. Don’t miss your (free) shot at Silver Bullet.
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In addition to Busey and Haim, the film stars Everett McGill, Megan Follows, Robin Groves, Leon Russom, and Terry O’Quinn. For anyone who may want further context, the setup for Silver Bullet goes something like this:
“When a series of unexplained murders occurs in the normally quiet town of Tarker’s Mill, the residents decide to hunt down the killer. However, many of these vigilantes end up dead, and those who don’t are no closer to finding an assailant. But, when a young wheelchair-using boy named Marty encounters a werewolf one night, the pieces begin to come together. Along with his sister and uncle Red, Marty begins a mission to capture the werewolf once and for all.“
Keep reading below for a sampling of social media reactions to the film. Though it isn’t as widely celebrated as it ought to be, plenty of fans still see the merit in this heartfelt adaptation.
Check out the trailer for Stephen King’s Silver Bullet
That’s all we have at present. Stay tuned to the site for more updates on which films are available to stream and where to find them.
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