Forgotten Stephen King Horror Movie Critics Once Dismissed is Now Free to Stream Online; But What Will You Think?

Tyler Doupe'   |  

Sep 17, 2024

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There are a handful of Stephen King adaptations that famously missed the mark. Dreamcatcher, Maximum Overdrive, and The Mangler are a few that come to mind immediately. Another rendition of the author’s work that fits that bill is Cell. The picture has a strong cast and Stephen King even co-wrote the screenplay. But none of that made a difference in the end. Critics and fans share a universal disdain for this 2016 zombie picture.

An unloved adaptation of an unappreciated novel

Perhaps the project was doomed from the start. The Stephen King novel from which it is adapted (also called Cell) is among the author’s less-celebrated works. So, maybe it wasn’t the wisest choice for a screen adaptation. Who knows?

Critics lambasted the flick for underutilizing the picture’s talented cast and for an overall lack of originality and reliance on familiar zombie tropes. If you’re a glutton for punishment, you can make your way to Amazon’s AVOD service FreeVee where Cell is currently streaming for free (with ads).

In addition to an icy reception from fans and critics, the film also raised eyebrows with its unusual release strategy. Cell stands as a rare example of a picture that premiered on VOD yet received a limited theatrical exhibition nearly a month later. Typically films start in theaters and then hit VOD or they premiere via both simultaneously. However, the unusual strategy wasn’t entirely ineffective. Cell managed to pull in $1 million at the box office, perhaps based on the strength of the cast and King’s name attached.

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Stephen King and Mike Flanagan Share Status Updates on ‘The Dark Tower’ TV Series: “I’m revving myself up!” [Exclusive]

Speaking of the film’s cast, Cell stars John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson, Isabelle Fuhrman, Owen Teague, Clark Sarullo, Erin Elizabeth Burns, Ethan Andrew Casto, and Stacy Keach.

Tod Williams (Paranormal Activity 2) helmed the picture and Adam Alleca (The Last House on the Left 2009) cowrote the screen treatment with King. With this many talented creatives involved, it’s too bad the picture didn’t come together as a more compelling presentation.

The setup for Cell goes as follows:

A graphic novelist (Cusack) begins a desperate search for his estranged wife (Sarullo) and son (Casto) after a mysterious cellphone signal transforms New Englanders into savage killers.

That’s all we have for you at present, dear reader. Stay tuned to the site for more updates on where you can stream the best (and in this case worst) in genre cinema. Also, be sure to follow @DreadCentral on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter so you never miss out on one of our updates.