Stephen King Shares His Favorite Horror Film That Induced ‘Helpless Terror’

Highlights

Stephen King’s top pick for the scariest film is the 1968 classic, Night of the Living Dead.
He recalled experiencing “helpless terror”while watching a sequence featuring a reanimated corpse threatening a character.
Currently, King is collaborating with A24 on a TV adaptation of his fantasy novel, Fairy Tale.

Renowned as the master of horror, Stephen King recently divulged his all-time scariest movie—a revelation that may surprise fans, as it isn’t one of his own creations. While King is celebrated for his gripping narratives across various genres, including suspense, crime, science-fiction, and fantasy, it’s fascinating to see the horror that influenced him as a viewer.

Over the past fifty years, Stephen King has solidified his status as one of the most significant authors in literature, with over 400 million books sold. Many of his captivating stories have been adapted into films, television series, and graphic novels, thereby enriching the horror genre considerably.

Stephen King’s Favorite Horror Movie: A Timeless Low-Budget Classic

In a recent Variety article, King shared a reflective essay detailing why Night of the Living Dead, crafted by George A. Romero, is his most terrifying film. Watching it as an adult left a profound impact, particularly a scene featuring Barbara trapped in her car as a corpse tries to attack her, which instilled a sense of palpable fear.

King reminisced, stating, “As an adult, it was The Blair Witch Project, with that building sense of doom and those truly horrifying last 35 seconds. But overall, I’d have to say Night of the Living Dead, George A. Romero’s low-budget masterpiece.”The memory of the “helpless terror”he felt during its viewing remains vivid for him.

Additionally, King reflected on his teenage years, mentioning that at 16, he found Robert Wise’s 1963 film The Haunting to be the scariest of its time. He drew comparisons between The Blair Witch Project and The Haunting, noting the minimal use of music in both films, contrasting with the extravagant scores typical of many larger-budget productions.

In other news, he is currently working with A24 on a 10-episode adaptation of his fantasy novel Fairy Tale. Directed by J.H. Wyman, the project promises to blend King’s storytelling brilliance with captivating visuals.

Source: Variety

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