Famous Sci-Fi Author Penning Twilight Zone Episode Inspired by a Stephen King Story

Overview

The Twilight Zone captivates audiences with episodes that challenge perceptions of reality, ensuring lasting intrigue across its various iterations.
Harlan Ellison’s adaptation of Stephen King’s “Gramma”successfully retains the original’s eerie essence and unforgettable conclusion.
Despite adaptations like the film “Mercy,”King’s work “Gramma”is often overshadowed by his more popular stories.

Episodes of The Twilight Zone have long been celebrated for their ability to instill fear and contemplation, leading viewers to question what lies beyond the apparent. This iconic sci-fi/fantasy/horror anthology series debuted on CBS in 1959 and ran for five seasons, followed by three revivals: in 1985, 2002, and 2019. Notably, the latest revival was helmed by acclaimed horror filmmaker Jordan Peele. However, it is the original series that continues to spark engaging conversations, especially regarding its episode inspired by a Stephen King short story.

Stephen King’s oeuvre is frequently transformed into visual mediums, with varying degrees of success. While “Misery”remains a benchmark in the horror genre, adaptations like “Pet Sematary”and “Firestarter”have faced criticism, with fans divided over their quality.

What Transpires in “Gramma,”The Twilight Zone Episode Authored by Harlan Ellison?

Barrett Oliver as George in Gramma Twilight Zone episode

Written by Harlan Ellison, the episode titled “Gramma”is the 18th installment of The Twilight Zone’s inaugural season, which aired on February 14, 1986. This episode draws its inspiration from Stephen King’s short story featured in the 1985 anthology Skeleton Crew. The narrative follows a young boy named Georgie, portrayed by Barret Oliver, who visits his ailing grandmother. What begins as a benign familial visit quickly spirals into terror as Georgie discovers that his grandmother possesses witch-like powers, signaling that all is not as it seems.

Adaptations can falter if they lack a solid conclusion or well-developed characters. Yet, King’s mastery in storytelling shines through “Gramma,”presenting relatable protagonists alongside chilling antagonists, culminating in a spine-tingling ending.

Ellison’s adaptation stays true to the unsettling tone of King’s original work while introducing slight alterations to the conclusion. His adaptation skillfully enhances the story’s fright factor, culminating in a striking final scene where George tells his mother that Grandmother has passed. As she embraces him, his eerily glowing red eyes hint at something sinister beneath the surface.

Ellison was an adept choice for adapting King’s “Gramma,”embodying a titan in science fiction and fantasy literature. His contributions go beyond television, including the famous Star Trek episode “The City on the Edge of Forever“(1967) and numerous acclaimed short stories, with one of his most notable works being “I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream“from 1967.

What Other Adaptations Exist for Stephen King’s Short Story “Gramma”?

Joel Courtney and Chandler Riggs in Mercy

Stephen King’s “Gramma”also inspired the film Mercy, produced by Blumhouse and released in 2014. This horror feature features Chandler Riggs as George Bruckner, complemented by a talented cast including Amanda Walsh, Mark Duplass, Dylan McDermott, Joel Courtney, Shirley Knight, and Frances O’Connor. Despite being rooted in King’s narrative, Mercy has attracted limited attention, possibly due to its direct-to-DVD release format.

In 2014, Jason Blum provided insight into the creation of Mercy during an interview with Collider, specifically addressing the choice of the film’s title. When asked about the marketing implications of the title “Gramma,”Blum replied:

“The title came about for exactly the reasons that you’re saying. The movie isn’t camp at all, so we wanted to steer away from that. Is it too close to Misery? Well, I don’t know, that could be good or bad, I suppose. I thought Misery was a great movie. I don’t think so, but I guess we’ll find out.”

Blum elaborated further on the Blumhouse filmmaking ethos, promoting a model centered on producing “low-budget, high-concept movies,”which diverges from traditional independent film approaches. Blumhouse has also tackled other adaptations of Stephen King’s works, such as the Netflix feature Mr. Harrigan’s Phone and the recent remake of Firestarter, starring Zac Efron.

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