Hollywood Should Adapt More Stories From Stephen King’s Skeleton Crew After The Monkey

Highlights

Acclaimed adaptations of Stephen King’s work, including “It Chapter One”and projects by Mike Flanagan, have achieved critical acclaim.
Several stories from King’s “Skeleton Crew,”such as “The Monkey,”remain unexplored in cinematic adaptations.
Productions focusing on King’s non-horror narratives, like “Mrs. Todd’s Shortcut,”offer opportunities to showcase a different dimension of his writing.

Stephen King, a dominant figure in both the literary and film landscapes for over four decades, has seen a steady stream of adaptations of his works, with many achieving significant acclaim recently. Although earlier adaptations often lacked the depth of his original texts, the past ten years have witnessed a significant transformation in how his stories are brought to life on screen. Recent films, notably 2017’s “It Chapter One,”along with various projects by filmmaker Mike Flanagan, have been lauded by both critics and audiences. Future adaptations are on the horizon, including Flanagan’s take on “The Dark Tower”and Edgar Wright’s remake of “The Running Man.”

Despite the multitude of adaptations, a number of King’s works—particularly from his 1985 short story collection, Skeleton Crew—have yet to be fully realized in film. While some stories, such as “The Mist,”have made it to the screen, many others are still waiting for their cinematic debut. Next year, director Osgood Perkins aims to change this by adapting one of the standout stories from *Skeleton Crew*, “The Monkey.”

Perkins, known for his recent horror success with “Longlegs,”has a talent for crafting engaging narratives, fueling optimism for a successful adaptation of “The Monkey.”Should this film resonate with audiences, it may pave the way for Hollywood to explore deeper into King’s extensive collection of stories.

Discovering “The Raft”

Cover of Skeleton Crew featuring 'The Raft'

“The Raft,”the ninth tale in *Skeleton Crew*, offers an unsettling narrative centered around a group of friends who encounter an ominous entity while swimming in a secluded lake. An unassuming floating blob turns a leisurely swim into a horrifying struggle for survival. While the concept may seem absurd at first glance, the graphic nature of the story is among the most gruesome King has ever penned, depicting visceral horror that could challenge even die-hard enthusiasts of the genre.

This story has previously seen adaptation in the 1987 anthology “Creepshow 2,”though limitations of the era prevented it from fully capturing King’s intense gore. Today’s horror landscape, with filmmakers like Damien Leone, who gained acclaim for “Terrifier,”presents a ripe opportunity for a reimagining that honors the brutal essence of “The Raft.”

Exploring “The Jaunt”

Cover image for Stephen King's 'The Jaunt'

In “The Jaunt,”King ventures into the realm of science fiction, introducing readers to a future where a process called “jaunting”allows instant travel across the universe. However, there’s a chilling catch: individuals must be unconscious during the journey to avoid insanity from the disorienting experience. The narrative explores profound themes of consciousness and the human psyche, rife with King’s signature suspense.

Efforts to adapt “The Jaunt”for the screen have spanned years, with notable filmmakers like Andy Muschietti contemplating its cinematic potential before shifting focus to other projects. More recently, Dave Erickson, co-creator of “Fear the Walking Dead,”is reportedly working on a television adaptation, which is expected to diverge significantly from the original narrative to fit an episodic format.

The Enigma of “Beachworld”

“Beachworld”delves into cosmic horror, presenting a chilling tale of a spacecraft crash-landing on an eerie, beach-laden planet that irresistibly lures its inhabitants. The story reveals that the sand itself possesses a consciousness, highlighting King’s ability to intertwine science fiction with psychological terror. Although “Beachworld”has seen a couple of independent film adaptations, its narrative deserves a high-budget retelling to do full justice to its unsettling climax.

The Allure of “Mrs. Todd’s Shortcut”

Contrasting sharply with King’s typical horror themes, “Mrs. Todd’s Shortcut”is a whimsical tale revolving around a woman seeking shortcuts during a road trip. Her journey leads to the discovery of a portal into a parallel dimension that rejuvenates her each time she travels through it. This narrative, originally published in *Redbook* in 1984, intertwines themes of nostalgia and possibility while maintaining a lighthearted tone that distinguishes it from King’s more famous horror narratives.

Although King has primarily built his legacy within the horror genre, adaptations like *The Shawshank Redemption* and *The Green Mile* showcase the emotional depth of his non-horror work. *The Shawshank Redemption* is frequently celebrated as one of the greatest films in cinematic history. *Mrs. Todd’s Shortcut*, with its tender reflections on aging and second chances, presents a unique opportunity to explore a different facet of King’s storytelling—one that resonates with audiences on a more emotional level.

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