Why Stephen King Was Nervous About His Own Horror Classic!

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Summary

  • Stephen King doubted success of Creepshow due to art style disparity vs. mainstream expectations.
  • Despite initial doubts, Creepshow became a hit for Warner Bros with high box office earnings.
  • King praised a 2025 horror film, suggesting he missed the theater experience & Netflix adapts Cujo.

It might seem unthinkable for a literary titan like Stephen King to doubt his writing skills, but even the mighty King has harbored doubts. In fact, he expressed concerns about the reception of his screenwriting debut for a 1982 American horror-comedy anthology film, fearing that the reviews would be unfavorable.

Indeed, Stephen King is widely acknowledged as one of the world’s most esteemed and recognized authors in literature, particularly within the horror genre. His unique ability to instill terror while simultaneously captivating readers has been a significant factor in building his immense fanbase over the past five decades. Beginning with his first professional short story sale in 1967 and leading up to his debut novel, “Carrie,” published in 1974, King has authored numerous books throughout his long career. Notable works such as “The Shining,” “IT,” and “The Green Mile” have solidified him as a master of horror writing, with several of his novels being adapted for both the big screen and television. Today, it seems almost impossible to keep pace with the number of King’s books being translated onto the silver (and small) screen, demonstrating the profound influence he exerts on popular culture, which shows no signs of abating in the near future.

However, there was a period when King wasn’t as optimistic about the stories he had written.

Stephen King Didn’t Think Creepshow Would Do Well With Audiences of a Certain Age

According to an article in Far Out Magazine, Stephen King admitted back in 1983 that he was concerned about negative reviews for his initial writing contribution to the 1982 American horror comedy anthology film “Creepshow,” as it mimicked the eerie style of comics from the 1950s like “Tales From the Crypt,” “The Vault of Horror,” and “The Haunt of Horror.” King fondly remembered these chilling comics from his childhood, while most kids his age were engrossed in Superman and Batman adventures.

The horror anthology movie “Creepshow,” directed by George Romero (of “Night of the Living Dead” fame), features five spine-chilling tales encased in a prologue and epilogue starring a bony character called ‘The Creep.’ Notable actors like Hal Holbrook, Leslie Nielsen, Adrienne Barbeau, and even Stephen King himself graced the screen in this production. However, due to the possibility that many critics might not have been familiar with the comic books it was adapted from, King expressed doubts about whether they would grasp its intended tone, as the essence of these stories could be elusive to them.

Perhaps the harsh criticism it received may have deterred some adults from watching. Given that Creepshow is rooted in the horror-comic-book aesthetics of the ’50s, I knew there would be unfavorable reviews because it’s not a parody but an accurate recreation. If mainstream critics had grasped and valued this aspect, I would have immediately realized that we didn’t achieve our intended goal.

It’s fortunate for King and Romero that Creepshow turned out to be a major success for Warner Bros. In its debut weekend, the blend of comedy and horror earned $5,870,889, placing it at the top of the U.S. box office. Overall, Creepshow generated $21,028,755 in North America, making it Warner Bros.’ highest-grossing horror film of 1982. On Rotten Tomatoes, though, the anthology movie received mixed reactions, garnering a 65% approval rating. Some critics deemed it “uneven,” while others praised its “vibrant” and “often humorous” style.

For followers who often rely on King’s regular mini-reviews of films and TV shows, he recently bestowed his ‘King’ approval on a popular 2025 horror movie, but he laments that he caught it at home instead of in the cinema. Regarding King’s extensive list of upcoming adaptations, Netflix has struck a deal to transform his 1981 novel “Cujo” into a feature film.

Source: Far Out Magazine

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2025-04-10 15:44