A Hidden Gem of a Stephen King TV Movie Ignited a Direct-to-Video Franchise

If your child has a reading level far beyond their years and shows a strong interest in horror, you may consider exposing them to Stephen King’s works sooner than you'd initially think appropriate. Should they have the ability to cope with mainstream screamfests like "Poltergeist," "Alien," and "The Omen" (1976) — these individuals are poised to embark on an enduring exploration of King’s body of work. He proves remarkably approachable as a narrator due to his straightforward use of language; thus, many elements that could appear challenging for developing readers become quite comprehensible. While some themes may still feel intense, King’s most provocative pieces typically won’t attract younger audiences initially anyway. Such stories like “Gerald's Game” likely wouldn't resonate with them deeply. However, they would probably gravitate towards reading “Pet Sematary.”

Where should they begin? It’s simple: “Night Shift.” This collection of 20 short stories, published in 1978, spans from gradual builds-up to sheer horror to high-octane fear. Whatever the heck "The Lawnmower Man" is meant to be. Most of the stories in this collection have been adapted into less notable films such as "The Boogeyman," "The Mangler," "Children of the Corn," "Graveyard Shift," and notably, "Trucks," which was transformed into "Maximum Overdrive." However, these adaptations might be more suitable as half-hour episodes of "The Twilight Zone." Conversely, "Cat's Eye" succeeded by including both "Quitters, Inc." and "The Ledge" within one film, maintaining the darkly effective storytelling style that King originally envisioned.

The standout story when I first read "Night Shift" at twelve was "Sometimes They Come Back." This narrative follows a high school teacher tormented by the return of the greasers responsible for killing his brother seventeen years prior; they start appearing again among new enrollments following several student fatalities. It serves effectively as both a chilling account of rural terror and an avenging saga. Among all stories in "Night Shift," this is the sole one that seems ripe for expansion into a full-length film. Despite my reservations about turning it into a series, it eventually evolved into such with its successful adaptation into a TV movie back in 1991.

Read more: The 15 Top Stephen King Characters, Ranked

Occasionally They Return... To The Video Rental Shop

The film 'Sometimes They Come Back' almost became part of 'Cat’s Eye,' but producer Dino De Laurentiis opted instead for the ending starring Drew Barrymore and featuring the malevolent small-scale creature designed by Carlo Rambaldi. Later, De Laurentiis revisited this tale and enlisted the talents of underappreciated writers Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal, known for their work on movies like 'The Legend of Billie Jean,' ‘Desperate Hours,’ and 'Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.' Another smart move was bringing aboard accomplished horror filmmaker Tom McLoughlin, who had previously directed 'One Dark Night' and 'Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives.'

This group gave King's narrative a humble yet fulfilling rendition. Despite McLoughlin’s constraints regarding graphic violence, he embraced the eerie atmosphere of the story similar to his approach in the PG-rated "One Dark Night." The film benefited greatly from an excellent leading role played by Tim Matheson as the educator, complemented by strong performances from seasoned supporting actors such as Brooke Adams, Robert Rusler, and William Sanderson. Should you find yourself craving a well-constructed horror flick that stands out distinctly from typical television movies of that time, "Sometimes They Come Back" won’t disappoint.

After the film hit home videos following its television release, its strong rental figures persuaded those holding the rights to attempt a direct-to-video follow-up featuring an ensemble more suited for such productions (with just one actor who would later achieve stardom). In 1996, “Sometimes They Come Back...Again” was helmed by the comparatively inexperienced Adam Grossman (who aside from this has only garnered attention for directing the notoriously bad 1998 version of "Carnival of Souls"). However, should you be feeling adventurous, you might appreciate the earnest leading turn by Michael Gross, along with some additional entertainment value. Why wasn't 'The Next Karate Kid' able to become successful? turn from Hillary Swank.

This mediocre follow-up clearly performed well enough financially for Trimark Pictures to justify producing another installment. As such, what we get here is essentially a horror sequel linked to its predecessors solely through the title. Titled "Sometimes They Come Back...for More," this film draws inspiration from John Carpenter’s “The Thing,” featuring actors Clayton Roehner, Faith Ford, and Max Perlich battling demons within an illicit US military mining project. This entry ultimately marked the conclusion of the confusing series, without much demand for further installments — although revisiting King’s initial tale might have been welcomed.

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