Needful Things (1993)

Directed by Fraser C. Heston. Starring Max von Sydow, Ed Harris, J. T. Walsh, Bonnie Bedelia, Amanda Plummer, Ray McKinnon, W. Morgan Sheppard, Duncan Fraser, Valri Bromfield, Don S. Davis, Shane Meier. [R]

Mysterious shop owner (von Sydow) comes to the quiet town of Castle Rock to peddle his magnificent wares for a perilous price, causing the townsfolk to turn on each other with horrific results (what else to expect from an adaptation of a Stephen King novel?). Not bad for the first hour or so, with an artfully ham-flavored performance from von Sydow as the devilish puppetmaster, but then it turns aggressively silly and obvious, spoiling all the serpentine shenanigans with routine violence and preposterous theatrics. Was it too much to hope for a little irony? It gets so absurd by the chaotic climax that one half-expects von Sydow to suddenly take on a dual role and show up to exorcise himself right out of town. Harris and Bedelia make no effort to be convincing as a romantic couple; Plummer’s Maine accent is shaky, but she and her pooch are the most sympathetic characters to find here. Lesson to take away: It’s remarkable how easy it apparently is for small-towners to get access to heavy explosives.

38/100