This TV movie, scripted by Stephen King himself from his own best-seller, concerns a very isolated area of Nevada where a demonic cop named Collie Entragian (Ron Perlman) has started to abduct travellers and hold them prisoner inside his jail cells. Among his victims are an egomaniacal writer (Tom Skerritt), a kindly old veterinarian (Charles Durning), a family in an RV, and a young wife (Annabeth Gish). What we find out is that the real Evil is not Entragian, but something within him; a boy named David (Shane Haboucha) turns to God and prayer for the answers.
This viewer found this rather engaging entertainment, definitely better than expected. Mick Garris, a veteran interpreter of Kings' works, does well as director, creating a bizarre and twisted world where dead bodies are littered throughout streets, and where countless dogs and other animals serve as the eyes and ears of the true villain of the piece. Granted, the mythology that King created for this story can get goofy, with a lot of silly dialogue, but he also gives his audience a chance to ponder the whole nature of God and faith. In any event, this is a compelling situation in which the protagonists are placed, and the whole idea of characters uniting to combat an ultimate Evil is always worth exploring.
A pretty strong cast is assembled here. Skerritt is obliged to play a real Jerk of a man who might not be redeemable. The wonderful Durning reels off exposition with style. Steven Weber is amiable as Skerritts' loyal employee who picks up a sexy hitchhiker played by the delightful Kelly Overton. Haboucha is appealing as the kid who does find his faith severely tested towards the end of the picture. Matt Frewer is good as the kids' dad. And Perlman clearly has so much fun as the maniacal Entragian that you miss him once he disappears from the story. He's the best thing in it.
Overall, a fun movie (originally planned as a two part miniseries, but whittled down to a three-hour, one night TV movie); its ending is somewhat underwhelming, but it has enough good stuff in it (effects by Gregory Nicotero and Howard Berger, music by Nicholas Pike, etc.) to make it palatable.
Seven out of 10.
This viewer found this rather engaging entertainment, definitely better than expected. Mick Garris, a veteran interpreter of Kings' works, does well as director, creating a bizarre and twisted world where dead bodies are littered throughout streets, and where countless dogs and other animals serve as the eyes and ears of the true villain of the piece. Granted, the mythology that King created for this story can get goofy, with a lot of silly dialogue, but he also gives his audience a chance to ponder the whole nature of God and faith. In any event, this is a compelling situation in which the protagonists are placed, and the whole idea of characters uniting to combat an ultimate Evil is always worth exploring.
A pretty strong cast is assembled here. Skerritt is obliged to play a real Jerk of a man who might not be redeemable. The wonderful Durning reels off exposition with style. Steven Weber is amiable as Skerritts' loyal employee who picks up a sexy hitchhiker played by the delightful Kelly Overton. Haboucha is appealing as the kid who does find his faith severely tested towards the end of the picture. Matt Frewer is good as the kids' dad. And Perlman clearly has so much fun as the maniacal Entragian that you miss him once he disappears from the story. He's the best thing in it.
Overall, a fun movie (originally planned as a two part miniseries, but whittled down to a three-hour, one night TV movie); its ending is somewhat underwhelming, but it has enough good stuff in it (effects by Gregory Nicotero and Howard Berger, music by Nicholas Pike, etc.) to make it palatable.
Seven out of 10.