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Hollywood Horror Reading List
Can 'The Road' point the way for more adaptations of written horror? Writers and filmmakers offer their choices
By Don Kaye
Special to MSN Movies
The film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's moving and frightening postapocalyptic novel "The Road" arrives on Nov. 25, directed by John Hillcoat ("The Proposition") and starring Viggo Mortensen and Charlize Theron. Readers have awaited the movie for more than a year with mixed emotions: Many of the book's passionate fans (including yours truly) wondered if such a dark portrait of humanity's end could be captured effectively on-screen. I personally think it has: "The Road" not only retains the somber mood and emotional power of the book, but it is also one of the best visual representations of a devastated world ever put to celluloid.
What's interesting is that, once you get past the Pulitzer Prize and the Oprah Winfrey endorsement and all the other critical raves, McCarthy's spare novel is, at its heart, a horror story. There are scenes in the book grim enough to keep Stephen King up at night. But McCarthy's pedigree as a great American novelist made critics embrace the book wholeheartedly, whereas a similar novel by, say, King himself (whose "The Stand" is also a postapocalyptic masterpiece) might have been met with a collective, "Yeah, that's old Steve King, doing his spooky thing."
Now "The Road" and McCarthy are both wholly deserving of their reputations and accolades. But this got me thinking that there are many, many horror novels out there worthy of getting their shot on the big screen. My colleague James Rocchi did a similar feature a while back on science fiction novels, informally surveying friends and fans about which faves they'd like to see filmed. For this one, I quizzed via e-mail a collection of horror writers and filmmakers, and the results follow. I'd love to see these books made into movies (or, in a handful of cases, remade). But if they're not, I hope you check out the books anyway.
"I Am Legend," Richard Matheson (1954)
Jovanka Vukovic, editor of Rue Morgue magazine: "After being mishandled three times now ('The Last Man on Earth,' 'The Omega Man' and the 2007 Will Smith-led travesty), this masterpiece tale is most deserving of a director that respects the source material. Better yet, shoot the screenplay that Matheson wrote himself for Hammer back in the 50s. It's just about perfect. Decades later, 'I Am Legend' still holds up as one of the most bleak, haunting and emotionally devastating stories ever written. Here's hoping the fourth time is a charm."
Bing: Click the cover to buy the book
Our take: All three adaptations of this masterful vampire novel have been botched to some extent, although each also has its charms. "The Last Man on Earth" was probably the most faithful; the Will Smith one was the best acted. A truly great "I Am Legend" eludes us, though.
Status: Another remake is not likely anytime soon, although we keep hearing rumors about a prequel. Hopefully someone will put a stake in that.
"Shadowland," Peter Straub (1980)
Christopher Golden, co-author with Tim Lebbon of "Map of Moments" and editor of the upcoming anthology "The New Dead": "('Shadowland') has magic and tragedy and real horror and absolutely harrowing coming of age stuff. I think a lot of people have been scared away from trying to adapt it for the screen, but I'd love a crack at that screenplay."
Bing: Click the cover to buy the book
Our take: One of the great horror writers, Straub has masterpieces like "Ghost Story" and two collaborations with Stephen King to his name. In "Shadowland," two young lads spend a summer with the uncle of one of the boys, a magician who may be a powerful and very real sorcerer. Think of this as a dark, R-rated "Harry Potter," which may explain why it's never been filmed.
Status: Straub has said in various interviews that many of his books (including "Shadowland") have been optioned for film, but only "Ghost Story" has ever made it to the big screen.
