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The One Stephen King Adaption You Will Never See

Published

7 years ago

October 6, 2017

There is no doubt about it, we are living in the time of Stephen King. Several of his works have been adapted already with several more on the way. Within the past year we have witnessed several of his stories come to the big screen as well the small. Netflix alone has two films coming out within the next two months; Gerald’s Game and 1922. It’s hard to guess which piece of work will be turned into a film next. However, there is one literary work that King penned that will never find the light of day. That work is titled Rage.

Rage is one of King’s earliest works, and the first work to be released under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. The delicate nature of the book has since caused King to cancel its publication in 1999 and has not been mentioned since. So, what is this book? What is it about? Why was its publication cancelled and what made King state in 2007 that the book was “Now out of print, and a good thing”? Read on as we dive into the literary work known as Rage.

Image result for stephen king's rage

As many readers know, King went by a pseudonym early in his career, Richard Bachman. King released several books under the name including The Regulators, The Running Man, and Thinner. However, it was Rage (originally titled Getting it On) that would go on to be the least talked about Bachman book because of its content and premise. King released Rage in 1977, and then again as part of his collection The Bachman Books in 1985. It was this later release that would give the story a much wider audience.

The story centers around a Maine high school student that goes by the name of Charlie Decker. Charlie is what we would call a troubled child. In the beginning of the story we witness Charlie being called into the principal’s office to discuss an altercation he had with his chemistry teacher. The altercation ended with Charlie suspended and the teacher hospitalized. Charlie still has a chip on his shoulder and verbally assaults his principal which results in his own suspension. After Charlie storms out of the office he stops by his locker, grabs a pistol, then decides to light his locker ablaze. The fire triggers the fire alarm but not before he arrives back in class and shoots his algebra teacher. The rest of the school evacuates but Charlie commands his classmates to stay behind.

It isn’t until Charlie is left with his classmates when the real meat of the story begins. The class becomes a sort of psychotherapy room with everyone in the class sharing their deepest and darkest stories. Through these stories, and Charlies’ as well, we are treated to the darkness that is Charlie. Charlie, in a sick twisted way, seems to have the class on his side. Enough so that he convinces the class to tear apart their classmate Ted, leaving the student in a catatonic state. (Ted was no angel)

Charlie eventually lets his classmates go free at 1 p.m. but poor Ted can’t leave due to the beat down he received from his classmates. The police storm the room and the unarmed Charlie makes a move to make the police shoot him dead. The police do shoot Charlie, but he survives. He is then ordered through court to exist in a psychiatric hospital until he is fit enough to stand trial for his crimes.

That is the meat and potatoes of this story. However, the effects of the story went on. The novella was viewed as inspiration in at least five mass shootings between 1988 and 1997. The book was cited as either being a favorite or even being in the possession of students that shot up their school. The book today would seem a bit tame by today’s standards but was enough for King to allow the book to fall out of print. King has since gone on to write an essay titled Guns after the horrific incident at Sandy Hook and detailed why he let Rage go out of print.

Sometimes there are stories that mirror life so closely, not in the intention of the author, that are better off being allowed to sift through the cracks. This King story is an excellent example. It is is in my opinion, however, that this story is still worth being read. Copies of the Bachman books are available on Amazon and Ebay. This is the one King adaption you will never see become a film. King has been very passionate about his dislike of guns and would prefer this story just go away.

Kings Guns essay: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://engl102-field.wikispaces.umb.edu/file/view/Guns%2B-%2BKing,%2BStephen%2Bcopy.pdf&ved=0ahUKEwjWuPPLuNzWAhUm4YMKHcnQATgQ5OUBCG4wCw&usg=AOvVaw1TjVXCzc__RBAvJC7pYLi2

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News

Jake Gyllenhaal’s Thriller ‘Presumed Innocent’ Series Gets Early Release Date

Published

2 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Jake Gyllenhaal’s limited series Presumed Innocent is dropping on AppleTV+ on June 12 instead of June 14 as originally planned. The star, whose Road House reboot has brought mixed reviews on Amazon Prime, is embracing the small screen for the first time since his appearance on Homicide: Life on the Street in 1994.

Jake Gyllenhaal’s in ‘Presumed Innocent’

Presumed Innocent is being produced by David E. Kelley, J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot, and Warner Bros. It is an adaptation of Scott Turow’s 1990 film in which Harrison Ford plays a lawyer doing double duty as an investigator looking for the murderer of his colleague.

These types of sexy thrillers were popular in the ’90s and usually contained twist endings. Here’s the trailer for the original:

According to Deadline, Presumed Innocent doesn’t stray far from the source material: “…the Presumed Innocent series will explore obsession, sex, politics and the power and limits of love as the accused fights to hold his family and marriage together.”

Up next for Gyllenhaal is the Guy Ritchie action movie titled In the Grey scheduled for release in January 2025.

Presumed Innocent is an eight-episode limited series set to stream on AppleTV+ starting June 12.

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Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

21 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

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News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

23 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

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Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.