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Storm of the Century: An Original Screenplay

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Most of the time when you read the original script of a movie you have seen, what will strike you are the additions, deletions and alterations that define the difference between the script and the film. However, with Stephen King's original screenplay for "Storm of the Century," what will most catch you attention is the depth of detail. Early on in writing this screenplay and knowing that the Hollywood producers may well declare his story too expensive to film, King decided to hedge his bet. If Hollywood did not want "Storm of the Century" he would simply turn it into a book. However, this script was produced and that is why we have ended up with this interesting hybrid.

As King observes in his introduction to the screenplay, at its heart "Storm of the Century" is the dark counterpart to "The Green Mile," with each centered on the mystery of the man in the jail cell. Andre Linoge has come to Little Tall Island just as the fiercest winter storm in recorded history is about to hit. After murdering one of the residents, Linoge waits calmly to be taken into police custody by Constable Mike Anderson. But once in his cell he tells the townsfolk, "If you give me what I want, I'll go away." Then things start to happen, secrets are revealed and more people die, and suddenly the citizens of Long Tall Island are ready to agree to Linoge's proposition even before they know exactly what it is he wants. King has always been a moralist, knowing full well that most people are not inclined to do the right thing, and always striving to come up with a story that might actually inspire some people to listen to the better angels of their nature. His success has always been based on his ability to put his fantastic tales into the people, images and words of everyday life. With this book more than most tales by King, you have the sense of at the end of "There, but for the grace of God..."

Ultimately what makes this screenplay worth reading is that it is perhaps the purest example of Stephen King's storytelling. The script reads more like he was telling you the story rather than you were reading it, that he was telling you what was going on, with nudges and winks from time to time to help you pass the time. On that level it is certainly a more compelling read than you would be inclined to think, but I would clarify that I think it is to be read after having seen the mini-series, not as a substitute. So pick up a copy, put it on your bookshelf, and wait for a really heavy snowstorm to take it down and start reading.

Stephen King's "Storm of the Century" screenplay is further proof, if anyone doubts it, that he's not only adept at writing a horror story that gives one the creeps, but that he is not limited to writing in one format.

Most novelists are content with sticking to one literary branch, letting other writers adapt their work to screenplay form. Tom Clancy and John Grisham sell the film rights to producers such as Mace Neufeld and screenwriters (Donald Stewart and John Milius, for instance) rework their basic plots into adapted screenplays. King, too, has allowed others to adapt his works for Hollywood, but he has also learned the demanding format of the screenplay and written quite a few (Creepshow, Silver Bullet, and The Stand, just to name a few).

For the ABC-TV miniseries "Storm of the Century," King conjured up one of his darkest tales yet. As a severe winter storm of unprecedented fury approaches Maine's Little Tall Island, Martha Clarendon is murdered in an unspeakably violent manner. But instead of fleeing the scene of the crime as most killers do, Andre Linoge parks himself on his victim's easy chair and waits, his silver-wolf-head's cane in his hands, for the authorities to pick him up.

But with Linoge's arrest, Little Tall Island's woes do not end; they are only beginning. For Linoge is one of those not-quite-human fiends Stephen King often creates to create havoc in small Maine communities like Little Tall Island, Derry, Jerusalem's Lot, and Castle Rock. He can destroy people simply by revealing their darkest secrets and manipulating them from afar. And by the time the Storm of the Century passes, the citizens of Little Tall Island will be horrified when they discover the meaning of Linoge's simple request: "Give me what I want, and I'll go away."

The introduction to this published screenplay of "Storm of the Century" allows King to explain why he sometimes writes original teleplays rather than starting by writing a novel then adapting it. He also reveals why he sells his miniseries to a broadcast network with its stricter Standards and Practices staff (censors) instead of the more liberal cable networks (HBO, Showtime), and much more.

I saw the original miniseries when it aired a few years back, and I am sure (okay, I know for a fact) that there is a DVD version of "Storm of the Century." This book reminded me of how effective the three-part "Novel for Television" was, and it is a fascinating read.

Storm of the century is possibly the best book I have ever read. I could not put it down,and I haven't even read all of it yet. Andre Linoge has to be the most terrifying villian because there is nothing scarier than someone who knows all your secrets, the kind of things you would take to your grave. The ending was a complete shock. I was expecting all the townspeople to get rid of the villian somehow but they didn't and that made it more real because more often than not evil does triumph and that my friends is reality. It wasn't like a horror story either, it was more like a nightmare, the kind of thing that if it happened would be your worst fears become reality. I recomend this book to anyone who doesn't mind being scared, at least once and a while. After all these years, Stephen King has still got it.

What's wrong with you people this book (and the miniseries on TV) was great! SK (Stephen King) explained why the ending was the way it was (read the book or see the movie and you'll understand). SK said that people are usually told in movies and books that if you do the right thing everything will be OK. Good ALWAYS prevails when doing the right thing....and on and on. But what would happen if doing the right thing didn't always make it OK? What if you had to give one to save the rest and have to lose someone close to you? SK wanted to show people that he didn't believe that in real life good isn't always the triumphant one. That's what makes it realistic and realism is what makes it scary. I don't know what's wrong with this book being a screenplay. It's the same damn thing. And I just loved Linoge repeating "Born in Sin,Come on In."

First I need to say that I was not very excited to read Stephen King's "Storm of the Century" because I was afraid that the screenplay format would strip away all the character building I enjoy in Stephen King's writing. Secondly, I have never liked many of his works written for, or adapted for, the screen. I began this book with some serious concerns.

No worries were needed. After I got through living with the residents of Little Tall Island for two nights during the biggest storm ever to hit the island, and the visitor who chose this time to rip the island's community apart, I was more than satisfied that I picked up "Storm of the Century".

The characters were stock King characters, but the anti-hero, Linoge, was actually even creepier because the screenplay format would not allow a deep dive into Linoge's motivation. All his physical actions, with no understanding (until the end) of his intentions, made Linoge unpredictable and a very strong evil character.

I also enjoyed seeing how Stephen King structured the suspense visually. From the quick cuts showing scenes of a town slowly being swallowed by the storm (and Linoge), to the great scene where Mike is chronicling the crime scene at Martha's with a Polaroid camera and each flash of the camera reveals new details of the crime. I thought his creative use of a visual medium was very good.

There were also enough pure Stephen King lines in the screenplay that you never forgot who the author was. The dialogue was not great, but some of the throw away direction is priceless. For instance, when one of the characters gets an axe to the face, Stephen King describes how he wants it sound (the action happens of camera) "it's like someone slapping mud with the flat of his hand". Or when he writes how the Town Hall should be depicted as the final safe haven in Little Tall Island and then adds "Of course the Titanic probably looked the same way before it hit the iceberg".

The theme of guilt within the tight family of islanders was also interesting, and I am glad the ending had a glimpse into the future (present) so we could see what happened to some of the main participants of the final tragedy.

All in all I enjoyed it a lot.

I was as thrilled as a King fan could be when I finally got my copy of "Storm." Having read things in screenplay format before I wasn't apprehensive about tackling a book in that format at all.

The first act wasn't bad, it really wasn't. I had high hopes. However, the second and third acts quickly degenerated into a typical, contrived "Halloween" who's-gonna-get-it-next kind of camp. I know King has been referred to as a schlock-horror writer, but this is going to the extreme. I could predict exactly when Linoge was going to "work his magic."

The ending was awful as well. I can respect the concept he's putting forward here (the sacrifice of one to save the many) but as if we couldn't see this coming. King has left the residents of Little Tall (and himself, it seems) without a choice. And instead of puzzling his way out of it they just quit.

King has built his stories on the precept of bad things happening to average people, and before they know what's happening they're nailed with the climax and a nice denoument to swat them on the butts on the way out. Here, we find people in full comprehension of their situation and still doing the wrong thing. Even Mike's little "encounter" with Linoge seemed more like an afterthought than any real plot device.

All in all this book started out quite promisingly, and ended up leaving me feeling unfullfilled, cheated, and with a bad taste in my mouth. My faith in King has been severly shaken. Let it go, Stephen. How about trying your hand at another Gunslinger book instead?

This is one of Stephen King's work at its most uniquely presented style. First of all, the movie itself is quite good, as I recall seeing it a few weeks ago, and I must say that Stephen King has upheld his reputation as a wonderful writer because I think the plot, while quite simple, really gets you thinking. The children touching the wolf's head was kind of confusing though, and quite dramatic, since I wouldn't think it would be that difficult to restrain a child from a stick. Nevertheless, a powerful message is that it is naive and stupid to think that when you have done something wrong, or hidden from light, you can not simply walk away with it. And that is probably one of human's most difficult obstacles- to be able to come face to face with their own mistakes, and the consequences that follow them. This book is scary, it's terrifying, and it will certainly send some chills down your spine. I know mine was.

This is the first screenplay that I read of S.King., it is so well written that you can imagine it as if you were actually seen the movie. The story is so good that it keeps you interested at all times, without a clue about what is going to happen at the end.

I bought this book a few months ago not realizing it was a screenplay. I tried to read it then, but lost interest, because it was a screenplay. I picked it up again last night and just now put it down! Very well written. Once you get past the fact that it is a screenplay you get totally lost in the characters. The ending was surprising, because I thought the townspeople would make a different choice. King seems to know how people would react to certain situations. We all like to think we are basically good, but deep down we are selfish. This isn't up there with THE SHINING or 'SALEM's LOT, but it is very well written, and I highly recommend it.

I am a great admirer of Mr King, and have read most of his works; but his,although interesting, does not quite 'work' in the way that his other novels of horror do, and for quite a simple reason.King's great strength is his detailed observation and portrayal of ordinary people.Decent, everyday folk with their loves and hates, joys and worries, the sort of people that live next door without any problems...until King comes along and drops them bodily into some bizarre and terrifying situation and then, in effect, invites us to watch their struggles to extricate themselves. In his novels you can see through the eyes of his characters; you can hear their innermost thoughts, feel their deepest emotions, understand their lives and problems. But I repeat, that is in his novels; written in his fluent and highly descriptive and colloquial prose. But "Storm of the Century" is not a novel. It is the screenplay of the TV film, and like the film itself, can only show you the exterior of the characters. You can seetheir adtions, hear their words, but you are not privy to their hidden thoughts and fears directly; you can only infer them from what you observe. And that is where this story comes to grief; it is strangely, not frightening at all to thereader,although Kings evident intention is to horrify you with his story of the evil and unhuman stranger that comes to the isolated island community and offers them a terrifying choice
This stranger, Linoge, is not,(as I have seen suggested) an alter ego of Flagg in Kings "The Stand". Flagg is (to me) the embodiment of pure chaos and destruction; his is a kind of mindless, giggling terror, impersonal, pointless
and overpowering. Linoge, on the other hand, evinces a dark and malevolent intelligence, aimed murderously at each individual, in retribution for his or her particular personal sins. Linoge is a kind of nemesis. ( As an aside, it is perhaps a pity that the actor Colm Feore gave the character such a spooky attraction in the film...or maybe thats just my feeling, given that I admire Mr Feore!) But ultimately, the stark choice offered by Linoge to the storm-bound islanders just isn't as terrible as King would have us think. (I wont spoil the story by giving full details) For even given the natural love and protective impulse of parents, there is really only one rational decision they can make, given the overwhelming promise of anihilation offered by Linoge as alternative to "giving him what he wants"...
But the concept is interesting. I only wish King had told us more about the nature of the creature Linoge, and his"work"
It's worth reading, if you enjoy screenplays. King does include many asides and descriptions that a pure script would not need, aimed at the general reader. But the overall effect is simply not as moving or frightening as much of his other writing.