This book contains the synopses and reviews of the darkest films in Stephen King’s filmography. The listings are ranked from best to worst.
Sometimes They Come Back... Again
A man is mentally tortured by the demonic reincarnations of bullies from his childhood.
United States1996
Feature Film
Realism:
Supernatural
Character Focus:
Ghost Film
Animals:
Snake
Insects:
Worm
Sadist:
Rigger
Torturer
Stalker:
Sneaker
Trespasser
Cultists:
Guru
Worshipper
Trickster:
Impostor
Prankster
Dimensional:
Hellish
Nightmare
Unknown
Plant:
Root
Grass
Psychics:
Illusionist
Telekinetic
Wizards:
Evoker
Screenplay:
Story:
Characters:
Franchise Sequel
Franchise Remake
Franchise Re-imagining
Sometimes, more is better!
Pace
Editing
Performances
Sometimes They Come Back... Again is a remake, more than it is a sequel, to the decent 1991 Sometimes They Come Back, adapted from a short story by Stephen King. In its best moments, this is a basic supernatural slasher. The body count is high, the make-up ambitious, and the effects generally better than the original. The script is well paced and denser.
The cast is composed of familiar faces. The leading antagonist, unlike his sidekicks, is played by a strong, unusual actor that inspires fear through facial gesture and mannerism. Protagonists are given flash backs, a religious procedural and occult hocus-pocus to deal with, converse about, while the good stuff happens elsewhere. Consequently, some subplots feel detached, unnecessary.
While some characters have a dramatic story arc, others are directed to play it slapstick and are treated like slasher cattle. Both moods work fine, but the contrast hurts continuity. This is released in a time of quick cuts and heavy reliance on post-production. Some effects are practical but then some are cheap CG. All in all, this one hits and misses but is more entertaining than the original.
