From director Daphné Baiwir (The Rebellious Olivia de Havilland) comes this new documentary celebrating the screen adaptations and works of one of literature’s most prolific novelists; Stephen King. Charting the many successes and failures of King’s screen history and presence, Stephen King on Screen explores everything from the unique relationship Frank Darabont (The Mist, The Green Mile) has with King’s work to the infamous Kubrick vs King debate. With appearances from the likes of Mike Flannagan (Gerald’s Game, Doctor Sleep), Tom Holland (Thinner, Child’s Play) and Mick Garris (Riding the Bullet, Sleepwalkers), this documentary gives its viewers a comprehensive guide to the world of King.

I think the first thing I should note here is the word cursory. Now this is the word I want most of the diehard Stephen King fans to hear because they will know everything that was laid out in this documentary because the central focus is not on a conclusive history or new perspectives of King’s screen work. The documentary is chiefly concerned with the heavy hitters from King’s cinematic canon, expect most of the film to be taken up by The Green Mile, The Shining, The Shawshank Redemption and Creepshow. Fresh and new information is not what is going to be offered here for King know-it-alls, it will serve best as a good reminder and a comfortable Saturday afternoon watch.

However, I am not as clued into King as others are. I’ve read a few of his books, watched a few of his films and know a decent amount about his works simply from a cultural osmosis. So a documentary that felt like it was designed to encourage an exploration of King by new or less well-versed fans such as myself is exactly what I needed. It also happened to be exactly what I got as well.

King on Film is a wonderful watch, made with genuine and earnest passion for the author by Baiwir which is best seen in her eclectic choices of King adaptors as well as her choice to focus less on the strict histories of film productions, but more so how each director managed to develop a personal connection to King himself through their work on film adaptations. Darabont, who I consider King’s best adaptor, gets the most airplay here but he also offers the most heartfelt stories about how King’s work has shaped his career as a filmmaker. Perhaps the section of the film that feels perfunctory is the section on Kubrick’s The Shining, one of the most well-documented aspects of King’s career is his response to this film and you mostly just get the key facts played to you. I think even the least knowledgeable King enjoyers know he wasn’t a massive of The Shining film adaptation.

I think the opening of the documentary actually serves as a fitting metaphor for what this documentary is all about. It’s a celebration of the artistic community that has been cultivated as a result of King and his works, a shared journey between many unique filmmakers who all fell in love with the same author. This documentary may not teach you a whole lot new about King, or particularly offer any revolutionary artistic interpretations of his works but it sure as hell does do a brilliant job at just showing the personal impact of King’s works on fellow creatives.