A resurrection for Castle Rock
New TV series is based in King’s fictional town
The new Hulu series “Castle Rock” is named for a fictional Maine town that has been the setting for several Stephen King books.
In other words: Castle Rock is a place where bad things happen.
It debuted last week on Space with new episodes every Wednesday at 10 p.m.
King has long peppered his stories with cross-references and the show borrows that approach, taking place in what Hulu calls the “Stephen King multiverse.”
Those new to King’s books — or to their numerous big- and smallscreen adaptations — will not have any trouble following the plot, which starts with the return of a death-row lawyer, Henry Deaver (André Holland), to Castle Rock, drawn by the discovery of a mysterious prisoner found in the bowels of the local prison (Bill Skarsgard).
Here are some King adaptations you can stream at home, each of which is winked at or connected to Castle Rock in some way.
“Lord of the Flies” (1963) Where to watch: Rent it on iTunes.
King got the name Castle Rock from William Golding’s 1954 novel “Lord of the Flies.” In the book, young boys marooned on an island turn on each other and descend into savagery, and Castle Rock is a natural rock formation on the island used by one of the groups of boys as their base. The novel was brilliantly adapted in 1963 by Peter Brook and his film remains one of the most chilling depictions of childhood ever made.
“Carrie” (1976)
Where to watch: Rent it on iTunes.
In “Castle Rock,” Sissy Spacek plays Henry’s mother. It is hard to find a more emblematic figure in the Kingverse than Spacek, who played the title role in “Carrie,” Brian De Palma’s adaptation of King’s horror novel of the same name, about a bullied teenager who uses her telekinetic power to violently take down the classmates (and mother) who humiliated her. When the film was released in 1976, it launched King into mainstream consciousness.
“The Shining” (1980)
Where to watch: Rent it on iTunes.
Melanie Lynskey plays Molly Strand in “Castle Rock,” a realtor who pops pills to quiet the voices in her head. Those voices will remind devoted King readers of Danny Torrance, the psychic child at the centre of “The Shining.” To compound the connection, the Hulu show has Jane Levy playing a local named Jackie Torrance. A third nod comes during the “Castle Rock” opening credits, which flash the number 217 — corresponding to the fateful room in the haunted hotel where the Torrances meet their fate.
“Cujo” (1983)
Where to watch: Rent it on iTunes.
The “Castle Rock” trailer briefly shows newspaper clippings about a rabid dog and, to King fans, this can be a reference to only one thing: his novel “Cujo,” set in Castle Rock, about a gentle St. Bernard who turns into a killing machine after he is bitten by a rabid bat. The highlight of the film is an extended, tensionfilled scene in which a mother and her young son are trapped in their car by the dog.
“The Dead Zone” (1983) Where to watch: Rent it on iTunes.
In the fourth episode of “Castle Rock,” Molly mentions that a serial strangler died in her house. This may well be an allusion to Frank Dodd, the serial “Castle Rock strangler” of “The Dead Zone,” the first novel set in that godforsaken town, published in 1979. The book was memorably adapted four years later by David Cronenberg, featuring a sombre, haunting performance by Christopher Walken.
“Stand by Me” (1986)
Where to watch: Stream it on Amazon or rent it on iTunes.
Early on, the Hulu series mentions in passing the body of a boy found by train tracks in 1961, likely a callback to King’s novella “The Body,” filmed in 1986 by Rob Reiner under the title “Stand by Me.” Transposing the action to Castle Rock, Ore., this tale about a group of kids who go to find that body featured a cast of ’80s heartthrobs, including River Phoenix, Kiefer Sutherland, Wil Wheaton and Corey Feldman. It remains one of the most beloved King
adaptations ever.
“Needful Things” (1993) Where to watch: Rent it on iTunes.
One of the biggest, most immediate connections in Castle Rock to King’s multiverse is Alan Pangborn (Scott Glenn), the town’s former sheriff who is now shacked up with Spacek’s character. Pangborn will be familiar to King fans from his appearances in novels and films, most notably in “Needful Things,” an adaptation of a key novel in the Castle Rock canon. Another link is the Juniper Hill Asylum, which appears in the trailer and is where “Needful Things” character Nettie Cobb spent time.
“The Dark Half “(1993) Where to watch: Rent it on iTunes.
Pangborn pops up again in this adaptation of the titular King novel, and this time he is played by Michael Rooker, who is more famous for portraying men on the other side of the law. The story explores what happens when a highbrow writer’s pulp-writing alter ego (both played by Timothy Hutton) comes to murderous life. The film was directed by the horror master George A. Romero.
“The Shawshank Redemption” (1994)
Where to watch: Stream it on Netflix or rent it on iTunes.
Large portions of “Castle Rock” are set in Shawshank Prison, where Skarsgard’s mystery man is found. The prison is also the site of this popular 1994 drama from Frank Darabont, based on the novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption and one of the most high-profile King adaptations.
“It” (2017)
Where to watch: Buy it on iTunes or YouTube.
It looms large over Castle Rock, even if the novel was not set there. The Hulu series’ first nod to last year’s popular film adaptation is casting: Skarsgard plays a possibly supernatural fellow who is found underground, much like his shape-shifting monster clown from “It,” Pennywise, who was often found in sewers and storm drains. Another casting connection is Chosen Jacobs, who played Mike Hanlon in the film and turns up as a character named Wendell Deaver.