Stephen King’s favourite movie of all time
The true master of horror literature, Stephen King, has managed to subvert the very tradition of the written word and has provided countless contributions to the world of cinema in the process. His macabre stories have often been considered ripe picking for the film medium and have been turned into some of the best horror movies ever made.
Whether Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining or Brian De Palma’s Carrie, King’s works have provided the basis for some serious milestones in the movie industry, and he’s been eternally written into the history of the silver screen. King’s prowess goes far beyond the page, and his tales seem perfect for adaptation, as proven over the years.
King himself is no stranger to a love for cinema either, as back in 2017, he was asked by the BFI to name his favourite movies, with the author noting, “Pick eight films for the revered British Film Institute? Whew, that’s a daunting task. All the same, here are some suggestions, given in no particular order. I am especially partial – this will not surprise you – to suspense films, so that is what you will find below.”
King went on to name the likes of The Stepfather, The Hitcher, Duel and Les Diaboliques as some of his top choices, but none eclipsed his top pick of all time. He admitted, “My favourite film of all time – this may surprise you—is Sorcerer, William Friedkin’s remake of the great Henri-Georges Clouzot’s The Wages of Fear.”
“Some may argue that the Clouzot film is better; I beg to disagree,” the author added. While Friedkin’s movies The Exorcist and The French Connection seem to take all the plaudits when it comes to the filmmaker’s works, one should not look beyond his 1977 film Sorcerer, starring Roy Scheider, Bruno Cremer, Francisco Rabal and Amidou.
As King attests, the film is considered a remake of Clouzot’s The Wages of Fear, although Friedkin himself did not appreciate such an assessment. Narratively, Sorcerer tells of four outcasts from different backgrounds coming together in a South American village where they are tasked with transporting unstable dynamite through treacherous terrain.
Friedkin’s masterful ability as a director is on show, with stunning cinematography to boot. The film is one of true tension, and even though it was not a commercial success, Sorcerer has found a cult status since its release, particularly in the eyes of Stephen King.
Check out the trailer for Sorcerer below.
