Stephen King recently shared which movie last left him feeling genuinely frightened.
Often referred to as the ‘King of horror,’ King has earned this title through his impressive body of work, having written over 60 books, many of which have been adapted into films and television series.
With classics like It and Carrie, as well as newer titles such as The Life of Chuck and The Institute, it’s likely that you’ve encountered his work at some point.
King frequently shares his film recommendations with his large social media following, like a thriller on Amazon Prime Video, which he described as ‘bone-shaking and terrifying’ on Twitter.
As the release of his dystopian drama, The Long Walk, approaches, King engaged with fans on Reddit to answer their questions.
In the R/Movies subreddit, he invited fans: “I’m Stephen King! Ask me anything about The Long Walk book or movie.”
The responses poured in, with fans eager to learn about his sources of inspiration and what he’d choose as an audiobook if placed in a scenario similar to The Long Walk (it’s Game of Thrones, for those curious).
One fan specifically wanted to know which movie or TV show had recently unsettled the horror maestro, asking: “What was the last movie or TV show you watched that truly scared you?”
King’s response was eagerly awaited: “Last TV show: The Fall of the House of Usher. Last scary movie: Weapons.”
The film Weapons, which premiered on August 8, initially boasted a perfect 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was rapidly recognized as the ‘highest-rated horror movie of the decade.’
Although its score has since adjusted to a still impressive 94 percent based on 339 reviews, the film remains highly praised.
King had previously commended Weapons on Bluesky, stating: “WEAPONS: Confidently told, and very scary. I loved it,” he remarked.
Featuring Ozark’s Julia Garner, the movie is directed by Zach Cregger, known for creating Barbarian, a 2022 horror film that achieved a 92 percent rating with critics. This latest release has led many to declare him as a bona fide ‘master of horror.’
Weapons begins with an unusual, yet terrifying, event; a third-grade class disappears entirely at 2:17 am, with only one child, Alex (portrayed by Cary Christopher from Days of Our Lives), remaining.
As the situation escalates, Justine Gandy (Garner), the teacher, becomes a focal point of suspicion while dealing with her own grief and the growing paranoia surrounding her.
We are also introduced to Archer Graff (played by Josh Brolin from Avengers), a father desperate to find his child.
The narrative unfolds from the perspectives of these characters and others in the community, adding layers to the mystery.
Viewers have reported being captivated by the film, which delivers effective jumpscares and a balanced amount of suspense and horror.
Matt Oakes from Silver Screen Riot commented: “It’s everything all at once for the genre with a narrative and thematic cohesion few films manage to balance.
“A deliverance from the deadly serious trappings of prestige horror.”