Needful Things

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Needful Things ★★½ 1993 (R)

Stephen King film adaptations are becoming as prolific as his novels, though few seem to improve in the transition from page to screen. This time a scheming Maine shopkeeper (Von Sydow) sells unsuspecting small towners peculiar items that, not surprisingly, begin to cause horror and mayhem. Harris is the town sheriff who tries to warn everyone that he's the devil in disguise. Big screen directorial debut for Heston (yes, Charlton's son). 120m/ C VHS, DVD . Ed Harris, Bonnie Bedelia, Max von Sydow, Amanda Plummer, J.T. Walsh, William Morgan Sheppard; D: Fraser Heston; W: W.D. Richter; C: Tony Westman; M: Patrick Doyle.