Adaptations can be an amazing thing. To see your books brought to life can be so mind-blowing that all you can do is stare and watch your book unfold before your very eyes.
And then there are times when you watch in horror as the story you love and cherish gets torn apart before you. Characters act in ways that are contrary to their established natures. Minor events are exaggerated into larger ones and major events from the source material can be totally missing.
It’s a special kind of infuriating to see beloved characters and worlds shredded. A bad adaptation can devolve what could have been a kind-of good movie into an absolute trainwreck and a good adaptation can bring your favorite story to life in ways you never thought of.
For this week’s list The Kali Krew brings you our favourite adaptations and some of our least favourite adaptations.
AMAZING ADAPTATIONS
American Psycho
Chosen by Sam
Based on the Book American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
Blade Runner
Chosen by Sam
Based on the book Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Phillip K. Dick
Children of Men
Chosen by Brian
Based on the book Children of Men by P.D. James
Dead Space: Downfall
Chosen by Cory
Based on the video game Dead Space
Edge of Tomorrow
Chosen by Brian
Based on the book Edge of Tomorrow by Isaac Asimov
The Exorcist
Chosen by Olly
Based on the book The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty
The Girl with All the Gifts
Chosen by Lilyn
Based on the book The Girl with all the Gifts by M.R. Carey
Check out Sammy’s review of The Girl with all the Gifts
Guardians of the Galaxy
Chosen by Bill
Based on the comic series Guardians of the Galaxy
IT: Chapter One
Chosen by Shawn and Lilyn
Based on the book IT by Stephen King
Check out Lilyn’s review of IT
Jaws
Chosen by Gracie
Based on the book Jaws by Peter Benchley
Check out Sian’s review of Jaws
Jurassic Park
Chosen by Lilyn
Based on the book Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
A Monster Calls
A Nightmare on Elm Street (Nintendo Game)
Chosen by Shawn
Based on the movie A Nightmare on Elm Street
Picnic at Hanging Rock
Chosen by Gracie
Based on the book Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay
Check out Gracie’s Focus on the Frightful: Picnic at Hanging Rock
Shutter Island
Chosen by Gracie and Eliza
Based on the book Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
Stand by Me
Chosen by Olly
Based on the novella The Body from Different Seasons by Stephen King
They Live
Chosen by Bill
Based on the short story Eight O’Clock in the Morning by Ray Faraday Nelson
AGGRAVATING ADAPTATIONS
Call of the Wild
Chosen by Eliza
Doom
Chosen by Sam
Ender’s Game
Chosen by Tiny Tentacle
Based on the book Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
Check out Lilyn’s review of Ender’s Game
The Haunting (1999)
Chosen by Gracie
Based on the book The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Chosen by Brian
Based on the book The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
IT: Chapter Two
Chosen by Shawn and Lilyn
Based on the book IT by Stephen King
Check out Lilyn’s review of IT: Chapter Two
The Mist (series)
Chosen by Sam
Based on the novella The Mist by Stephen King
The Shining (1980)
Chosen by Sam and Gracie
Based on the book The Shining by Stephen King
The Silence of the Lambs
Chosen by Olly
Based on the book The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
Silent Hill: Revelation 3-D
Chosen by Gracie and Shawn
Based on the video game Silent Hill 3
These are just a few of the adaptations that we have loved, a few we hated and one or two that we’ve loathed. Tell us your favourites or non-favourites down below!!
GracieKat was the first co-host of Sci-Fi & Scary, Lilyn’s partner-in-crime, and sub-head of the Kali Krew. She reviews horror books, movies, and games for the site. She also does a weekly Focus on the Frightful feature, and is the site list-maker. She is also in control of the Sci-Fi & Scary podcast which will relaunch soon.
Picnic at Hanging Rock is a superior adaptation, I have to say. Although I’m happy with Kubrick’s The Shining.
Bram Stoker trifecta: I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a Dracula adaptation that was truly faithful to the book. The 1980 The Awakening is a horrible adaptation of The Jewel of Seven Stars. And the movie version of The Lair of the White Worm, while massively unfaithful, is a lot more fun than the Stoker novel.
The reboot movie of ‘Lost in Space’, like “Hitchhikers Guide’, were big budget takes on the campy but charming shows, with none of the camp, nor any of the charm.
Ohhh yeah, I forgot how unmemorable the Lost in Space movie was!