Thursday 26 January 2012

The Tommyknockers

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Transmitted:May 1993
Country of origin:USA
Genre:Alien invasion, Small town paranoia
Starring:Jimmy Smits, Marg Helgenberger, John Ashton, Allyce Beasley, Robert Carradine, Traci Lords
Rating:4/5
No. of seasons:N/A

Fairly faithful adaptation of a particularly good Stephen King novel.
In the town of Haven Falls, Maine, something seems to be happening to the local population.
A strange object in the woods seems to be the key to it all, but is it a power for good, or is it malevolent?
Why are the residents having such strange thoughts?
Why are the bizarre ideas for crazed new inventions happening?
Why does the alcoholic poet seem unaffected? Is it the steel plate in his head deflecting some alien transmissions?
And why are everybody's teeth falling out?
King once again plays with small town fears wonderfully, elevating the 'you're not from around here' to new levels with the inclusion of an alien presence.
The budget appears moderate, but it is well used, and the effects, though sparse, are effective.
There's a good cast too, with a reasonably well rounded ensemble of characters fleshing out what could be a rather simplistic storyline.
Not all of Stephen King's adaptations to the small screen are successful but, I am pleased to report, this is one that works almost flawlessly.
It gets a little silly towards the end, true, but this is still an enjoyable piece of sci-fi horror.

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