The ‘underrated masterpiece’ that’s 1 of Stephen King’s favorite movie | Films | Entertainment | EUROtoday

Stephen King has revealed his high 10 favorite movies – and among the many heavy-hitters from Coppola, Scorsese and Spielberg sits a title as soon as dismissed as a field workplace catastrophe.

The horror grasp, who shared his picks “in no particular order,” positioned William Friedkin’s 1977 thriller Sorcerer on the high of his record.

The movie was launched only a month after Star Wars rewrote the foundations of Hollywood, and its gritty, fatalistic story about 4 determined males hauling nitroglycerine throughout treacherous terrain couldn’t compete with George Lucas’ sci-fi spectacle. At the time, critics have been lukewarm and audiences stayed away.

But within the years since, Sorcerer has been rediscovered and hailed as certainly one of Friedkin’s most interesting achievements. Even the director himself, finest recognized for The French Connection and The Exorcist, known as it his most private and tough venture.

Sorcerer is a free remake of Henri-Georges Clouzot’s 1953 basic The Wages of Fear, which in flip was tailored from Georges Arnaud’s novel.

The movie follows 4 fugitives from totally different backgrounds who discover themselves stranded in a distant South American village. Each is obtainable a shot at survival by driving unstable crates of dynamite via miles of harmful jungle roads.

Starring Roy Scheider within the lead, it’s a tense, relentless research into human desperation. Friedkin stripped away glamour and luxury, insisting on harsh places and gruelling stunts to intensify the realism. The outcome was a movie that critics and audiences in 1977 weren’t prepared for – however cinephiles and filmmakers have since embraced as forward of its time.

On Rotten Tomatoes, Sorcerer now holds an 80% score and evaluations from each followers and critics echo King’s enthusiasm. One reviewer known as it: “The movie is exceptional. Fantastic action scenes, intriguing theme (almost the inverse of Heart of Darkness). The director does well to wrongfoot the audience. Acting is perfect.”

Another praised its realism: “Just the kind of bleak, realistic adventure you’re anticipating. Delivers on all fronts and gives a great sense of immersion. Technically impressive and doesn’t skimp on the effects. Thrilling, gritty, and a great twist, will leave viewers happy.”

Others marvelled at its depth: “Really under rated. The first half of this movie has you glued to your seet, the second half has you hanging off the edge of it. A must watch for any movie fan.”

King’s number of Sorcerer sits alongside a few of cinema’s most celebrated works: The Godfather Part II, Casablanca, Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind all made the reduce. He additionally included Mean Streets, Groundhog Day, Double Indemnity, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre and The Getaway.