Silver Bullet: The Forgotten Stephen King Werewolf Film
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1985’s Silver Bullet is one of those forgotten Stephen King adaptations, but with no good reason. This film is worth watching. Starring young Megan Follows and the late Corey Haim, the movie has a sweet undertone that belies the storyline. It is almost as if John Hughes wrote and directed a horror film. A horror version of Uncle Buck, if you will.
The Plot
In 1976, the small and peaceful town of Tarker’s Mills becomes shockingly less peaceful when a series of murders rocks the tight knit community.
Marty Coslaw(Corey Haim) is confined to a wheelchair, and is resented somewhat by his older sister, Jane(Megan Follows), for all the attention he gets. They both adore their Uncle Red(Gary Busey), a bit of a rebel and alcoholic.
Uncle Red gives Marty a custom motorized wheelchair, and Marty is over the moon.
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Speaking of moons, Marty sneaks out after curfew to fire off some bottle rockets Uncle Red gave him. The Fourth of July celebration had been cancelled in town because the murders haven’t stopped, and Marty wants fireworks.
Motoring out in the dark, he sets off fireworks, and it attracts attention of the lycanthrope kind. Marty shoots a bottle rocket in the monster’s eye, and escapes.
He tells his sister that a werewolf attacked him, and that she must help him. He tells her to go to town and look for someone sporting a bad eye. Jane does so to humor him, and is shocked to find someone.
Marty sends him an anonymous letter, telling him to kill himself, but the creature now knows who know his secret.
A Silver Bullet
Enlisting his sister and Uncle Red, the trio have a silver bullet made and wait for the next full moon, knowing the monster will come for Marty-if he exists at all.
The Cast
Photo credit: Shout Factory/moviemansguide.com
What makes this movie stand out above most Marty and Jane aren’t overly prescient or precocious as most kids are written. They are siblings with the squabbles that come with being siblings. The movie is narrated by adult Jane, and while I’m about 50/50 when it comes to movie narration, I like it in this film. Gary Busey is perfect as the Uncle all the kids love because they don’t yet understand why his “quirks” are problematic to the parents. Megan and Corey are outstanding, and watching this is so bittersweet for more reasons than plot.
Great Summer Watch
A great, poignant movie with practical effects. I like watching it around the 4th of July, but I reckon midwinter would work, too, when one is longing for the sound of crickets and fireworks in the heat of the night.
Silver Bullet is available on some streaming services and DVD/Blu-Ray
