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Needful Things

Play trailer Poster for Needful Things R 1993 2h 0m Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
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33% Tomatometer 27 Reviews 44% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
When a creepy older man named Leland Gaunt (Max von Sydow) moves to a small town in Maine and sets up an antique shop, bad things soon follow. Gaunt has the remarkable ability of selling people exactly what they want most, but his ideal purchases come at a price that involves more than just money. Through Gaunt's manipulation, the citizens of the town gradually turn on one another, resulting in violence that Sheriff Alan Pangborn (Ed Harris) struggles to contain.
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Needful Things

Critics Reviews

View All (27) Critics Reviews
Clifford Terry Chicago Tribune This is pulp moviemaking at its worst. Rated: 1/4 Oct 4, 2019 Full Review Marc Savlov Austin Chronicle Rated: 3/5 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Needful Things is yet another one of those films based on a Stephen King story that inspires you to wonder why his stories don't make better films. Rated: 1.5/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy A sloppy romp that borders on camp. Rated: 2/4 Aug 10, 2023 Full Review Allison Rose FlickDirect As the film opens the picture quality is, in a word, awful. However, one minute in, everything changes and the 4K native (2160p) resolution kicks in putting everything in sharp focus with incredible detail. Rated: 3.5/5 Jul 25, 2023 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Reserved for casual viewing and macabre escapism, Needful Things manages to be watchable and forgettable all at once. Rated: 3/4 Feb 23, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Tom T The only thing I need is Ed Harris! That and some mid-90’s Stephen King classic “recipe into madness” comfort. Embodies what I crave for these days and this feels like a weird episode of Quantum Leap. Jesus? The young carpenter from Nazareth? I knew him well. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/19/24 Full Review Farah R For all its flaws, Needful Things is an enjoyable Steven King adaptation, serving up just enough nostalgia, suspense, and action to keep you invested. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 12/06/24 Full Review Teddy B Average Stephen King fare, I'd say to watch it, but the novel is a lot better. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 11/28/24 Full Review Mad M It's decent. Love the main police actor think he’s from dark city, amongst other weird off the wall movies - top guy loved his performance. Story idea is great, the old exorcist priest in his glorious element plays the devil ... what a performance. I would watch it for that alone - don’t make them like they used to - It's a decent movie, the execution slides into the comedic which I don't think King was (always) going for. For 1993 it was alright. You watch it now and it's apple pie with an extra helping of cheese these days. However I've seen it 3 times now and I keep coming back (2024 now) so the movie must have some of that lovely 90's charm that I do so adore - I’m an 80’s kid so bias here. “What is it you want? I can get it for you ... just a small price is all I ask.” Has a flavour of bedazzled and other curse type movies - Devils advocate etc. 'be careful what you wish for' is the message of the day. The movie also hat tips to the Buddhist philosophical idea of DESIRE being a killer, the area one may go to when blurring the line between ambition and desire. The the reason that the minimalist in 2024 exists today, some of us are catching on that with materialistic objects we pay a price ... most always, every time. 6-7/10 movie depending on if your drawn to Kings writing and you like this sort of thing. Which I do. 👍👍😎 Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 11/24/24 Full Review Matthew P Totally underrated. I don't care what critics say about anything. For whatever reason. This movie didn't get much traction when it was released. Unfortunately it also didn't get any word of mouth credit. Such as Shawshank Redemption. An equally brilliant movie by Stephen. A simplistically quaint movie. With a great cast and many memorable quotes throughout. I think after all these years I'll read the book. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/05/24 Full Review Beatingu83 L Was a very good adaptation of the book. Good story. Entertaining. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/27/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Needful Things

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis When a creepy older man named Leland Gaunt (Max von Sydow) moves to a small town in Maine and sets up an antique shop, bad things soon follow. Gaunt has the remarkable ability of selling people exactly what they want most, but his ideal purchases come at a price that involves more than just money. Through Gaunt's manipulation, the citizens of the town gradually turn on one another, resulting in violence that Sheriff Alan Pangborn (Ed Harris) struggles to contain.
Director
Fraser C. Heston
Producer
Jack Cummins
Screenwriter
W.D. Richter
Production Co
New Line Cinema, Castle Rock Entertainment
Rating
R
Genre
Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$15.1M
Runtime
2h 0m
Sound Mix
Dolby, Dolby SR, SDDS, Surround
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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