How did Stephen King's "Lizzie Story" series come about?

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The plot vividly tells about everyday nightmares and the loss of loved ones, but the main character seems to be the most boring character.

On June 4, the mini-series Lizzie's Story kicks off on Apple TV + streaming service. It is based on the novel by Stephen King, which the author himself called Why Stephen King's Favorite Book Has Changed (Again) / Screen Rant as his favorite. This is quite logical: a significant part of the story is devoted to a popular writer who has been haunted by otherworldly horrors all his life.

King wanted to bring the story to the screen so badly that he wrote the script for the show himself. The production was entrusted to the Chilean Pablo Larrain, the creator of the biographical film "Jackie" about Jacqueline Kennedy.

The authors have got a dark and very atmospheric project, in which the problems of the real world frighten even more mysticism. But, oddly enough, it is King's own script work that seems to be the main drawback of the series: the plot develops too slowly, and the minor characters look brighter than the main character.

Understandable and creepy problems

Two years ago, Lizzie (Julianne Moore) lost her husband, famed writer Scott Landon (Clive Owen). He was shot by a maniacal fan during a public event. Since then, publishers have been hunting for the author's unpublished legacy. Moreover, some of them are ready to take harsh measures to take away valuable manuscripts from the widow.

But Lizzie has other problems as well. She still cannot get over the loss of her husband, her older sister Amanda (Joan Allen) suffers from mental disorders and even tries to harm herself. And in addition to the aggressive fan, the heroine is haunted by the ghosts that once tormented Scott.

The title of "King of Horrors" has long been attached to Stephen King. But most of the author's fans know that his skill has always been not so much in the ability to invent monsters and other worlds, as in stories about the everyday life of American towns. That is why the nightmares that happen to the heroes are easy to believe.

In recent years, the creators of series based on his books have successfully picked up this idea. In AMC's Mister Mercedes, HBO's Outsider, and even Hulu's Castle Rock, the emphasis was on revealing the characters' characters, leaving horror as an added element.

Now Apple TV + has a similar project. In terms of the dark atmosphere, Lizzie's Story works great. The first half of the season, the mystic skips only occasionally, most of the time is devoted to Lizzie's problems. After the death of her husband, she literally has to learn to live anew, everywhere she meets reminders of Scott.

Amanda's line, which strangely intersects with the writer's past, is also quite realistic. Anyone who has encountered psychological illnesses in loved ones will see familiar traits in the behavior of Lizzie and another sister of Darla (Jennifer Jason Leigh): a mixture of care, anger and powerlessness.

And even the maniac Jim (Dane DeHaan) didn't come from mysticism. This is a typical obsessive fan who besieges the stars and their loved ones.

Horror elements seem more like a metaphor for hidden emotions. Scott had childhood traumas that are forever imprinted on his psyche. Therefore, he understood Amanda, who was suffering from a disease, better than anyone else. Their problems invariably spill over into those around them, and therefore Lizzie herself is also held captive by their fears.

But that doesn't mean the show isn't scary. At first, the viewer will be disturbed by the deliberate fixation on the water. Then - the mystical visions of the heroines. And by the end, they will even show a terrible monster. It is, of course, completely drawn on a computer, and this is noticeable. But it still looks disgusting.

But very slow development

Stephen King's books, even with a leisurely narration, do not seem boring and drawn-out. First of all, because the author perfectly prescribes the thought process of the characters, their memories and the world around them.

But when transferred to a screen, this technique does not work. It would seem that in the film adaptation several timelines are well visualized. So, in the memoirs, the main character looks different: both the image and just the expression on her face are different. In addition to this, the action is presented in different colors: the past is shown warmer, and the fantasy world, on the contrary, goes into gray-blue tones, creating a feeling of icy cold. But in the main timeline, the protagonist does almost nothing. Whole episodes are spent for her to find another clue from her deceased husband and once again remember something.

The situation is even worse with dialogues: the characters simply stand opposite each other and talk. It seems that the text from the book was transferred to the screen, forgetting to add any movement to it.

This tightness creates a strange feeling. If you look at individual shots and scenes, "Lizzie's Story" is shot very beautifully and atmospheric. But the show lacks dynamics and interesting visuals. It is difficult for viewers to feel the state of the heroine, because most of the time she just walks and looks into emptiness.

Vivid minor characters

If you recall Stephen King's literary work again, you will notice that in many of his works there is an image of a writer. It is not hard to guess that these characters are the author's alter ego. In such books as "The Shining", "It", "Confrontation", he clearly tried to tell about his inner world, fears and problems.

Scott Landon in Lizzie's Story can be considered the same self-portrait. That is why a character who has already died by the beginning of the main action is given so much time in the plot. Charismatic Clive Owen draws all the attention to himself as soon as he appears in the frame. His hero combines love for his wife, star fever, trauma of the past and fears of the present. Therefore, any scene with Scott is filled with events. Moreover, Lizzie's flashbacks are interspersed with mysticism, and each time it is not clear what to expect next.

Other wonderful finds of the authors are the sisters of the main character. Strange, self-contained Amanda and sharp, but caring Darla are like two poles reflecting the two sides of Lizzie's life. One calls to rationalize what is happening, the other - to succumb to mystical horror. Alas, only Joan Allen gives enough screen time, although Jennifer's character Jason Leigh also deserves attention.

But Dane DeHaan was treated strangely. The authors clearly wanted to turn the flamboyant actor into a reflection of madness and aggression. But, unlike Harry Treadaway in "Mister Mercedes", he turned out to be too grotesque. The character does everything sinister, even cuts pizza, and sometimes it looks just comical. It is hard to believe that the employer did not see this hero as a maniac and is sincerely surprised at his behavior.

But the strange protagonist

Having shown that Lizzie is surrounded by such interesting people, the authors seem to have forgotten to prescribe the character to her herself. Here again, King's influence is felt.

Indeed, there is no doubt about Julianne Moore's talent: it is enough to watch "Still Alice" or "Child of Man", where she played with the same Owen. And director Larrain already has experience in a similar genre. The plot of the film "Jackie" is surprisingly similar to "The Story of Lizzie": a woman copes with injuries after the death of her popular and beloved husband.

Therefore, there is a feeling that it was for the screenwriter that Lizzie herself remained an action-developing function, and not an interesting character. The actress works out every scene perfectly, but there is always too much emptiness around the heroine. If others are always in the thick of things, then Lizzie is just waiting for what happens next.

In the first episodes, it still works. It seems that this is how the authors show her lost after the death of her husband. But the series goes on, and nothing changes in the image of Lizzie. And by the end, there is no doubt that King really wanted to talk about the horrors that haunted Scott. After all, even the last episode is largely focused on it. And Lizzie remains just a reflection of the writer's fears, solving exclusively his problems.

Lizzie's Story is not a bad or even weak show. He perfectly conveys a depressive atmosphere, talks about the loss of loved ones, illness and obsession. But eight hour long episodes seem too long for such a story. Moreover, during this time, the authors tell surprisingly little about the heroine. All that remains is to enjoy the good shooting and the bright secondary characters.