Stephen King, the iconic figure behind countless nightmares, has encountered a movie that sent shivers down his spine. It’s a rare instance of the maestro himself being spooked, offering an unexpected compliment to the horror genre.
With a legacy spanning over five decades, King has haunted audiences with chilling tales like “Carrie,” “The Shining,” “Misery,” and “IT,” among many others. However, even the master of horror is susceptible to fear, reminding us of his humanity.
While I’ve only braved a few of his films, often resorting to hurried research on their endings or hastily leaving the room, Stephen King’s reaction to one particular movie resonates. According to reports from the Slash Film website, King found himself unable to finish a film due to sheer fright.
The incident dates back to 1999 when King was recovering from an accident after being hit by a distracted driver near his home in North Lovell, Maine. During his recuperation at Central Maine Hospital, his son introduced him to “The Blair Witch Project” on VHS. Yet, halfway through the film, King was compelled to halt the viewing, overwhelmed by fear.
“The Blair Witch Project” boasted a unique style, shot on a handheld camcorder in a “found footage” documentary format, all on a shoestring budget of $60,000. Its realism was so compelling that viewers, including King, were drawn into its eerie narrative, blurring the lines between fiction and reality.
The storyline follows three student filmmakers venturing into the Black Hills near Burkittsville, Maryland, only to vanish without a trace. Their footage, discovered a year later, forms the spine-chilling backbone of the movie.
Despite being a work of fiction, the film’s marketing campaign was so convincing that many, including myself, initially believed it to be a true story, as reported by the Indy100 website.
Ultimately, King did manage to muster the courage to finish “The Blair Witch Project,” albeit after his initial scare. It stands as a testament to the power of horror, even for its most seasoned creators.