There are writers out there who are able to write all types of emotions and feelings into their work that make a story what it is. One person who manages to scare the hell out of us with his storytelling is none other that the Master of Fear himself, Stephen King. I couldn’t think of a better Toddster team up for this coming Halloween. My Ghostbusting crew and I have found some movies based on King’s work and wanted to share some of our feelings and scary memories with you. Read on if you dare.

BRIAN GOLDEN

Salem’s Lot (1979)

My fascination with vampires began long before the modern soap opera, glitzy, Twilight nonsense we’re forced to endure these days. Instead, I learned about the blood-sucking creatures of the night at a young age from the master of horror himself, Stephen King.

Salem’s Lot, based on King’s novel of the same name, originally appeared on television in 1979, telling the story of author Ben Mears as he returns to his hometown to research a book on the reputably haunted Marsten house.

Now owned by the mysterious Richard Straker (and his supposed business partner Kurt Barlow), the Marsten house has an evil reputation with the local populace, and shortly after the strange delivery of a large crate at the residence, vampires begin making appearances as they slowly consume the town.

In the end we find out that Barlow’s an ancient master vampire (and probably the scariest portrayal of an undead being that I’ve ever seen) and Ben and fellow survivor Mark Petrie escape the town, attempting to flee the remaining vampires.

I watched Salem’s Lot for the first time at a young age with my movie-buff stepfather and I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared in my life. My stepfather was always good at explaining to me the difference between “movie reality” and real life, yet in the case of Salem’s Lot, that made no difference whatsoever.

While this made-for-television movie certainly didn’t boast the kind of production budget as other Stephen King movie adaptations, the overall feel and the finished product were done well enough that, even now, over two decades later, the images of Barlow in full vampire mode are enough to give me nightmares for weeks. A truly frightening flick.

MELISSA STAGNARO

Misery (1990)

I’m not a fan of scary novels or movies, but even I can recognize Stephen King as the ultimate master of the psychological horror genre. No one can twist the ordinary into the macabre like he can. The imagery he creates with his words slips under your skin, lingers in your brain and, ultimately, ends up your nightmares. (I read the first two paragraphs of Cujo years ago, and had to sleep with the light on for two weeks. He’s that good.)

So, as you can probably imagine, the list of movies I’ve seen based on King’s novels is far shorter than the list of those I’ve refused to see over the years. One of those notable exceptions is the 1990 film Misery, starring James Caan and Kathy Bates.

Caan is author Paul Sheldon who, after being in a car accident, is rescued by Annie Wilkes, played Bates. I use the term “rescued” loosely in this instance, since in reality Paul is taken captive by Annie, who is his self-proclaimed “number one fan.” He doesn’t realize this at first, not until Annie learns Paul has killed off her favorite character, Misery, in his latest manuscript. To say she reacts badly to the news would be putting it mildly. She insists he re-write the novel, which he begins to do while trying to orchestrate his escape.

The defining scene has to be the point where, having realized Paul has been getting out of his room, Annie takes steps to ensure he’s unable to commit this offense again. The sight of her placing the cinderblock between his ankles and swinging that sledgehammer is permanently burned into my brain.

Both lead actors gave stellar performances, and it was no surprise to me that Bates won both an Oscar and a Golden Globe for her portrayal of the role. (In fact, I had a hard time watching her in anything after that without closely guarding my ankles.) But of course, it was Stephen King’s masterful storytelling abilities and his uncanny ability to tap into our primal fears which made the movie such a standout.

TYLER MURPHY

Shawshank Redemption (1994)