Stephen King's Silver Bullet (Collector's Edition) [Blu-ray]

I am so glad I ordered this. It is the full, un-cut version and shows more werewolf transformation scenes. It is genuinely scary. Everytime a victim is being hunted down, there is a pin-drop silence and a sudden attack. The scenes are very graphic, like the town sheriff being bludgeoned to the ground as the reverand calls out, "But it's not my fault!!" Also the greenhouse scene where the large bully man is pulled down and a stake goes through his heart before he collapses and is torn to pieces, or the boy aswell. There are so many kills, that my review will be double the length. I love Uncle Red. Wish I had an uncle like him. Brilliant film and very fast paced too!

*** This review may contain spoilers ***Silver Bullet is directed by Daniel Attias and adapted for the screen by Stephen King from his own novelette Cycle Of The Werewolf. It stars Gary Busey, Corey Haim, Megan Follows, Everett McGill & Terry O'Quinn. The film is set in the small rural town of Tarker's Mills, Maine, which falls prey to a series of grizzly murders. At first the killings are believed to be the work of a mad man, with the town ready to take up vigilante arms against the perpetrator, but young wheelchair bound Marty (Haim) is convinced something more lupine like is responsible.As most folks know, Stephen King's adaptations to screen are a mixed bunch. Some have been tackled by top line directors such as Kubrick, De Palma, Cronenberg, Reiner & Darabont, while others have been turned out by no marks where the quality befits the low production value. Silver Bullet falls somewhere in the middle on the quality list of King movies. Its reputation is some what Luke warm, and whilst it's a little understandable when put up against other 80's film's in the werewolf pantheon (An American Werewolf In London, The Howling & The Company Of Wolves), it does have a high entertainment value. Of note, too, is that it's not shy in the dark department either. There's mutilated children, a pregnant woman tore to shreds, car attack on our crippled hero, while some of the characterisations are also interesting; such as an alcoholic uncle (a wonderfully OTT Busey) & the mean hick bar dwellers who raise the spectre of vigilantism.True, the film is also dotted with cheese. But there's fun in that too. I don't know if some of the laughs were intentional or not, but I like to think so. How else can you react to a werewolf that takes up a baseball bat to fell one of his attackers? That's surely meant to be funny, no? It is also not taxing of the brain to work out who the hairy beast is in human form, because, like, the makers gives us clues. I really don't think they was trying to spring a big surprise on us. Cast wise it's the usual array of mixed performers. Haim is likable, particularly in the scenes with the afore mentioned Busey, O'Quinn adds professionalism, while McGill is always value for money when playing important members of the community. Tis fun too seeing future Reservoir Dog leader Lawrence Tierney putting his gruff stamp over the bar room proceedings.So not one for the technical and artistry seeking purists then. But definitely one for those looking for a good bit of werewolf tear em up that comes with tasty 80s cheese. 7/10

A cycle of terror ...Every month, when the moon is at its fullest, the usually quiet town of Tarker's Mills is visited by what the townspeople think is a homicidal maniac. Mutilated corpses begin to turn up and a curfew is administered upon the residents. One crippled boy, Marty Coslaw, nevertheless decides to ignore the curfew - the curfew had meant the cancellation of the Fourth of July Fireworks, his favourite holiday - and ventures out alone to have his own 4th July. The hiss and crack of the fireworks draws attention to Marty and he meets the mysterious murderer face-to-face. So begins a quest to discover the true idenity of this monster.Daniel Attias has directed one of the better Stephen King films with Silver Bullet (he had previously worked as second assistant director on E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1983) and Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983), so he'd had some good training). The screenplay (written by King) is an adaptation of his novella, Cycle of the Werewolf (1983), about a lycanthrope who hunts down the townspeople of Tarker Mills. The film is well paced and has a whodunnit feel, as well as plenty of extremely scary moments that will ensure you do not head for the 'eject' button feeling you have wasted your hard earned dollars.Moreover, there is a great cast here, headed by veteran actor Gary Busey. The supporting cast includes Corey Haim, Everett McGill, Megan Follows, Bill Smitrovich, Lawrence Tierney, Kent Broadhurst, James Gammon, William Newman, and Terry O'Quinn. It is produced by Dino De Laurentiis (Dead Zone (1983), Firestarter (1984), Maximum Overdrive (1985), Cat's Eye (1985) et al). I first watched this film as a teen when it came out for rental in the mid-eighties and found it very atmospheric - eerie and mysterious - as well as offering plenty of scares throughout. So, take a stroll through the fog shrouded woods of Tarker's Mills ...... but beware the moon.

Great movie