Needful Things, one of the lesser-known and lesser-appreciated Stephen King adaptions, is to receive a 4K UHD upgrade on home media, with its much fabled “director’s cut” unearthed for the first time in 27 years.
Originally released as a novel in 1991, Needful Things was swiftly snapped up by New Line Cinema and saw a big-screen adaption just two years later. Detailing the lives of the residents of Castle Rock, Needful Things tells of their upending and undoing following the arrival of a mysterious antiques dealer. He seems to have something for everyone, but demands their souls in return for their heart’s desire.
Despite featuring a fantastic ensemble cast including Ed Harris, Max Von Sydow, Bonnie Bedelia and Amanda Plummer, Needful Things was savaged by critics and performed only modestly at the box-office. Despite this, like many King adaptions, it has since gone on to attain a cult-following. This reputation was bolstered when TBS aired a 191 minute “director’s cut” of the film in 1996, that was never seen again.
Previously only available on a 1998 DVD featuring the 2-hour theatrical cut, the folks at Kino Lorber are pulling out all the stops with their 30th Anniversary home media release. This set will see the theatrical cut receive a 4K UHD upgrade, whilst seeing the mysterious 191-minute director’s cut given blu-ray treatment.
Furthermore, the set will include a plethora of bonus features, in stark contrast to the bare-bones DVD fans have had to make do with for 25 years. A must-have for any King fan, Needful Things updated media will release on July 25th 2023 and is currently available for pre-order from all good online retailers.
