Stephen King's Storm of the Century Reviews

• this movie gave me what i wanted

  
  By A3116ITCY40DC6 on 2003-11-27
  Now sitting down to watch the highly anticipated 4 part t.v. adaption ( i now own the dvd and it is amazing) I didn't have any exspectations because there was no novel version( the only book you can by of this was the screenplay and it wasn't availible at the time i saw it) The setting was definetly King worthy small maine town a big storm nothing the towns people of little tall island have gone through 100 times before or is it....................The acting Is incredible for a tv movie such as this the villian is scary as hell yet realistic and some may say this movie is to slow paced but i disagree as you watch on you see the characters mature and grow and thats just not going to happen in a span of 2 hours so this movie is long for good reason. No matter how many times i watch this the night after i look around my room twice before turning off the light............................
  
  

• "Gimme what I want and I'll go away."

  
  By ATQTE464YAZM1 on 2004-04-22
  Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away. Gimme what I want and I'll go away.

  Was that annoying? Now you know how I felt going through this film.

  He wants a kid. That's what he wants. He wants a kid. There, I just saved you three hours of agonizing torture.
  
  

• King's Best Since The Stand, Disturbing to the Hilt!

  
  By A3AKPY4LXIC24O on 2000-02-12
  This was absolutely the best thing on television in 1999. Stephen King's best mini-series since the adaptation of The Stand. King's portrayal of a close knit, secret enshrouded Maine town has become one of his trademarks. Not since Salem's Lot has a King created town been host to such a delicious evil. I was truly fascinated by Colm Feore as the supernatural villain who only asks that the town gives him what he wants. And what he wants no one should ever give willingly. This was one of those "I can't believe that just happened" type of movies. The fact that a film of such devious quality was made for television is again a testament to Stephen King's appeal. Half the stuff in this movie I was surprised even passed the censors. But boy was I glad it did. My only disappointment was that King didn't turn this into a book. The screenplay is fantastic but a companion novel would have been such sweet frosting. This movie is a confirmation that Stephen King hasn't gone soft with age, he's only gotten better. Like a fine wine or more appropriately a can of beer.
  
  

• King's Confusing Morality Play...

  
  By A39239F78V03U4 on 2000-05-14
  Stephen King's "Storm of the Century" is a good flick. Yet many King fans will attempt to associate it or transpose this work - don't bother. This movie is NOT based on any of his, or Bachman, books. Instead, this is King's evolvolution into a a very visual movie producer attempting to unbind himself from his book writing persona. He accomplishes this grand task in "Storm of the Century."

  Based on a Maine island preparing for the snow storm of the century in 1989, the movie is based on a stranger, Andre Linoge, who kills a elderly woman for no evident reason. Then, he escalates into a bizarre evil force that captivates a small Maine island whos occupants have a hard time dealing with the truth. Mr. Linoge seems to know every evil act committed by the island's occupants: cheating, lying, bodily harm, and adultery. Instead, they seem oddly comfortable living in denial. "Give Me What I Want And I Will Leave" is the ongoing testement for Mr. Linoge. His methodology for death, with the help of his murderous cane, is often pointless and grotesque at times. The significance of this cane is never mentioned. Yet I was very pleased and quite surprised by Mr. King's ability to develop his characters so deeply. The Constable, played by Tim Daly, is wonderfully acted and developed. In "Storm," viewers quickly become familiar with the many Islanders only after the first hour. The unfortunate problem is that King doesn't develop the antagonist, Andre Linoge (great acting by Colm Feore!), no where nearly as some would have liked. Instead, throughout half of "Storm," you'll find Linoge's character sits and stares. When Linoge does speak, it shows wasted time on and underdeveloped character.

  The ending is both vivid yet a letdown. Mr. Linoge's whole intent seems overkill while the Islanders reactions often understated. I think viewers will either love or hate it. Either way, viewers will enjoy the beautiful scenery, vivid photography, and colorful charecters in "Storm of the Century."
  
  

• Spooky!

  
  By A3D3H65EZHHVJN on 2000-05-13
  I first saw this movie as the tv miniseries. I have to admit, the first night I was not all that impressed. I found it pretty boring to be honest. But when the second part came on, I was literally glued to my seat. The movie is so intriguing, you can't help but watch no matter how long it is. It's about a small Maine town who gets caught in a storm. A man named Linoge comes, and the town is haunted by his presence for the entire duration of the movie. This is the first movie I saw of Colm Feore's, and he is now one of my favorite actors. The way he portrayed Linoge was flawless. He was eerie and spooky, and he did it with such class. He didn't try to overact as a normal actor would, but took this character and made it one of the scariest I've ever seen. Tim Daly also did a wonderful job as the town deputy who tries to keep everyone calm. The last half hour of this movie is enough to make you stop breathing, it is just so powerful. This is one that I cannot recommend enough, and even though the movie is long, it is well worth it to keep it on. This movie cannot disappoint!
  
  
• Snore of the Century
  By on 1999-07-28
  Stephen King has never been a great storyteller, and those few that he has told have been retold ad infinitum, ad nauseam. Only the names change. "Storm of the Century" is another such retread, an "epic" clocking in at four merciless hours. A mysterious stranger-murderer-demon named Linoge, an anagram that we later find out spells Legion (ooooh, scary, huh kids?) arrives in some small island town off the coast of Maine, spouting utter, incoherent, metaphysical nonsense - "born in lust, turn to dust; born in sin, come right in." Apparently, Linoge knows the sins of everyone in town, and that litany of sins reads like it was taken straight from the Christian Coalition's charter: abortion, pot trafficking, adultery, general fooling around, and of course, everyone's favorite, pedophilia. The minister, of course, is the pedophile. After whacking to death an old woman, Linoge sits in a jail cell for pretty much the rest of the movie, baring his fangs and occasionally allowing his eyes to glow in the dark, while orchestrating the town's people's demise. They begin killing each other, having bad dreams, and committing suicide right after scribbling "give me what I want and I'll go away," on walls, sides of trucks, and pads of paper. What Linoge wants is a successor, a protégé. He's getting on in millennia and needs an heir to the business of being evil. Just so happens the people of this remote island village have children, and island people really know how to keep a secret. So here's the deal: Linoge takes a child to mentor and lets the town live with its little secret, or the whole town dies. They'll all rush off the end of a pier and drown in the sea, just as in the New Testament story when Jesus cast out Legion from the possessed man and allowed them to enter a herd of pigs. So why didn't Linoge just say this up front? Why three hours of repetitious murders, suicides, and hand wringing? Why not simply give a little demonstration and then make your demands? I suppose that's best answered by Linoge himself: "because hell is repetition." As a writer, Stephen King must be in hell; as a viewer, so was I.
  
  
• Scary but Slow-Moving
  By on 1999-11-05
  I have mixed feelings about Storm of the Century. While I did wait with great anticipation for each installment of the mini-series, I must admit I thought the plot moved VERY slowly. Lenoge was a great villain - he was creepy and quiet and deadly. Every time his teeth turned into fangs I got goosebumps. There were many suspense-filled moments but few scenes of sheer terror. It's like the anticipation builds and builds and then falls flat. I kept waiting for the movie to move along faster in pace, but this thing went slower than my Ford on a cold Winter day. Okay, so having said that - I will admit that every night AFTER I had finished watching each part of the series, I was so tense that I couldn't fall asleep unless a light was on somewhere in the house. So I guess for all my condescension about the plot - I was effected by the movie on some level. One of the good things about this movie was the setting -- an island cut off from the mainland by a terrible snow storm - its inhabitants literally prisoners of the environment - so that when you add a supernatural maniac (who seems to have an affection for the song "I'm a little teapot" ) who wreaks havoc - you have the basis for an entertaining movie. I just wish it had moved at a faster pace and that it had reached the climactic scenes earlier.
  
  
• Captivating
  By A1B05INWIDZ74O on 2006-06-05
  This movie takes place in a small town isolated on an Island off Maine. And as the title suggest, it is hit by the worse storm ever. Snow so thick it is hard to see through and wind so strong that the waves of the ocean start to claim buildings. This alone would make for an exciting adventure movie. But of course King gives us more. A truly supernatural villain comes to town and knows everyone secrets. He starts to kill them off and keeps asking to be given `what he wants." As we watch the movie we are trying to figure out what he wants...and also wondering why the villagers do not give it to them.
  
  The movie is suspenseful. And the acting is great. Everyone in this movie acts well, including the children. Of course the best is Colm Feore as the villain Andre Linge, and Tim Daly as the town Constable Michael Anderson. Better then most movies made today.
  Only thing I would have added, is for a book to have been written.
  
  
  
• Climax Letdown
  By AIKGQLTQ52021 on 2001-08-12
  For some reason, Stephen King's movies from the last 15 years lack the substance and horror found in his more earlier works (i.e. Carrie, Christine, The Shining, etc). Perhaps the quality of the cast and crew has declined. Who can forget Stanley Kubrick's The Shining starring a menacing Jack Nicholson or John Carpenter's Christine with its creepy soundtrack? Or maybe King's stories are best intended as psychological thrillers meant to be left to the reader's imagination. Sad to say, Storm of the Century at best represents a mediocre tale. It's main flaw lies in its story. Two scenes in particular stand out. One concerns the true identity of the sinister Andre Linoge. The townspeople discover what Linoge really is but never use this secret to defeat him. Mediocre films such as Dracula 2000 and Jason Goes to Hell use the formula of discovering the true identity of the villain to defeat him. King may have revealed Linoge's identity to provide more credibility as a monster but it really acts as filler material with no purpose. Linoge could have just remained a mysterious stranger with incredible powers and evil intentions and still have remained a formidable antagonist. The second scene involves a murder between two lovers. One lover kills the other through the manipulation of Lenoge and then the murderer continues through the rest of the story as if that person made a simple mistake. This just lacks credibility because that character automatically becomes linked to Lenoge once he/she committed that heinous crime. Storm basically forgets that character through the rest of the story. Despite the lack of ramifications for this scene, it superbly foreshadows a similar situation for Storm's climax. Storm of the Century lacks the punch of excellent horror fare. The story possesses many flaws and its rather abrupt ending may disappoint viewers. Worth a view for experimenters and King gurus.
  
  
• A Must For King Fans; For The Others, Read On...
  By A313PXRGQT3ZH on 2001-06-09
  At the outset I'd like to say that King's fans are gonna love this one. It's a bit slow, long, but it's spooky, scary, terrifying, nightmarish, and it delivers an unforgettable message at the end. Vintage King.

  Now, for the rest...

  A weird guy shows up in an island in Maine (King's favorite State), and kills an old lady for no real reason. But he doesn't go away - he waits to get arrested. In this case, however, the real prisoners are the residents, some of whom are murdered in vicious ways by the stranger, with the help of his ominous-looking cane.

  Colm Feore is terrific in the role of the evil man, while Tim Daly does a decent job as the town grocer and Constable. The really cool thing about this film is that you never notice the length (close to 4 hours!), as scene after scene captures your imagination and tortures your soul.

  Small town mentalities and moralities are exposed for what they are - cheap, narrow, selfish, and deadly. Each character has (or has had) a past (or present) that they'd never like the world to ever know. But the stranger (the Legion) knows EVERYTHING about everyone.

  As secrets come out, and as hidden conflicts are brought out into the open, one can see the characters change faces. When the main objective of the stranger is revealed by him during a town meeting during the course of the storm, it's time for soul-searching and morals-testing. None emerges unscathed, except Tim Daly and his wife, though in completely opposite ways.

  The ending is definitely not satisfactory, and seems forced to deliver some sort of closure to the viewer.

  In summary- Positive things:

  1. Good, strong character development.

  2. Powerful storyline.

  3. Intelligent, relevant screenplay.

  4. Good photography.

  5. Excellent acting by most.

  6. Wonderful music score.

  Negative things:

  1. Length (some people will definitely groan!)

  2. Unsatisfactory ending.

  3. Colm Feore is not used very well.

  4. Slow beginning, with a few scenes of really bad dialogue delivery and acting.
  
  

• Don't watch it in the dark!
  By A2I5OXSG15YBA8 on 2001-11-29
  Storm of the century is one of the creepiest movies I have ever seen. This four and one-half hour long Stephen King story will keep you rivited to the edge of your seat. It is a story- as are many of Stephen King's works- of what happens to the citizens of a small town when an evil force enters their community. In this case, it happens during the snow "storm of the century". The film created such a chilling atmosphere that I found myself turning the heat up and fixing a cup of hot chocolate just to warm up. You will also find yourself watching this film in one sitting because you simply must find out what the villian means when he says, "Just give me what I want, and I will go away".
  Tim Daly is excellent in his role as the town constable, but he is working with a first-rate case that were well selected for their parts: from the villian to the town manager's bully of a son, each actor appears well suited to the role they play.
  See Storm of the Century.. but not at night, and not when you're all alone...especially not if it's snowing..
  
  
• Storm of the century - now worth the time invested
  By A3744ZG0S2NVM3 on 2004-03-18
  This movie has a great beginning, great middle but horrid ending. So dissapointing it makes watching the whole thing a really bad experience. DO NO SPEND YOUR TIME watching this movie.
  
  
• unbeleivable
  By A1ADHZFFFTP7HF on 2005-07-05
  WARNING SPOILER
  King, who is normally so good with depicting parents, totally blew this one in my opinion. As a parent I think it's pretty farfetched to think all the parents except one would go along with the horrible choice of giving a child to an inhuman monster to raise. This for me completely ruined the film. Because of it I found the characters quite unlikable, unusual for King to find most of the people unsympathetic. Yes I know what you're thinking. They had no choice. But I am telling you most parents would die first, and would probably rather see their child dead. I seem to be alone in this opinion in the reviews, but I bet I'm not alone among parents that have seen the movie.
  
  
• Bore of the Century
  By on 2000-04-27
  This movie was the biggest waste of time (256 minutes). I cant believe I missed Matlock to watch this terrible movie. Thank god, I only borrowed it from the library. It makes no sense, the attempted tie to Roanoke Island is flimsy, and the ending is meaningless. A much better ending would have been if the townspeople, with King leading the way, had all walked off the pier into the ocean for making such a terrible movie.
  
  
• Young Goodman Brown Revisited
  By A2491AQB89D4N5 on 2000-01-31
  Storm of the Century is an entertaining story with many of the basic Stephen King elements that we have grown to love over the years. The medium does have its problems, but the story is well worth the wait.

  First the length: yes, yes, yes, the story does drag a little. This four hour movie could have been easily edited to three and a half or less hours with little loss. But I suspect that the story would never have been produced unless it could be formatted for a mini-series, hence the length.

  As for the story, I was struck by the obvious parallelism with Nathaniel Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown. In each story the protagonist is confronted by the devil and the community's sins are revealed one person at a time. Young Goodman Brown's wife, Faith, is eventually shown to be a potential follower of the devil, while Molly Anderson betrays her husband near the story's end.

  Apart from this parallelism, I don't see a lot of common ground between these two stories. Storm of the Century appears to have a different theme: can a community, so compromised by personal wrongs, be expected to make sound moral decisions.

  One has to give Stephen King credit, he didn't flinch from this issue. The response is realistic down to the rationalizations, excuses, and even the community's behavior when the crisis passes.
  
  

• Storm of the Century - turn up the fire, light the lights
  By A152JU99Q1LK3 on 2000-06-14
  Even if I hadn't known Stephen King was the author of this 250 minute movie, I would probably have guessed. The attention to intricate detail which means a long movie (you can't leave anything out) is one of the hallmarks of King's work. The convention of the dark stranger who seems to know a small town's intimate secrets is a popular one with King, and although this is not a "scary" movie as such, it still has the suspense you'd expect. The acting is professional and workmanlike, if not Oscar material, and the scenery (of which the weather is the star) is lovely. If I could be sure I wouldn't be snowed in for days with a bad guy, I'd like to go and visit this little Maine island. My eighteen year old son and myself spent a lovely cold and miserable afternoon watching this movie.
  
  
• Has King Written All Over It
  By on 1999-08-05
  What an innovative idea from the Master of the Macabre to write a "novel" exclusively for television! When I first heard that Stephen King had a new miniseries coming out in 1999 and I heard the title, I kept saying to myself "I'm missing one of his books!" Until I finally realized the concept. Of course, after seeing King's words on the small screen I wish we could all read them in an actual novel (not just the teleplay). Sigh.

  Believe it or not, I did not watch "Storm of the Century" when it was first teleplayed in February. And being the King fan that I am, that was not at all like me. But I had to make a choice - you see, 'Storm' started the same night and time as the X-Files and I just couldn't miss my show (the second part of a major mythology two-parter, no doubt). And seeing as I could never watch a King miniseries after missing the first part, I sadly missed it (and even worse heard from others how good it was!). But in the back of my mind I kept telling myself I would get to see it on video one day. Little did I know how soon the video would be released!

  Happily I watched the four-hour+ miniseries, without commercials :), over two nights - it was a little too long for one sitting in the middle of a work week. And I really enjoyed it.

  I hadn't known quite what to expect. Like most of you King fans, I would usually see one of his movies AFTER I had read the book (short story etc.). But, think about it, 'Storm' was NEW to everyone, King fan or not.

  Tim Daly gave a wonderful performance as Constable Mike Anderson, the soul of the group of islanders. And Colm Feore as Andre Linoge (who reminded me a little bit too much of Leland Gaunt in "Needful Things," out to destroy another town), gave a credible, frightening and almost hypnotic performance.

  Always love King's movie cameos, ala Alfred Hitchcock, and he gives another one here as a lawyer in a sleazy TV ad (through the broken picture tube, no less!).

  Good, consistent Maine accents from the actors; can't help but have that drawl when saying Martha Clarendon!

  Very suspenseful too. I truly did not figure out exactly what Linoge wanted until we, like the islanders, were told.

  Great Town Meeting scenes at the end. Almost "realistic" in its conclusions - good does not always win out over evil, even in Stephen King's world. Excellent. (And "nice" homage to "the Lottery" there.)

  Loved the reference to Dolores Claiborne in regards to the island being able to keep a secret; the collective dream of the islanders, especially the scene when the townsfolk walk off the dock into the ocean; and the oh-so-subtle, blink-and-you-missed-it, literal disappearance of some of the players into thin (white) air while watching the decimation of the light house.

  I would have given 'Storm' 5 stars, but there were a few things that bothered me: the snow was fake and, quite frankly, it looked like it. And, for the Storm of the Century, it sure didn't look like there was much of it. The toppling of the lighthouse, at the critical point of implosion, looked like a tiny model on a sound stage. Plus, Linoge's cane (specifically the wolf's head) was a little tacky, and although I literally jumped the first time he bared his fangs, it wasn't so scary the tenth time. Also, the ending, after Linoge leaves the island, was a bit dragged out.

  But these really are little things overall.

  I know eventually I will buy 'Storm' on video (I have all the other miniseries; but when is "The Shining" coming out?), but the current price is too much. Unfortunately, I can't see myself watching the whole thing again for awhile. I'm not sure exactly why, but I think I know in my heart that nothing will ever surpass the thrill of seeing 'Storm' for the first time.

  P.S. I will never listen to the song "Little Teapot" the same way again!
  
  

• Typical of Stephen King movies.
  By A117GPFHRNLHFU on 1999-10-20
  This movie was typical Stephen King. What else can be said? It has a wonderful premise, it was full of overacting, they did in 4 hours what could be done in 2... Stephen King is an excellent writer, but for some reason his stuff just doesn't work when it's a movie. In my opinion, The Stand was the only one that pulled it off. See Storm... if you are a die hard SK fan, but otherwise, don't waste your time.
  
  
• Cliches piled up with a shovel
  By on 2000-08-11
  This is an experiment in horror by accumulation. The series pulls armfuls of clichés out of the spine-chiller rattlebag in the fond hope that piling up sinister motifs is as good as carefully structuring and crafting your material around a strong theme - as good as writing a story, in other words. So we get:

  - a mysterious stranger

  - an inanimate object imbued with sinister powers (the cane)

  - a children's rhyme that takes on sinister connotations ('I am a little teapot...')

  - demon eyes

  - demon teeth and snarls

  - a bible reference (the Gadarene swine)

  - a bunch of catch-phrases recurring motif-like, but pointlessly (the teapot rhyme, 'Give me what I want and I'll go', 'Hell is repetition', 'Island folk can keep secrets')

  - a creepy-old-woman apparition

  - horrific murders, of course

  - demonic possession, of course

  The Roanoke reference was novel and had great potential. All the more disappointing that it was just thrown to the wind, then picked up casually at the end, to add the illusion of coherence.

  How do these elements develop the plot, or the key character? They don't. What insight do they give us into the nature of the situation? None. They serve only to establish the 'evil' credentials of the supernatural force. And that's ALL we know about Linoge at the end, that he's bad and supernatural. What exactly does he do with all his time? What did he do at Roanoke? What has he been up to since? Maybe he just hangs around. Perhaps he runs a shoe shop. What, in a word, is the point? I suspect King had no very strong opinions about this, but if he did, he didn't think they were worth committing to celluloid.

  By the time you get halfway through part 3, you realise there isn't any cunning twist gathering all these elements together, that'll leave you astounded at how perfectly, in retrospect, the pieces fit together. They don't fit together like a jigsaw, they pile up like garden waste. They're all just part of the 'evil' apparatus, thrown in one after the other, sometimes peeking out from different angles, sometimes just left buried in the heap. The more of them you pile on, King seems to think, the scarier it'll turn out. But it doesn't work like that! Obviously!

  For three increasingly tedious episodes the plot slouches along the same dourly unswerving path -- we know from the first scene that the mysterious stranger is evil, very soon we know he's evil and supernatural, by the end we know he's VERY evil and supernatural and old, too. At no point is there even a sniff of redemption for the islanders. Between the miserable lot of them they don't have two good ideas to rub together. The murders stop being shocking or even surprising after about the first two. The only point of mild interest on this monotonous plain is the climactic town meeting scene -- and King makes it very difficult not to see that dilemma coming.

  So we have: no plot to speak of; a thoroughly-signposted final dilemma; a collection of horror clichés; plus the usual isolated-community-as-microcosm scenario. Which amounts to a deeply regrettable waste of video tape.
  
  

• The Perfect Choice for Viewing during Blizzard Conditions
  By A2NJO6YE954DBH on 2000-10-09
  Living in the frozen north, where winters lasts half the year, it is good to know we have the perfect set of tapes on the shelf to watch when the next blizzard hits, we get dumped with a foot or more of snow, and we're going to be stuck inside for a while. "Storm of the Century" combines the snowbound claustrophobia of "The Shinning" and the mob mentality of "Needful Things" with the most recurrent theme in King's work: good people having the courage to do good things. However, as is often the case in King's stories, sometimes that is just not good enough.

  As King himself has observed, at its heart "Storm of the Century" is the dark counterpart to "The Green Mile," with each centered on the mystery of the man in the jail cell. Andre Linoge (Colm Feore) has come to Little Tall Island just as the fiercest winter storm in recorded history is about to hit. After murdering one of the residents, Linoge waits calmly to be taken into police custody by Constable Mike Anderson (Tim Daly). But once in his cell he tells the townsfolk, "If you give me what I want, I'll go away." Then things start to happen, secrets are revealed and more people die, and suddenly the citizens of Long Tall Island are ready to agree to Linoge's proposition even before they know exactly what it is he wants.

  "Storm of the Century" works better without commercial interruptions and viewed in one sitting than it did in the original three-parts. This is a story where the horror grows slowly and you share the unease of the characters as to what is going on and what they can do about. Colm Feore does a nice job of underplaying the role of Linoge, while Tim Daly slowly loses it as the situation and Linoge combine to undercut his legal and moral authority within the community. Debrah Farentino has the pivotal role of his wife Molly, who ends up being caught in the middle. Daly's is the key performance that holds the entire story together, and the cast of character actors does a nice job of providing the sense that this is a real community dealing with a most unreal situation.

  This television mini-series is much more suited to the intimacy of a television set in a living room than a movie theater, which better suits a film like "The Perfect Storm." The blizzard merely sets the stage for the human drama. In a way this story anticipates this summer's love affair with the television show "Survivor," where people end up talking about what they would do, and to who, if they were in that situation. King has always been a moralist, knowing full well that most people are not inclined to do the right thing, and always striving to come up with a story that might actually inspire some people to listen to the better angels of their nature. So pick up a copy, put it up on the shelf, and wait for the snow to start falling...
  
  

• Ummmm...OK...I'm lost.....
  By A1MLF4V16JRCAX on 2002-02-17
  Seems as though I'm the only one who HATED this movie.lol
  This movie made NO sense what-so-ever,had a brain-numbing plot and not enough GORE!!!
  If you're suffering from insomnia then buy this movie....you'll be counting sheep in NO time at all.
  
  
• Chiller thriller
  By A3NLJZI5NEOT0K on 2005-06-15
  Horror is far from my favorite genre, but Storm of the Century kept me glued to the screen from start to finish. The conflict between Linoge and Anderson is tight and immediate, never weakening in its intensity. Linoge is pure evil in a menacing but somehow understandable way. The director manages to walk the fine line between frightening realism and senseless gore. This is a tautly restrained yet very effective Stephen King, who sometimes goes over the top. Knowing King, it is possible to predict who wins in the end, but there is a nasty surprise at the conclusion. Terrific movie.
  
  
• Give me what I want and I'll go away
  By A2NC5BMF6QWC5B on 2006-05-10
  Introduce yourself to Andre Linoge. He is tall and narrow, clad in jeans, a pea coat and a watch cap. He moves with deliberate grace clutching a strange cane and there seems to be a sly smile about his face at all times. Linoge is a charming man. He speaks with good cheer and even flirts a little with the ladies.
  But Andre Linoge is consumately evil and he has come among the people of Little Tall Island with a wish list. Always smiling, always sunny and playful, Linoge wreaks utter havoc with the island folk while a killer snowstorm rages around them. Ultimately, he only wants to get their attention. He wants something from them but does not state what it is until the last hour of the movie. Linoge spends most of his time convincing these stubborn, gritty island people that handing over what he desires is in their best interest. He does this with savagery, but also with a detached sense of joy like a cat pawing at a mouse.
  "Give me what I want," utters Linoge over and over, in a voice like a lullabye "and I'll go away."
  Linoge knows their secrets. He knows who is growing marijuana to supplement his income, who has gone to the city for an abortion, who beat up a gay man, who burned down the planing mill across the reach there in Machias, and who harbors hate in their hearts. Linoge sees it all and he doles it out to the increasingly mortified island people who tend to keep their secrets close.
  "Your town is full of thieves, gluttons, murderers, bullies, scoundrels and covetous morons," Linoge tells them. "And I know every last one of them."
  By the end of the movie, you have joined dozens of island characters in a desperate need to know what Linoge wants. When you find out, prepare for a moral quandary. The horror of murder and bizarre cruelty that marks the first half of the film is replaced in the second by a deeper horror, one that strikes closer to the human soul.
  This is a long movie, and a great one to watch on a blustery winter day. The story is fascinating from the opening scenes, the acting is superb, and even the overblown Maine accents don't distract too much from the crawling unpleasantness.
  King has proven time after time that he can introduce dozens of characters with such richness and personality, that the viewer (or the reader) will remember intimate details about these men, women and children as though they were neighbors. Some you hate, some you love and others you simply understand. In the end though, the focus narrows to the most significant characters in Linoge and town constable Michael Anderson. The latter is played perfectly by Daly, who manages to emote the rage, fear and frustration brought about by this stranger who has come among them. It is a stellar performance worthy of much notice.
  But all of the scenes are stolen by Colm Fiore and what proves to be one of the most striking, menacing and infinitely wicked characters ever to grace the screen. Linoge is so freakin' bad, you almost like him at times. The year this movie was released, I dressed as Linoge for Halloween and found it hard to get out of character. After a week of gliding through the newsroom uttering: "Give me what I want, and I'll go away," my colleagues were eager to see that I delivered on the latter part of that promise.
  In the end though, Linoge and his sinful wants will make you cringe. The conclusion to the movie is worth fighting over with your spouse or your friends, who agree or disagree that Linoge should be handed what he came for.
  The best of King's made-for-tv flicks, "Storm of the Century" is a must see. Best of all, you can slap together your own Linoge outfit for under fifty bucks.
  
  
• The Choice Is Ours
  By A2H7AAV3F9MI6C on 2007-07-02
  Only one word can describe this film, DEEP!! This is an extremely spiritual movie. I enjoyed every minute. This movie proves that we all ultimately choose our path in this life. Outcomes and all. It teaches us about free will and the power that we have inside to beat any and all demons. Too many of us run to church on Sunday, screamin' HALLELUJAH!! and are living the most trifling lives. The people on this island were full of herendous sins. They had verbal faith, but not spiritual faith on a soul level. When the time came for their faith to take action and pull together as a unit in God's name, they all cowered. All except one, but that one could not do it alone. Anything in this world, whether good or bad, we must first consent to the allowance of anything to happen to us and/or through us. Nothing happens without God's permission. If we are part of THE ONE TRUE SOURCE, that means that God lives within us and we in God. We give the okay for things to happen. This is why free will is always a daily challenge. The knowledge of Spirit is not enough. Our belief(s) is what will sustain and ultimately save us. The Demon in this movie knew this. He knew these folks were simple/take the Bible literally morons and that their "faith" was none. For those whom have not seen this movie, I will not spoil the ending, but remember this: A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. And even the strongest link cannot hold the entire chain together. Nothing is stronger than the power of the Almighty. Whatever that means to each of us. Ponder upon the many spiritual lessons in this movie. Thank you Stephen King.
  
  
• Is it just me?
  By A3DLG8HEFXAQI0 on 1999-12-08
  Or is Colm Feore the voice of the VISA commercials? I couldn't help laughing out loud every time he said "Born of sin, come on in.." because I expected that to be followed with "...but bring your VISA card because in Hell the coals are warming up and they don't take any card from American Express". Otherwise watchable King fare but could probably have been wrapped up in two hours.
  
  
• " Good fiction is truth" from On Writing by Stephen King...
  By A1MKZ8319UKM2D on 2001-11-27
  The above quote is from the only Stephen King book I have ever read ( On Writing is a non-fictional account of how King developed his writing craft). I liked it so much that I bought Storm of the Century.
  Boy what a dissapointment!! Storm seemed like a poor crossing of Cape Fear, Perfect Storm and Sophie's Choice. But what really let me down was the crass disregard for credible story telling. Two examples: 1) The bad guy freezes a door in order for the blood-stained, gunshot-carrying hero (can a hero be this dumb?) to be "forced" to escort an ultra dangerous psycopath killer through a supermarket aisle crammed with mesmerized island people ( who can't keep a safe distance); conveniently nobody thinks of even shielding a child in the room from facing the murderer nose-to-nose--- at that point, I said to myself, this scene is so unnatural, so forced ( not truth) that this child has to be the eventual victim. 2) Later a young woman horribly and openly kills her lover. Do the town-people take any precautions against further maniac actions by her? Island people could not think of such logic; instead they actually put her in charge of safe-guarding the same child!
  Mr. King can ask 200 islander (and their children, acquaintances, visitors,etc.) to forever keep this farce a secret, but I am one viewer that cannot.
  Okay, Mr. King, I will excuse you on this one, inasmuch as this was made for TV. I will see Shining and report back, hopefully cheerfully.
  
  
• Don't waste your time
  By on 2004-06-29
  I really like Stephen King, but this has got to be one of his worst works ever. EVER. The plot is intruiging, but the movie is sooooo long. It's like, what, five hours? The movie pulls you in with an interesting begining, and keeps you watching with a so-so middle, but there is really no point. There is so much unneccesary information and there are so many pointless scenes. Yeah, like, seven people or so die, but there isn't really anything all too exciting about it. After a while, this movie becomes quite annoying, and you just want to see what the guy wants, and what he wants is rather idiotic, and is very anti-climactic. So, in my opinion, don't waste your time watching this.
  
  
• Another deliciously brilliant masterwork from one of today's topmost literary giants!!!
  By A3HLRR2FL9E5DP on 2005-10-29
  As somebody who considers "The Stand" to be Stephen King's best work, I must relate to you all how completely and totally captivated I was by "Storm of the Century." This was the rare mini-series event to stem from an original screenplay instead of a written novel. And, in much the same manner as "The Stand," I found "Storm" to be every bit as professional and well-crafted as any movie I've seen in a theater. Craig Baxley should be highly commended for the exceptional work he put into this production.
  
  The main hook of the story centers around a picturesque town straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting, whose inhabitants soon find themselves faced with two major threats. An unprecedented snow storm has cut off the entire immediate area from the outside world. That, alone, would be considered bad enough by most common people. But that, unfortunately, is only the beginning. The real danger arrives in the form of the mysterious Andre Linoge, a sinister figure who has come to the island of Little Tall with a singular purpose. One that might ultimately spell DOOM for all the townspeople.
  
  Say what you will about Stephen King's track record in film. I happen to enjoy the majority of movies adapted from his books, and this one is certainly up there with the best. The script benefits greatly from the tight pacing and high caliber writing we've come to expect from King. The characters here, in this film specifically, all shine because we are led to care about what happens to each of them. That is what I believe is Stephen King's primary gift as a writer.
  
  Colm Feore, it should be mentioned, turns in a positively stunning performance as Linoge. Anybody who claims they weren't the least bit affected by his bone-chilling delivery is seriously deluding themselves. He and Tim Daly, I thought, played remarkably well off each other. Their scenes, by themselves, are empowering enough for me to strongly recommend this movie to anyone who might have missed its initial televised run. I think anyone who, in general, simply enjoys a good story will want to add this to their collection. It really is worth the purchase.
  
  
• What a Bone Chilling tale.
  By A36AH31X84FIC8 on 2000-07-14
  i've always liked scary films, weather they were on television or video . i really like the stuff from steven king he gave me the creeps in IT when it came out , but this one tops his previous works that came to the small screen . this story is very chilling to bone, it numbs your senses you'll be in a daze after you watch this winner. have a frightful , screaming time as you watch it, highly Recommended. P.S. for those with sensitive hearts Beware, it may stress you out! supported by great cast maybe a broken one haaaa.
  
  
• Love Stephen King, hate Storm of the Century
  By on 1999-07-31
  Stephen King is my favorite autor by far. He does terrific stories and the movies are great. Storm of the Century was the creapest movies I have ever seen him make. The play he wrote was the same thing. Don't get me wrong, I love horror. Thats why Stephen King is my favorite. But Storm of the Century was too real for words. Sorry. I guess if you like the kind of thing with demons and stuff like that, this is a good movie for you. I don't mind watching that myself. But sitting in front of my T.V. set wathcing that was beyond terrifing. If you want a good horror movie of Stephen King, watch The Shining, or IT. Enjoy...
  
  

• Rose Red
• Stephen King's It
• The Tommyknockers
• Stephen King Gift Set (The Langoliers / The Stand / Golden Years)
• Salem's Lot