Quote:My father was a voracious reader but he wasn't into the horror genre and simply couldn't understand all the hoopla over Stephen King and couldn't bring himself to read that stuff.  I bought him a copy of Rita Hayworth And The Shawshank Redemption and explained it wasn't King's usual literary fare but was an excellent representation of his writing brilliance.  He absolutely loved it.  The movie came out shortly afterwards and he loved that too.  He gained a deep respect for Stephen King after that and I actually got him to read a few of his horror books.  

A guy I work with is always talking about how King completely defined a genre of writing, and even though some of the dialogue is campy at times, his influence stretches far beyond the book shelves at the bookstore.  King has talent, that is for sure, not everything needs to read like Shakespeare to be considered good.  That being said, I remember the made for TV movie of IT.  I think it starred the guy from Night Court.  That was pretty scary, for a TV movie.  Oh, and I was surprised how creepy the remake of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre with Jennifer Biel was.  

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