The 1980s werewolf movieSilver Bulletwas panned as a complete howler by many critics on its release, but fans of the cult classic werewolf movie starring Gary Busey andCorey Haimfrom the mind ofStephen Kingcan now stream the movie for free. The horror film from 1985 is now part of Tubi’s extensive library of scary movies, although the scares in this one are admittedly few and far between. However, that doesn’t mean Silver Buller isn’t worth a rewatch.
Other horror titles arriving on Tubi include fourInsidiousmovies, both Grindhouse movies by Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez, the zombie feature starring Brad Pitt,World War Z, and the “alligators act like sharks” movie,Crawl, among others. However, if you’re in for a Stephen King marathon, Tubi also offers adaptations likeChildren of the Corn, twoCarriemovies, the author’s directorial effortMaximum Overdrive, andCreepshow 2.
10 Incredibly Underrated Stephen King Movies You May Have Missed
Many Stephen King movie adaptations exist, but only a few are considered to be good or great. Now you can add these underrated gems to that list.
Horror author Stephen King has been known to tackle several sub-genres in horror. From haunted houses to alien invasions, the master has done it all. However, werewolves are not very common in the Kingverse. While there have been several prominent vampires in his work, his only real brushes with werewolves have been inThe Talisman, andCycle of the Werewolf, which formed the basis forSilver Bullet.
Silver Bullettells the story of Marty Coslaw (Haim), a young paraplegic boy living who’s convinced that the violent murders taking place in his small town, Tarker’s Mills, have been committed by an otherworldly creature. Along with his sister Jane (Megan Follows) and their uncle, Red (Gary Busey), they decide to dig deeper into the attacks, and they find out that a very prominent figure in town may be responsible.
Silver Bulletwas an adaptation of the author’s approach to the werewolf genreproduced during the peak of King’s adaptations.Christine,Cujo,Firestarter, andThe Dead Zoneall precededSilver Bullet, and by the mid-1980s King had made a name for himself as one of the most exciting names in horror fiction. Although this did not necessarily guarantee successful adaptations - and the vast majority of 80s adaptations ended up as pure hokum - it did mean that King was able to turn his hand to writing for some of those adaptations as well, including segments ofCat’s EyeandCreepshow.
OnSilver Bullet, this called for King to have major creative input in the film, something director Dan Attias didn’t have a problem with. The only one who clashed with King was producer Dino de Laurentiis, and they conflicted over the werewolf design. What ended up in the final cut was the result of their confrontation, and it’s probably the weakest aspect in the film.
The Most Underrated Stephen King Adaptation of the 1980s
Silver Bulletwas moderately successful around the world, making over $12 million at the box office from a $7 million production budget. However, it was panned by critics who felt it didn’t live up to expectations. Famed critic Roger Ebet was ironically one of the few who liked the movie, although that was because he believed the film was made as a parody of King’s story. Today, it has a 41% score on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes.
In retrospect, the film is not as bad as its reputation suggests. It is just a product of its time, with questionable creature design and makeup effects that could have been better. It’s one of the most underrated of all ofKing’s 1980s adaptations. The performances are typical 80s horror fare, with Gary Busey earning a special mention for embodying his “uncle” character with his usual vigor. The film also boasts one of the best performances by a young Corey Haim, who’s very convincing as a courageous boy who saves the town from within the coolest wheelchair in cinema history.
Silver Bullet
