100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 51: Graveyard Shift

Director: Ralph S. Singleton

Genre: Horror

Runtime: 89 minutes

Year: 1990

Starring: David Andrews, Kelly Wolf, Stephen Macht, Andrew Divoff, Brad Dourif, Vic Polizos, Robert Alan Beuth, Illona Margolis, Jimmy Woodard, Jonathan Emerson, Minor Rootes, Kelly L. Goodman, Susan Lowden, Joe Perham, Dana Packard

Description: In a very old textile mill, with a serious rat infestation, the workers discover a horrifying secret deep in the basement.

Review: The term graveyard shift simply means working at night, when every living soul is sleeping. The movie is based on a short story by Stephen King. The movie is set in Maine, like almost every other King story. Leading character is traveler John Hall and ends up in a little town, where he decides to start working in an old textile factory. What he doesn’t know is that an enormous monster is living there as well.

Stephen King is probably the author with the most book to movie adaptations. “Graveyard Shift” is more conventional scary story, with lots of gore. The bloody opening makes room for a long intro where we get to know the characters. The story loses tempo and the actors don’t manage to keep it interesting. The acting is terrible. Although the movie is a bit dated, the monster itself looks okay for that time.

The movie is too long. They tried to turn a short story into a full length movie, which doesn’t work. It’s not a very good movie and not a film Stephen King would be proud of.

Rating: 1,5/ 5