Castle Rock is Taking Us Back to the World of Stephen King

Fans of Stephen King rejoice! Hulu’s Castle Rock is almost here.

For those of us that grew up in the world of Stephen King, Castle Rock feels very familiar. Before kids were reading Harry Potter, we were devouring Stephen King. Anyone with unrestricted library access or parents who liked scary novels was scaring the bejeesus out of themselves reading King’s books.

Castle Rock relies on what King does best. He makes you wait for it. He leaves you unsure of who’s evil, or what evil really even means. He makes you sleep with the lights on, not because of creatures that go bump in the night, but because of someone who might already be living in the house.

Stick with me while I get philosophical for a minute. To me Stephen King’s writing is best when it’s uncanny. By that I mean that feeling of uncertainty, the moments when something familiar suddenly feels unfamiliar or unknown. Fantasy gives us new rules where ghosts haunt and creatures walk the earth. Suspense makes us jump, but ultimately leaves us firmly grounded in reality. But something uncanny, that’s the moment in between, the moment of uncertainty when your fears run wild. That’s where Stephen Kings best writing leaves us, and that sense of the uncanny translates very well in the first few episodes of Castle Rock. Everything is unsettling in a ways that you just can’t put your finger on, until suddenly the horror is right in front of you.

While other movies and shows are created from a specific text would only briefly reference the broader King universe, Castle Rock can pull on common threads that run throughout, which leaves the creators open to draw from the best of what exists or go off into unexplored territory.

Henry Deaver is called back to his small hometown of Castle Rock under mysterious circumstances, anda young man’s unexplained presence has everyone unnerved. Shawshank Prison dominates the landscape, and Sheriff Pangborn is just trying to keep things quiet in Castle Rock. But it doesn’t look like things are going to be quiet much longer. Meanwhile Ruth Strand and Molly Strand are just trying to live in a town that’s crumbling around them.

If you like King, you’ll like Castle Rock. I feel comfortable saying that. The show is filled with Easter eggs for casual fans and those who know every detail, but it also gives us something new and unexpected. The tone feels right, and the exceptional cast makes each character worth delving into. Only the first 4 episodes were available to preview, so I cannot wait for the premier so that I can binge the rest….even if it means I have to sleep with a light on.

Castle Rock premiers Wednesday, July 25^th on Hulu.