The Dark Tower: Will the new film satisfy Stephen King's fans?
Idris Elba battles the forces of darkness in the first trailer for the highly anticipated adaptation
Critics have been scrutinising the first trailer for Stephen King's The Dark Tower in the hope of discovering what the highly anticipated film adaptation will bring.
King's eight-book series spans fantasy, western, sci-fi and horror, but director Nikolaj Arcel has taken elements from the first novel, The Gunslinger, and other novels in the series to give a take of the tale.
It centres on a boy named Jake Chambers (Tom Taylor) and his discovery of a hidden dimension called Mid-World, in which he meets gunslinging knight Roland (Idris Elba) who protects him from dark forces such as an evil sorcerer named Walter Padick (Matthew McConaughey).
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In the trailer, Jake describes his visions of a gunslinger and a man in black to a child psychologist, who tells him they're merely dreams. Nevertheless, they turn out to be real when the young boy discovers a creepy house which leads him to Mid-World and meets Roland.
The gunslinger tells Jake "there aren't any gunslingers anymore" and warns that "the Man in Black" is worse than the devil.
He also explains his modus operandi, saying: "I do not kill with my gun; I kill with my heart."
After watching the clip, Consequences of Sound says that despite its "on-going reservations" about The Dark Tower, such as delays and reshoots, "there's actually a lot to love about this two-and-half-minute trailer".
It adds that "Elba looks perfect for the role as Roland Deschain", while "locations are inspired enough to take us out of our dreary reality".
On the other hand, "the adrenalised action and [Young Adult] overtones" continue to have them "biting our fingernails aplenty".
Dirk Libbey on CinemaBlend says King's fans are both excited and confused about the project.
News that the film was not a traditional adaptation but a new interpretation of the novels, had many wondering whether they see their favourite scenes played out on the big screen, he continues, with a warning that the news is good for anybody who didn't like the way the books concluded, but "many won't be pleased".
Sarah Fallon on Wired says it's time for fans to adjust their expectations and that they can't expect the film to capture all of the novels' rich and complicated array of "nested tales, back-storied characters and exuberant world-building".
She also questions whether the focus on "the sorts of binary struggles promised in the trailer" will satisfy."Apocalyptic shoot-outs between cowboy knights and creepy monster-things are fun enough to watch," but King's books offer other worlds than these "and we need to find them", says Fallon.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - November 2, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - anti-fascism, early voter turnout, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Geoff Capes obituary: shot-putter who became the World’s Strongest Man
In the Spotlight The 'mighty figure' was a two-time Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
By The Week UK Published
-
The Count of Monte Cristo review: 'indecently spectacular' adaptation
The Week Recommends Dumas's classic 19th-century novel is once again given new life in this 'fast-moving' film
By The Week UK Published
-
Death of England: Closing Time review – 'bold, brash reflection on racism'
The Week Recommends The final part of this trilogy deftly explores rising political tensions across the country
By The Week UK Published
-
Sing Sing review: prison drama bursts with 'charm, energy and optimism'
The Week Recommends Colman Domingo plays a real-life prisoner in a performance likely to be an Oscars shoo-in
By The Week UK Published
-
Kaos review: comic retelling of Greek mythology starring Jeff Goldblum
The Week Recommends The new series captures audiences as it 'never takes itself too seriously'
By The Week UK Published
-
Blink Twice review: a 'stylish and savage' black comedy thriller
The Week Recommends Channing Tatum and Naomi Ackie stun in this film on the hedonistic rich directed by Zoë Kravitz
By The Week UK Published
-
Shifters review: 'beautiful' new romantic comedy offers 'bittersweet tenderness'
The Week Recommends The 'inventive, emotionally astute writing' leaves audiences gripped throughout
By The Week UK Published
-
How to do F1: British Grand Prix 2025
The Week Recommends One of the biggest events of the motorsports calendar is back and better than ever
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Twisters review: 'warm-blooded' film explores dangerous weather
The Week Recommends The film, focusing on 'tornado wranglers', stars Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell
By The Week UK Published