The Tommyknockers (miniseries)
A Stephen King miniseries about a buried alien artifact.
In 1993, ABC broadcast a sci-fi horror miniseries called The Tommyknockers. Based on Stephen King's 1987 novel, it was directed by John Power and adapted by Lawrence D. Cohen. Marg Helgenberger and Jimmy Smits star.
Quick Facts
- Director
- John Power
- Producer
- Jayne Bieber; Lawrence D. Cohen
- Screenplay
- Lawrence D. Cohen
- Based on
- The Tommyknockers, Stephen King
- Starring
- Jimmy Smits; Marg Helgenberger
- Music
- Christopher Franke
- Cinematography
- Dan Burstall; David Eggby
- Editor
- Tod Feuerman
Facts from the source article.
Plot
Bobbi has writer's block and Gard is a recovering alcoholic. Bobbi stumbles over a manmade stone object and they excavate a series of connected cubes of unknown alloy. As they unearth more, Haven's residents develop insomnia, rudimentary telepathy, and begin inventing gadgets from household items that glow green. Gard has a metal plate in his head from a skiing accident, which Bobbi thinks may block the changes. A child named Hilly Brown uses his machine on his brother Davey, making Davey disappear. Sheriff Merrill leads an unsuccessful search. The townspeople, including Davey's parents, become obsessed with inventions and drained of energy. Hilly gets a brain tumor trying to bring Davey back, and Deputy Becka Paulson goes insane after her husband is electrocuted; both recite sayings about the tommyknockers.
Production
Lawrence D. Cohen made several changes to the novel in the screenplay that satisfied King, including altering the original ending where all characters died. Another change, due to Broadcast Standards and Practices and the age of actor E.G. Marshall, replaced the book's fluid-and-drill mind control with three characters trapped in a crystal controlling minds. ABC required shooting to begin in or after October 1992 and finish by May 1993. Because the story is set in an American summer, filming took place in New Zealand for its New England-like areas. On the second day of filming, director Lewis Teague was fired; his publicist cited his slow pace, while executive producer Frank Koningsberg said his vision would not work within the miniseries' parameters. The New Zealand crew of 200 was inexperienced, and shipping equipment and personnel from the U.S. consumed budget.
Reception
Critics were largely unkind to this miniseries. Variety’s Tony Scott dismissed it as “hokey whoop-de-doo,” panning the script and visual effects while acknowledging the performances. In contrast, The Toledo Blade lauded it as a “riveting visualization of the novel” and ranked it among the better Stephen King adaptations. The New York Observer later placed it third on its list of worst King miniseries in 2014. On Rotten Tomatoes, it scores a 30% approval from 23 reviews, averaging 4.50/10, with the consensus citing unlikeable characters, a bloated plot, and dull scripting as making it a tough watch even for devoted fans. Stephen King himself has stated he does not care for the 1993 miniseries at all.
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