Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
Following the public's realization that Thad Beaumont and George Stark are one and the same, the former stages a mock funeral, only for a series of gruesome murders to begin occurring as in his books.
George Romero's adaptation of Stephen King's novel about a writer's murderous alter ego is a competent but unremarkable mid-tier horror entry. The premise—a pseudonym literally coming to life—has genuine intrigue and Timothy Hutton delivers a committed dual performance, but the film never fully capitalizes on its psychological potential. Romero handles the material professionally though not with particular visual flair; the cinematography is workmanlike rather than atmospheric. The sparrow motif is memorable and the concept of the 'psychic link' between author and alter ego is interesting, but the execution feels pedestrian for a King adaptation. The ending dissolves into a somewhat underwhelming supernatural resolution that fails to satisfy the tension built earlier, making it the weakest element. A solid but forgettable genre piece that sits comfortably in the middle of the King cinematic universe.