Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers for The Stand book ending.
Summary
Several ofStephen King’s novels are over 1,000 pages, including the hauntingUnder the Dome, the creepy clown storyIT, andhis post-apocalyptic storyThe Stand. While many would say that the latter could become an epic TV series that spans ten seasons (and it would be a lot of fun to go on that wild ride),Doug Liman is directing a movie adaptation of King’s famous book.
Hopefully, several elements of King’sThe Standwill remain the same, including the strong and smart main character Frannie Goldsmith, who becomes more and more likable as the story progresses. But while fans like when adaptations follow King’s work closely, the ending ofThe Standhas some problems, and it could be the trickiest part of the film.
How Can Stephen King’s The Stand Ending Work In The Movie Adaptation?
Stephen King’sThe Standending isn’t his weakest, but it uses the tricky plot device of deux ex machina, which has frustrated some fans. When the Trashcan Man has a bomb, Randall Flagg uses magic to create the “Hand of God.” This happens out of nowhere, and while some could argue that it works with the supernatural tone of the story, others definitely think it’s unrealistic. The ending is ultimately happy as Stu and Frannie end up together and readers know they’re going to raise her child together. Then, Randall proves he’s still a horrifying villain as he changes his name and starts a new group who will do whatever he says.
This “Hand of God” moment is awkward and clunky in the novel, and it’s hard to imagine it working well inThe Standmovie adaptation. WhileMike Flanagan is right that the story is about evil and good, and those themes will no doubt translate well, this scene could look corny. There are a lot of factors at play here, from which actor is cast as Flagg and what kind of special or practical effects are used. Whilethe Osgood Perkins horror movieThe Monkeyhas some wild scenes and it’s fairly over-the-top at times, that tone won’t work forThe Stand.
The Standminiseries from 2020has an ending that is fairly similar to the book andfocuses on Frannie and Stu’s vision for the future.The Standmovie adaptation should focus on this, too, or the ending is going to be cheesy and forgettable. One of the biggest concerns about the movie ishow a filmmaker can adapt such a long book. Juggling all those characters won’t be easy. But if Frannie and Stu’s character arcs end the same way as the book, and Randall Flagg’s “Hand of God” moment is omitted, the movie has a chance at getting it right. Most of all, the emotional journey that Frannie goes on has to be shown on screen. If that doesn’t happen, then the film will have failed to capture the tone of the popular novel.
Fans Aren’t Always Thrilled With Stephen King’s Endings
Stephen King has a large fanbase thanks to hishaunting and enduring stories about kids with special powers, a car taken over by the paranormal, and a pet sematary that brings pets and children back from the dead. But although his readers always look forward to his new releases andcan’t wait to find out about new adaptations, many agree that some of his endings aren’t perfect. It’s also fair to say that when people read a novel that is over 1,000 pages, they have high expectations for how the story is going to wrap up, and they might not always agree with the storytelling choices that have been made.
In a discussion onReddit, one fan suggested that sometimes King’s conclusions feel random, or the story ends on a note that people don’t expect. They wrote:
“it’s because his endings aren’t really where the narrative started off or seemed to be going. It feels almost like bait-and-switch.”
Another fan suggested thatKing’s endings use a sometimes frustrating plot device but also feel realistic and relatable, and they might not be what people want or expect. They wrote:
“Deus ex machina. And back to reality sadness. My humble opinion is that SK works very hard to create fiction that mirrors reality. He adds his twists, provides foreshadowing, and as the stories continues the fantastic elements escalate to a literary crescendo.”
The best King movie or TV adaptations are creative takes on his work that still capture his intended themes. Hopefully future adaptations, likethe film based on the beloved bookBilly Summers, willget the endings right by changing themwhen the story warrants it.
