While moreStephen Kingshows continue to dominate the TV slate, fans of the author’s work will also enjoy an unrelated horror series that is one of the genre’s top current entries. In addition to direct adaptations of these works,Stephen King’s seminal horror novelsof the ‘70s and ‘80s likeCarrie,The Shining,Salem’s Lot,IT, andThe Standcan be found as influences on many of today’s hit horror shows.
That said, only a few direct Stephen King TV adaptations could be considered masterpiece horror series.HBO’sThe Outsiderremains one of its top horror shows, but outside of series likeMr. MercedesandCastle Rock, some recent adaptations of his work on the small screen have been quite divisive or failed to garner the same widespread appreciation as the King novels they’re based on, likeThe StandorUnder the Dome.
As such, finding more great shows that reflect the tone, themes, twists, and brilliance of King’s horror novels may require stepping outside his adaptations. Some ofTV’s best current horrorsare stories that feel like they come directly from a King novel, but are actually original stories with heavy King inspirations. That’s the case for MGM+’s top horror release, which is essential viewing for fans of Stephen King.
From’s Premise & Tone Are Very Similar To Stephen King Stories
While it’s not actually based on a Stephen King story, MGM+’s horror showFromcertainly feels like it. The hit series follows a group of strangers who become mysteriously trapped in a town while traveling, with the location being haunted by nocturnal creatures and plenty of other supernatural horrors.
The notion of strangers being brought together in a specific location to form a new society amid so many horrifying unknowns is very reminiscent of Stephen King’sThe Stand, which also shares poignant themes of the battle between good and evil. Additionally,From’s charactersbeing inexplicably trapped in a town bears similarities to King’s novelUnder the Dome.
Furthermore,From’s terrifying monstersthat attack the residents at night have drawn comparisons to the vampires of King’s novel’Salem’s Lot. Additionally, the monsters seemingly feeding on the residents’ fears, desperation, and loss of hope is similar to the concept ofIT’s evil entity Pennywise.
The dark, supernatural tone ofFrommirrors the mood of many iconic Stephen King horror stories, withFrom’s Boyd Stevens also experiencing several of the community and family-driven conflicts and attitudes of protagonists in King’s hit novels. It shouldn’t be too surprising thatFromshould draw so many comparisons, however, as the series is executive produced byMr. Mercedes,Under the Dome, andThe Institutedirector Jack Bender.
With an overall Rotten Tomatoes score of 96% from critics across its first three seasons,Fromstands out as one of the most critically acclaimed and consistent horror shows on TV. WithFromseason 4also on the way, the show is the perfect horror fix for Stephen King fans looking to expand outside adaptations of the author’s work.
Stephen King Himself Has Approved Of From
If fans needed any more convincing to watchFrom, all they have to do is look to Stephen King himself.King praisedFromback in 2023 on Twitter, calling the series a “wonderful concept, beautifully handled.” He doubled down on his support forFromthat year when recommending it to his followers on Twitter:
“If you’re a horror fan and not watching FROM, you should get with it. Scary sh*t.”
While King hasn’t been directly involved withFrom, his continued support of the show is among the highest praise that a horror project can get. As the show goes on, its similarities toStephen King’s work will likely only increase, making it a great TV refuge for fans of the author.
