Who enjoys a good post-apocalyptic thriller? Stephen King enjoys a good post-apocalyptic thriller. How do I know? I know because the Misery author named The Road one of his top 10 films of 2009. That’s right, dear reader. Mr. King gave the Viggo Mortensen flick the third-place slot when he counted down his top ten films of ’09 for Entertainment Weekly. What did Ol’ Steve have to say about The Road? Well, I’m glad you asked.
King described the poignant film like this: “Cormac McCarthy’s novel of the apocalypse comes to the screen with all its spare and deadly beauty intact. It’s often painful to watch (at my screening I actually heard the projectionist sobbing as the film neared its end), but Viggo Mortensen’s performance as the dedicated father is Oscar bait.”
The flick didn’t garner any Oscar nods, despite King’s assertion that it’s on that level. Even still, The Road was well-received by critics and movie lovers alike. The film is ‘certified fresh’ on Rotten Tomatoes with a critical approval rating of 74%. Additionally, the picture also sports a favorable PopcornMeter (formerly the audience score) rating of 68%.
The picture features a star-studded cast. The lineup includes the likes of Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Robert Duvall, Guy Pearce, Michael Kenneth Williams, and Garret Dillahunt. I told you it was an impressive lineup.
If King’s endorsement, the film’s killer cast of characters, and the positive reception from fans and movie critics have you itching to experience The Road, you are in luck. The film is available to stream on Peacock as of the publication of this post. Hooray.
What is this Stephen King-endorsed science fiction effort about?
America is a grim, gray shadow of itself after a catastrophe. A man (Viggo Mortensen) and his young son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) wander through this post-apocalyptic world, trying to keep the dream of civilization alive. They journey toward the sea, surviving as best they can on what they can scavenge, and try to avoid roving gangs of savage humans who will turn them into slaves, or worse.
That’s all we have for you, for the time being. Be sure to stay tuned to Dread Central for more life-changing recommendations from your favorite creators as we succeed at unearthing them. If you feel compelled to seek out more of my signature snark, look me up on Threads. I am on the platform as @FunWithHorror.
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