Stephen King On Filming ‘Maximum Overdrive’: “I Was Doing a Lot of Cocaine”

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Stephen King has shared insights about his tenure directing “Maximum Overdrive,” the solitary film he ever directed, and the lessons he gleaned from it. This movie hit theaters in 1986 and is a somewhat faithful rendition of his 1978 short story “Trucks.

The story centers on an asteroid approaching Earth, leading to machines becoming active with lethal outcomes. Regardless of Stephen King’s writing prowess, “Maximum Overdrive” ended up being both critically panned and financially unsuccessful. He eventually chose to disassociate himself from it.

On The Kingcast, King openly discussed how his battle with addiction significantly impacted the final product of the movie. Amidst heavy cocaine use and excessive drinking, he found it challenging to direct effectively. Yet, despite these hurdles, he gained valuable insights, particularly from collaborating with cinematographer Armando Nannuzzi and his brother Daniele. King also shared a humorous anecdote about picking up new Italian curse words on set.

At that point in time, I found myself immersed in heavy drug use, particularly cocaine, and excessive drinking. It’s evident! However, let me clarify, I had a misguided belief about filmmaking at the time, thinking I was an expert. If I were to repeat that experience, making ‘Maximum Overdrive,’ it felt like an intense, enlightening workshop.

Back in the vibrant ’80s, I found myself standing tall as a literary titan. My novels dominated the charts, and Tinseltown could hardly wait to transform them into silver-screen spectacles. Some of these cinematic interpretations hit the bullseye, while others fell short of the target. Intrigued by this rollercoaster ride, I decided it was time for me to take the director’s chair and see if I could steer the ship better than some of my previous collaborators.

Dino De Laurentiis obtained the rights for “Trucks,” and the movie’s design artist, Giorgio Postiglione, proposed that Stephen King should be the director. Surprisingly, King accepted the offer, even though he had no background in filmmaking. He was provided with a budget of $70,000 to bring his ideas to reality.

Stephen King envisioned a specific type of film for “Maximum Overdrive.” He referred to it as his take on Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds,” but with machines acting as the aggressive entities instead of birds. King was not focused on complex storytelling; rather, he desired something quick, violent, and filled with action. In his own words, he said, “[I wanted it] to move fast.

This image is surprisingly simple-minded in its portrayal. It’s also lacking in sophistication and literary depth in many aspects. The dialogue is sparse, but it moves quickly, with a lot of things blowing up. It contains a significant amount of profanity, vulgarity, and violence, which might raise concerns when we submit it for ratings.

However, the ratings board posed minimal challenges compared to his struggles during the film’s production in 1985. King soon discovered that his knowledge about filmmaking was rather limited. His lack of experience, compounded by drug use, made the process all the more difficult. As he later confessed, “I was high on drugs throughout the entire production, and I wasn’t fully aware of what I was doing.

The language difference among most of the crew added an extra layer of complexity. Since King doesn’t speak Italian, communicating was tough and time-consuming, which prolonged the process even more. Despite these hurdles, King completed the movie, but the issues persisted beyond that point.

In the scorching summer of 1986, “Maximum Overdrive” was unveiled in cinemas, but it received heavy criticism from critics and little enthusiasm from audiences. Consequently, the film flopped, and Stephen King‘s directorial debut was considered a disappointment. Initially, he attempted to justify it, expressing his views to British magazine Knave that the movie was not meant to win over critics. “It’s the sort of picture I would go watch,” he stated, “the kind I’d pay money for.

Over time, he eventually conceded his shortcomings in managing it. “I didn’t do a great job with its direction,” he later confessed to Cinefantastique. At some point, he even likening it to “Plan 9 from Outer Space,” a film frequently ranked among the worst ever made. Looking back on the ordeal, he stated, “I doubt I’ll attempt anything similar again.

It transpired that he didn’t direct another movie – Stephen King. Although he contemplated directing a film version of his book “Gerald’s Game”, it remained unrealized. Conversely, many years passed, and ultimately, Mike Flanagan brought the novel to life on Netflix by successfully adapting it.

In contrast to its initial image, “Maximum Override” has developed a sort of cult following over time. Its boisterous AC/DC soundtrack, excessive action scenes, and outlandish storyline make it stand out in an endearing way.

King himself expressed in a 1986 promotional interview that he enjoys films which allow one to leave their thinking hat at the door and collect it two hours later. These movies are meant for relaxation, immersion, and enjoyment. This particular film is more about entertainment rather than delivering a profound social message.

Reflecting on it now, it’s almost amusing that Stephen King, at the pinnacle of his fame, managed to bring a film like “Maximum Overdrive” into being, purely out of his desire to do so. While it may not be a cinematic masterpiece, there is an undeniable charm in its very existence. If you’re seeking some absurd, 80s-infused fun, blast the tunes of AC/DC and immerse yourself in the mayhem!

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2025-01-30 17:14