The Shining (1980)

Join Ade Grant and Tom Charles as they dive into Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 adaptation of Stephen King’s The Shining.Why did Stephen King take issue with Kubrick’s interpretation? Does Jack Nicholson capture the true essence of Jack Torrance? And what’s the thinking behind Hallorann’s saucy home decor?Finally, the duo pit the adaptation against the source material to settle the ultimate question: which is king?

Join Ade Grant and Tom Charles as they dive into Mike Flanagan’s 2026 TV adaptation of Stephen King’s Carrie.How does Carrie translate to a modern setting? Do the changes enhance or undermine the book’s themes? And how come Carrie is more popular at school than you ever were?Finally, the duo pit the adaptation against the source material to settle the ultimate question: which is king?

Join Ade Grant and Tom Charles as they examine Tobe Hooper’s 1979 adaptation of Stephen King's Salem’s Lot.Did Hooper condense the novel successfully? How convincing is the love affair between Ben and Susan? And if vampirism spreads so easily, why is Europe still a thing?Lastly, the duo pit the adaptation against the source material to decide the ultimate question: which is king?

Join Ade Grant and Tom Charles as they examine Brian De Palma's 1976 adaptation of Stephen King's Carrie.Did De Palma deliver a blood-drenched masterpiece? Were the changes to the source justified? And is the novel truly the faultless classic some regard it as?Lastly, the duo pit the adaptation against the source material to decide the ultimate question: which is king?

Welcome to Which is King?, a Stephen King adaptations podcast. On the page, on the screen, and two opinions on both. We’re working our way through King adaptations in chronological order, with the occasional detour for a new release. Here’s the format: first, we discuss the novel, novella or short story. Then we turn to the adaptation: what works, what doesn’t, and what’s changed. At the end of each episode, we answer the ultimate question: which is king, the adaptation or the source material?So, whether it’s Salem’s Lot or The Shining, Children of the Corn or Cat’s Eye, join us as we explore the highs, the lows, and the inexplicably strange.