In the movie, however, a lot of this is toned down: his personality is more small-town yokel than pompous prick, he confesses his embezzlement to Alan outright and levels with him as an equal (something book Buster would never do), and in the movie's climax he even turns on Gaunt outright. He browbeats his wife ( and later murders her), bullies skinny Norris Ridgewick and is so rotten that even mild-mannered Sheriff Pangborn finds himself quietly wishing Buster would just die and spare everyone around him his presence. Adaptational Heroism: Danforth 'Buster' Keeton in the books is an unpleasant person through-and-through, even before he goes crazy.The '80s: King has stated that Needful Things is all of the greedy, negative parts of the decade distilled down into one store.Made into a movie in 1993 starring Max von Sydow as Gaunt and Ed Harris as Sheriff Pangborn. The story mainly revolves around Sheriff Alan Pangborn and his attempts to find out just what is going on in his town. It goes downhill from there, as the 'harmless pranks' eventually trigger a chain reaction leading to plenty of suicides, killings, and Stuff Blowing Up. They only need to pay a minimal sum.and they have to agree to play a little prank on someone. It is run by a seemingly kindly old man named Leland Gaunt and happens to have something that each of the main characters wants. CAVEAT EMPTOR note 'Let the buyer beware'.Ī 1991 Stephen King novel in which a new store with the strange name of 'Needful Things' opens in the small Maine town of Castle Rock.

Stephen kings needful things