Needful Things (1993)
Excellent adaptation of Stephen King's sprawling and brutally dark novel. There's both black comedy and bloody thrills and a standout performance from the late, great Max Von Sydow as Leland Gaunt, a mysterious man who opens his shop full of things that the people of Castle Rock find they can't live without and thus enter into vengeful pacts against one another as way of payment.
As the film goes on the acts turn from mere pranks to deadly situations culminating in a final showdown in the streets between Gaunt and Ed Harris' sheriff in a fiery finale.
The film plays out in almost episodic format to begin with but as events escalate (Some are genuinely horrific) the film grips you with it's icy cold clutches and doesn't let go.
As well as Harris, there are fine performances from Bonnie Bedelia, a repressed Amanda Plummer and a bonkers J.T. Walsh, but the film belongs to Von Sydow who captures his character (no spoilers) perfectly.
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