On September 21, the documentary "Stephen King's Universe" was released—just in time for the king of horror's birthday. We tell you what makes this work about one of the most prolific writers of our time interesting.

Stephen King has remained one of the most read and beloved writers of virtually all generations of living people for many decades. What is the secret of his works' success, how do they influence readers, and why do films based on his novels and stories become popular with audiences? The film "Stephen King's Universe" helps to understand these questions and get to know King himself better, as it truly unfolds an entire King universe before us.

The film opens and closes with a world populated by characters and creatures from Stephen King's books, whimsically coexisting with each other and complementing this amazing universe where anything and even more is possible.

Famous directors who have worked with many of King's works talk about Stephen and his books, each of them having managed to discern their essence and convey their vision on screen. Notably, his stories and novels seem made for adaptation—they have very precisely developed character traits and many minute details.

It is precisely the psychologically accurate characters, the action in a familiar small town, and the social and personal issues that give the horror genre a truly great influence on readers' minds and feelings. Stories that are close and understandable to everyone, yet each person can find something of their own in them, something that truly makes them imbibe the unique atmosphere of Stephen King's universe.

Frank Darabont, Mick Garris, Mike Flanagan, and others fondly recall how they first became acquainted with the books and then with King himself. They talk not only about how the filming went or the details of creating famous scenes, but also share personal memories and impressions. For many of them, Stephen became a good friend, and that is felt. The result is a very complimentary portrait, with almost nothing said about King's addiction, which his wife Tabitha helped him overcome. Incidentally, the latter is also mentioned in passing. But this difficult period can be read about in the autobiographical book "On Writing".

In "Stephen King's Universe," attention is paid not only to the most popular films that are in no way inferior to their source material ("The Shawshank Redemption," "The Green Mile," "The Shining"), but also to lesser-known adaptations: "Cujo," "Creepshow," "Silver Bullet." Behind each of them lies the immense involvement of the creators and their sincere love for the books they have known for most of their lives.

Of course, the film is full of admiration, but each of us has a dark side, and it is important to show the good, which is not so little even in the most terrifying works of the king of horror.

Trailer: