Adapting Stephen King’s Work for Screen
Adapting Stephen King’s novels for film and television has always been quite the challenge. These adaptations often alter key elements from his dense narratives and character development. Take Kubrick’s The Shining, for instance, which struggled to encapsulate the essence of King’s storytelling. The latest adaptation, based on the 2019 novel The Institute, shows that even with King’s involvement, things don’t always fit neatly together.
Opening Scene: We witness students sitting for standardized tests in gymnasiums.
Key Points: Among them is Luke Ellis (Joe Freeman), a 14-year-old who has already advanced in his studies. After the test, he mentions to his parents that even the principal believes he should aim for MIT.
Just as he’s thinking about his future at MIT, a stranger intrudes, drugs him, and abducts him. When Luke wakes up, he finds himself in a perfect replica of his bedroom, but in a stark, school-like facility in Maine. There he meets a girl named Karisha (Simone Miller), who reveals that he’s been “employed” for unclear reasons. She asks whether he possesses TP (telepathy) or TK (telekinesis). It turns out, he has TK.
Meanwhile, Tim Jamieson (Ben Burns) travels to Dennison, Maine, seeking a job as a “night knocker” at the local police station. During his interview with Chief John Ashworth (Martin Roach), we learn that Tim was a decorated Boston police officer who had to step down following a tragic incident involving a teenager with a gun.
Back at the lab, Luke meets with director Sigsby (Mary Louise Parker), who informs him that being selected for the Institute is quite an honor. She explains that he and others will study the “back half” of TK and TP abilities to benefit not only the U.S. but humanity as a whole. As long as Luke follows orders, everything will be fine. But, inevitably, his memories will be erased before he can return home.
Luke’s skepticism surfaces when he refuses to get a tracking device implanted. He encounters George (Arenthaw), Iris (Brivapandia), and Nick (Fionlaird). Nick seems particularly uneasy and tries to sway Luke to adopt his outlook on their situation.
Similar Shows: Written by Benjamin Cabel and directed by Jack Bender, The Institute draws parallels to previous King adaptations, echoing themes found in Stranger Things—the blend of kids and telekinesis also brings to mind the 1984 film Firestarter, featuring a young Drew Barrymore.
In our observation, while there’s a story trying to emerge in the first episode of The Institute, the abundance of details tends to muddle the narrative. Tim and Luke seem to be on parallel paths, with Luke at the Institute and Tim in Dennison, and their stories should converge as the show’s intentions unfold. Still, with so much exposition, it raises questions about how long until the central plot becomes clear.
Compared to Luke’s background, Tim’s begins largely ambiguous. This is partly due to an extensive dialogue between Luke and Sigsby, where she lays out much of the information they need. Parker’s delivery has a relaxed quality, resembling a blend of her known acting style. Yet, it feels like an odd choice for a character reminiscent of Patricia Arquette’s roles.
Freeman’s portrayal of Luke comes across as a 19-year-old rather than a 14-year-old prodigy, which is intriguing to watch. Other plotlines, like Kate’s (Jordan Alexander) deceptive journalistic pursuit, barely get time to develop, leaving uncertainties regarding the roles of Luke’s fellow lab “recruits.”
Sex and Skin: Limited to a kiss.
Final Scene: “So, how do you get out of here, clever kid?” Nick prompts Luke late one evening as they discuss the facility.
Sleeper Stars: Julian Richlings as Stackhouse and Robert Joy as Hastings, two solid supporting characters who embody the villainous roles well.
Curious Plot Point: There’s a confusing element involving “shots of dots”. The recruits look at the dots after being injected with something, implying they’re getting closer to going home. Yet, Karisha seems intent on keeping Luke around longer, which adds to the confusion.
Our Recommendation: Stream it. This recommendation is more hopeful than passionate. While The Institute has promising elements, they don’t quite mesh in the opening episode. However, there’s hope they will come together as the series unfolds, though it might also lead to a convoluted storyline.
