Review of Thinner Movie

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Neil W

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May 27, 2008
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Isle of Wight UK
Obese Billy Halleck, on the receiving end of a bit of how's-your-father while driving, runs down a gypsy woman, and finds himself on the receiving end of a curse whereby the weight falls off him for no reason: he has to try to find a way to get the curse taken away before the weight loss kills him.

The first of Stephen King's books to be published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, Thinner is a pacey suspense story with mild horror/supernatural elements and no frills. The film adaptation is faithful to the book and workmanlike enough, but it is fair to say that, like the book, it does little beyond telling an enjoyable but unexceptional story with efficiency.

The fat costumes and prosthetics are well done but, inevitably, they aren't wholly convincing.
 

Sunlight Gardener

Well-Known Member
Jul 22, 2013
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I saw it in the theater when I was a teenager and I enjoyed it then. Haven't seen it for a long time. I remember being particularly impressed with the makeup his emaciated condition once he really started to waste away.
 
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Sunlight Gardener

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Jul 22, 2013
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One of those "unknown no name loser stars" is on one of the biggest television shows on the air. Joe Mantagna or however you spell it is one of the CSI show's. Can't keep them straight.

As for the others....to me at least, unknown actors are usually more convincing in horror movies than A list celebs (i.e Blair Witch project).
 

blunthead

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Aug 2, 2006
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Atlanta GA
I don't think the story is "unexceptional". I enjoyed both the book and the movie; I'm fond of them. There's something about sK's mind that seems to make anything that's interesting to him interesting to me. Many of the movies based on his stories were made on limited budgets, but those were the early days.
 

Neil W

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May 27, 2008
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Isle of Wight UK
I don't think the story is "unexceptional". I enjoyed both the book and the movie; I'm fond of them. There's something about sK's mind that seems to make anything that's interesting to him interesting to me. Many of the movies based on his stories were made on limited budgets, but those were the early days.
Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I genuinely felt that it was fairly journeyman stuff - not everything out of Uncle Steve's workshop consists of sparkling gems, some of it is costume jewellery. Pretty good costume jewellery, but not stuff that belongs in a safe when you've finished wearing it for the night. Assuming you're a lady. I'm starting to wander away from the path....
 

Doc Creed

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Nov 18, 2015
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This book was great, but the movie wasn't .
I would add only one thing to this. The woman who played Cary Rossington's wife was fantastic. She sold the movie for me, despite its ridiculous premise, in a way only the novel had accomplished. At least the director used humor throughout to make it more palatable. The actor in the lead role, as Billy Halleck, was irritating. My two cents, there ya go. Ha.
 

Autumn13

Active Member
Feb 14, 2012
43
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My son was quite young when he saw this movie. It scared him badly. I had told him about "The Monkey's Paw" and he was so afraid (he was kiddie overweight at time and it has since gone away at the gym) that he wouldn't let anyone in the house say, "Thinner".
Thankfully it didn't scar him for life and now he jokes about it but at the time...
 

grin willard

"Keep the change, you filthy animal!"
Feb 21, 2017
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....I think the movie should have been underwritten by Jenny Craig....

You psycho! :) I have to say, I loved this movie. Although I think the lead actor, capable as he was, made it seem a very 'B' production. They needed a star you'd recognize under the prosthetics. Sort of like that horse's ass Eddie Murphy in the klumps movies. Imagine James Caan or Dustin Hoffman in the part. Even Ray Romano. Michael Constantine as the old Gypsy was superb. Still alive at 90! Getting close to the age the character was in the book. Joe Mantegna as Richie 'The Hammer' basically steals the movie. Mantegna's definitely not the first guy you'd picture when reading the book. But man, he can go ruthless! "Yeah he was a mook, but he was MY mook." He was so damn cool!
I came away from the movie feeling like Richard Bachman's having Ritchie gutted at the end was, excuse me, stupid. It just feels wrong. He was the white man from town's only medicine. The balance of power goes right back where it was. It makes no sense whatsoever. And the Hammer was a crime boss. All Billy had to do was call The Hammer's mama, and 100 guys in $300 shoes would have been crawling thru those woods with ice-picks & garrots! It was just stupid. Maybe the Bachman books cleverly have maddening mistakes thrown in on purpose? Bachman was suppose to be sort of a 'joe lunch-pail' who'd just finished a stint in the merchant marines after all. Something like that.

The ending was too oblique. Is that a word? I mean confusing. Also hazy. Yeah, oblique. Look at this one.

 
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SteveValek

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Jan 10, 2018
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I nearly bought this at the Dvd store, some weeks back,and so glad I didn't !

Not that it's a bad movie,in any way,but more a movie you could put on,whilst reading say,and still follow it,without losing the story.
It's well over the top,in acting,and has that dark comedy feel,more than it tries to be a serious film..
I thought I was watching a segment of CREEPSHOW, if I'm honest,and rather than stretching this story over a full length,it would be better suited for a compilation,and could have been condensed I'm sure..
 
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GeorgieFan2003

Bill and Georgie Fan
Sep 17, 2017
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I nearly bought this at the Dvd store, some weeks back,and so glad I didn't !

Not that it's a bad movie,in any way,but more a movie you could put on,whilst reading say,and still follow it,without losing the story.
It's well over the top,in acting,and has that dark comedy feel,more than it tries to be a serious film..
I thought I was watching a segment of CREEPSHOW, if I'm honest,and rather than stretching this story over a full length,it would be better suited for a compilation,and could have been condensed I'm sure..

Is the Stephen King story a short story or something? I haven't read it so I don't know
 
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