Satan opens an antique shop in a small town and
lures the residents into evil actions in this
supernatural chiller. Based on a novel by the
prolific Stephen King, the film bears many of
the author's trademarks, such as the New England
setting and the focus on regular people tempted
by the forces of supernatural evil. Here, the
enticements toward bad behavior comes from the
"Needful Things" shop, owned by new resident
Leland Gaunt (Max von Sydow). Gaunt's shop
offers an odd collection of goods, each of which
happens to be the object of desire of a local
resident. Instead of money, however, Gaunt
demands that townspeople perform a series of
simple pranks. He has a plan, and these actions
escalate until the town is at violent war with
itself. The residents are brought to life by a
talented cast, led by von Sydow's suave devil
and including Ed Harris as the local sheriff,
J.T. Walsh as a corrupt politician, and Amanda
Plummer as a seemingly innocent baker.
Directed by: Fraser
Clarke Heston
Written by: W.D.
Richter
Produced by: Jack
Cummins, Gordon Mark, Peter Yates
Original music by:
Patrick Doyle
Cast:
Max von Sydow ....
Leland Gaunt
Ed Harris .... Sheriff Alan Pangborn
Bonnie Bedelia .... Polly Chalmers
Amanda Plummer .... Nettie Cobb
J.T. Walsh .... Danforth "Buster" Keeton III
Ray McKinnon .... Dep. Norris Ridgewick
Duncan Fraser .... Hugh Priest
Valri Bromfield .... Wilma Jerzyk
Shane Meier .... Brian Rusk
William Morgan Sheppard .... Father Meehan
Don S. Davis .... Reverend Rose
Campbell Lane .... Frank Jewett
Eric Schneider .... Henry Beaufort
Frank C. Turner .... Pete Jerzyk
Gillian Barber .... Myrtle Keeton
Deborah Wakeham .... Myra
Tamsin Kelsey .... Sheila Ratcliff
Lochlyn Munro .... John LaPointe
Bill Croft .... Andy Clutterbuck
Dee Jay Jackson .... Eddie Warburton
Ann Warn Pegg .... Ruth Roberts
Gary Paller .... George Cobb
Sarah Sawatsky .... 14 Year Old Girl
Robert Easton .... Lester Pratt
Mike Chute .... Young Hugh
Mel Allen .... Baseball Announcer
Trevor Denman .... Race Track Announcer
