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
