Warner Movie   •••½ Picture   •••½ Sound   ••½ Extras   ••½

Why is it that so many non-horror fans read Stephen King? Because his best work easily transcends the genre. That much is obvious throughout this TNT series of eight hour-long TV movies based on the master's short stories. A couple of clunkers weigh things down, but actors like William H. Macy and Samantha Mathis dive headfirst into their psychologically complex, character-driven material. And one effects-driven episode, in which a box of toy soldiers comes to life to battle a hit man (William Hurt) who has just killed their creator, is breathtaking in its realism.

The Dolby Surround sound does fine by the dialogue but lacks the punch and depth that a 5.1 track would bring. An hour's worth of featurettes spread over the set's three discs feels inadequate, especially given the repetition of material. [NR] English, Dolby Digital 5.1; letterboxed (1.78:1) and anamorphic widescreen; three dual-layer discs.

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