Storm of the Century (1999)

Storm of the Century (1999) is a horror television miniseries written by renowned author Stephen King and directed by Craig R. Baxley. In contrast to other TV adaptations of King’s work, this series stands out as an original screenplay created specifically for television. As the inhabitants of Little Tall Island, Maine prepare for a fierce blizzard in 1989, they are rocked by the brutal murder of elderly resident Martha Clarendon at the hands of a menacing stranger. Town manager Robbie Beals takes it upon himself to investigate, but is soon terrorized by the stranger who exposes shameful secrets from his past. The stranger, going by the name André Linoge, is eventually apprehended by Mike Anderson, a supermarket manager and part-time constable. However, it becomes apparent that Linoge possesses knowledge of all the island’s residents and their darkest secrets, with a particular interest in Mike’s son Ralphie who bears a distinctive birthmark on his nose. But while Linoge remains tight-lipped about his own background, he cryptically demands one thing: ‘Give me what I want, and I’ll go away’.

While confined in a jail cell, Linoge manipulates the minds of numerous townspeople, resulting in multiple suicides and a murder. He then manages to escape the jail disguised as an elderly man and repeats his demands before vanishing into the raging storm. Seeking refuge from the tempestuous weather, the residents seek shelter in the town hall. However, while they are slumbering, Linoge appears on their televisions disguised as a televangelist and delivers a lecture on the repercussions of rejecting a stranger’s request. In an odd twist of events, all the residents have an identical dream in which officials discover the island deserted following the storm and with ‘Croaton’ etched onto a tree. A journalist connects this strange occurrence to the infamous missing Roanoke colony. Meanwhile, Mike experiences a dream where he witnesses the townspeople walking into the ocean and drowning themselves.