Sometimes They Come Back
Encyclopedia
"Sometimes They Come Back" is a short story by Stephen King
, first published in the March 1974 issue of Cavalier
and later collected in King's 1978 collection Night Shift
.
, Connecticut
. The movie was actually filmed close to Rosedale Park in Kansas City, Kansas
on 7th Street and Mission Road where the main house is located and at Wyandotte High School in Kansas City, Kansas on 24th and Minnesota. Scenes were also filmed in and around Rocheport, Missouri, and Liberty, Missouri
.
As it turns out, the greasers were killed in a car accident after they attacked the boys. They have been brought back to life to finish their business with Jim. After they kill his wife, Jim uses a ritual to summon a demon (taking the form of his slain brother) to kill the greasers. Because he deals with the powers of darkness, things turn out less well than he had hoped. The ending implies that the forces he summoned to dispatch the greasers may also be just as sinister, and as difficult to get rid of as the greasers themselves were (the demon posing as his brother states "I'll be back, Jim").
aired in 1991, starring Tim Matheson
and was followed by two sequels in 1996 and 1999. The adaptation was originally going to be part of the 1985 film
, Cat's Eye (which included two other stories adapted from Night Shift, "The Ledge" and "Quitters, Inc"). However, producers thought the segment would do better on its own.
In the film adaptation, Jimmy's brother Wayne comes back to help after Mueller, one of the original greasers who had fled and survived, sacrifices himself, having heard his former friends state that somebody could come back when somebody else died. Jim's wife also does not die, and Wayne's return does not appear to be nearly as sinister, and in fact allows him a chance to gain closure and move on as a spirit.
The movie was filmed in Liberty, Missouri at the old Liberty high school and current Liberty Junior High School and at a old bridge on the south west side of town. It was also filmed in Kansas City, Kansas at Wyandotte High School because of the rumors of Wyadotte High School, the home of the Bulldogs, being rumored to be haunted.
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
, first published in the March 1974 issue of Cavalier
Cavalier (magazine)
Cavalier is an American magazine that was launched by Fawcett Publications in 1952 and has continued for decades, eventually evolving into a Playboy-style men's magazine...
and later collected in King's 1978 collection Night Shift
Night Shift (book)
Night Shift is the first collection of short stories by Stephen King, first published in 1978. Many of King's most famous short stories were included in this collection.-Stories collected:-Details:...
.
Setting
"Sometimes They Come Back" is set in Stratford High School in StratfordStratford, Connecticut
Stratford is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, located on Long Island Sound at the mouth of the Housatonic River. It was founded by Puritans in 1639....
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. The movie was actually filmed close to Rosedale Park in Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas City is the third-largest city in the state of Kansas and is the county seat of Wyandotte County. It is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, and is the third largest city in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The city is part of a consolidated city-county government known as the "Unified...
on 7th Street and Mission Road where the main house is located and at Wyandotte High School in Kansas City, Kansas on 24th and Minnesota. Scenes were also filmed in and around Rocheport, Missouri, and Liberty, Missouri
Liberty, Missouri
Liberty is a city in Clay County, Missouri and is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. At the 2007 population estimate, the city population was 29,993...
.
Plot summary
Two brothers are walking to the library when they are attacked by a gang of local greasers. One brother is killed while the other gets away. Many years later, Jim, the survivor of the attack, takes a job as an English teacher at a high school. Students from his class are murdered and are replaced by students that resemble the greasers that attacked him years before.As it turns out, the greasers were killed in a car accident after they attacked the boys. They have been brought back to life to finish their business with Jim. After they kill his wife, Jim uses a ritual to summon a demon (taking the form of his slain brother) to kill the greasers. Because he deals with the powers of darkness, things turn out less well than he had hoped. The ending implies that the forces he summoned to dispatch the greasers may also be just as sinister, and as difficult to get rid of as the greasers themselves were (the demon posing as his brother states "I'll be back, Jim").
Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
A TV movie adaptationSometimes They Come Back (film)
Sometimes They Come Back is a 1991 made-for-TV horror film based on the short story by the same title by Stephen King. It was filmed partially in Liberty, Missouri....
aired in 1991, starring Tim Matheson
Tim Matheson
Tim Matheson is an American actor, director and producer. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of the smooth-talking Eric 'Otter' Stratton in the 1978 comedy National Lampoon's Animal House and has had a variety of other well-known roles, including providing the voice of the lead character...
and was followed by two sequels in 1996 and 1999. The adaptation was originally going to be part of the 1985 film
1985 in film
-Events:* 3 December - Roger Moore steps down from the role of James Bond after twelve years and seven films. He is replaced by Timothy Dalton.* The Academy Award for Best Picture was won by Out Of Africa, while the highest grossing film was Back to the Future.* Bliss wins AFI Award for best Movie...
, Cat's Eye (which included two other stories adapted from Night Shift, "The Ledge" and "Quitters, Inc"). However, producers thought the segment would do better on its own.
In the film adaptation, Jimmy's brother Wayne comes back to help after Mueller, one of the original greasers who had fled and survived, sacrifices himself, having heard his former friends state that somebody could come back when somebody else died. Jim's wife also does not die, and Wayne's return does not appear to be nearly as sinister, and in fact allows him a chance to gain closure and move on as a spirit.
The movie was filmed in Liberty, Missouri at the old Liberty high school and current Liberty Junior High School and at a old bridge on the south west side of town. It was also filmed in Kansas City, Kansas at Wyandotte High School because of the rumors of Wyadotte High School, the home of the Bulldogs, being rumored to be haunted.