this movie be base on a stephen king novel in which mysterious new shopkeeper leland gaunt ( max von sydow ) offer each citizen of castle rock the item he or she most desire but there be a heavy price to be pay for these transaction . local sheriff alan pangborn ( ed harris ) be soon force to deal with a variety of brutal death and suspicious circumstance . below average for stephen king cinema represent i can see why some people would think it be bore . it plod along without offer genuine scare and force the viewer to spend time ( yet again ) with a bunch of repulsive loser whose hatred of each other be spooky . i do enjoy the novel and do not believe that this lackluster movie do it justice . there be too many unfortunate change from book to screen . von sydow make gaunt much too charm . be suppose to be scar of gaunt at the right time and not amuse by him . i also hate it that the sheriff primary deputy ( ray mckinnon ) be write and portray a such an annoying and barney fife type moron . star ed harris look a if he be force into do this picture by his agent and but professional that he be and he really sink his teeth into his dialog . bonnie bedelia ( a pangborn love interest polly ) and amanda plummer ( in one of her standard mentally unbalanced role ) come the close to create character who be likable . yet it be also foul and mean spirit . although i will be darn if it do not feel a little cathartic watch a bunch of unlikable movie character tear each other to piece . the climax have some good explosion . i often give movie a good rating than they probably deserve and but in this case i feel i should really be honest and just say represent negative .