Storm of the Century (1999)
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A menacing stranger arrives on a blizzard-stricken island, demanding a specific sacrifice from the terrified residents.
The story
In 1989, the residents of the fictional Little Tall Island in Maine prepare for a powerful blizzard that cuts them off from the mainland. The isolation is shattered when a menacing stranger named André Linoge arrives, terrorizing the community by revealing their darkest secrets. Linoge issues a chilling ultimatum to the residents: "Give me what I want, and I'll go away." As the storm intensifies, the townspeople are forced to confront their own moral failings and the supernatural threat posed by the mysterious visitor who seems to know their every secret.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1989, a blizzard traps the residents of Little Tall Island, Maine. A stranger named André Linoge murders an elderly resident and begins terrorizing the town, revealing the shameful secrets of the inhabitants. Mike Anderson, a part-time constable, arrests Linoge, who reveals he knows everyone's secrets and is interested in Mike's son, Ralphie. Linoge escapes and possesses the minds of townspeople, causing suicides and murders. He later appears as a televangelist on television, lecturing the residents. The townspeople begin having shared dreams of a deserted island and the word 'Croaton.' Linoge eventually reveals his true form as an old wizard and demands a child to raise as a sorcerer. He informs the residents that if they refuse, their dreams will come true. Despite Mike's pleas, the residents—including his wife Molly—agree to the sacrifice. Linoge presides over a lottery where Ralphie is chosen. He takes the boy and flies into the night. Devastated, Mike resigns, divorces Molly, and leaves the island to become a U.S. Marshal in San Francisco. Years later, he sees Linoge and a corrupted Ralphie in Chinatown but keeps the truth secret. Several residents commit suicide over the years from remorse.
- First release year
- 1999
- Runtime (minutes)
- 257
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Craig R. Baxley
- Writers
- Stephen King · writer
- Cast and characters
- Tim Daly; Colm Feore · Andre Linoge; Debrah Farentino · Molly; Casey Siemaszko · Ralphie; Jeffrey DeMunn
- Genres
- Drama; Horror; Fantasy; Thriller
- Themes
- Morality; Personal Responsibility; Sacrifice; Supernatural Terror
- Tone and mood
- Chilling; Gripping; Morally Complex
- Premise and plot tags
- Morality Play; Supernatural Horror; Small Town Mystery
- Source material / true-story basis
- Original screenplay (described as a 'novel for television')
- Content notes
- Suicide
- Reception
- The miniseries received critical acclaim for its performances and moral complexity, with comparisons to The Shining and Edgar Allan Poe. It is considered a major influence on modern horror works.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 82% · review count: 22; Rotten Tomatoes · score: 7.33/10 · scale: 10
- Production trivia
- Stephen King called it his personal favorite of all the TV productions related to his works.; The name Linoge is an anagram for Legion.; The location is canonically mapped in the opening credits of the 2018 Hulu series Castle Rock.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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