1922 (Film)

1922 is a 2017 American horror drama directed by Zak Hilditch. The film is adapted from the novella of the same name in American author Stephen King’s 2010 short story collection Full Dark, No Stars. After its world premiere at the Fantastik Festival on 23 September 2017, the film was released globally on Netflix on 20 October 2017.

Screenplay and Plot Summary

The narrative unfolds on a farm in Nebraska in 1922. The protagonist, Wilfred James, plots to murder his wife Arlette for financial gain. To carry out the crime, Wilfred convinces his 14-year-old son Henry to assist him. After the murder, Wilfred James begins to write a confession detailing his crime. Subsequent events introduce mysterious and psychologically tense developments in his life. The story is a tale of revenge, exploring guilt and psychological collapse through symbolic elements such as rats.

A Scene from the Film(IMDb)

Production and Technical Crew

The film was produced by Ross M. Dinerstein. The executive producers include Ian Bricke, Jamie Goehring, Samantha Housman, Kevin Leeson and Shawn Williamson. The technical crew features cinematographer Ben Richardson, casting director Maureen Webb, supervising producer Merlin Eden, costume designer Claudia Da Ponte, and production designer Page Buckner. The score was composed by Mike Patton. A Canadian production, the film runs for 101 minutes and is in English.

A Scene from the Film(IMDb)

A Scene from the Film(IMDb)

Cast and Character Roles

The main cast and their respective roles in the film are as follows:

• Thomas Jane (Wilfred James): A farmer who murders his wife for financial gain and later suffers a psychological breakdown.
• Molly Parker (Arlette James): Wilfred’s wife; murdered by her husband and son due to a dispute over land ownership.
• Dylan Schmid (Henry James): The 14-year-old son of Wilfred and Arlette; persuaded by his father to participate in the murder.
• Kaitlyn Bernard (Shannon Cotterie): A neighbor girl who forms an emotional bond with Henry James.
• Neal McDonough (Harlan Cotterie): Shannon’s father; one of the local farmers in the region.
• Brian d'Arcy James (Sheriff Jones): The local law enforcement officer responsible for maintaining order in the area.
• Eric Keenleyside (Lars): One of the supporting characters in the narrative.
• Tanya Champoux (Sallie Cotterie): Harlan’s wife and Shannon’s mother, who appears in the story.
• Bob Frazer (Andrew Lester): A figure with whom the protagonist interacts during legal or social proceedings.

Thematic Analysis

The film is categorized as drama, thriller and horror. Structurally, it employs a slow-paced rhythm and contains no action or adventure elements. Its focus lies on themes of guilt, psychological drama and revenge. As a long-form adaptation of Stephen King, it is deeply character-driven and centered on psychological tension.