Stephen King Makes Rare Recommendation for Original Horror Movie The Cycle, Starring Deborah Ann Woll

Stephen King has long been willing to share his thoughts on new films and television, especially when an adaptation of his work is involved. His recommendations have helped draw attention to everything from major studio releases to smaller projects that might otherwise go unnoticed. Yet the legendary author says he rarely goes out of his way to promote original horror movies.

One upcoming release has convinced him to make an exception. King recently praised The Cycle, an independent horror movie starring Daredevil: Born Again actor Deborah Ann Woll, in an unusually enthusiastic social media post. “I don't usually pump up horror movies (unless they are mine, haha), but this is special,” King wrote before telling his followers to put it on their calendars. That endorsement gives The Cycle a significant boost ahead of its exclusive Shudder debut on October 23. King did not explain precisely what impressed him about the movie, leaving horror fans to discover its appeal for themselves. Still, describing another creator’s original horror story as “special” is substantial praise from the mind behind The Shining, It, and Carrie.

What Is Stephen King’s New Horror Recommendation About?

The Cycle follows Meg, played by Woll, after her father’s body is discovered at a horrific crime scene 36 years after he disappeared. The discovery forces her to investigate his past and confront disturbing questions about what happened to him. Its trailer suggests that his return may have a supernatural explanation, although it also leaves open the possibility that Meg cannot trust her own perception.

Jordan Downey directed the movie after previously contributing a segment to the horror anthology V/H/S/Beyond. He co-wrote the screenplay with Kevin Stewart, while Jeffrey Donovan, Gretchen Corbett, Will Hochman, Dana Millican, Phillip Andrew Botello, and Jack Doolan round out the cast. Its mixture of buried family secrets, psychological uncertainty, and potentially reanimated corpses makes King’s interest easy to understand. Downey described The Cycle as a love letter to King and said the author helped shape his entire upbringing as a movie fan. That connection made King’s public approval especially meaningful for the filmmaker, who called the moment almost impossible to comprehend.

The Cycle releases October 23 on Shudder.