Ink to Film

Filmmaker Tomas Alfredson delivered a smart, evocative, and faithful adaptation of the source novel by working closely with author John Ajvide Lindvist to skillfully shift mediums from the written to the visual. In episode 240, Luke & James pour themselves a tall glass of milk and sit in the corner to discuss a loss of innocence, an inescapable cold, and legacies of violence. They end by casting t...

Author John Ajvide Lindqvist takes vampire mythology and reinvents it by setting his tale in 1980s Stockholm, aging down the characters to inappropriate levels, and leaning heavily on a Stephen King influence. In episode 239, Luke & James discuss one of the darkest novels they've ever covered on the podcast, the role of extreme topics in horror, empathy for the devil, and just what kinds of horror...

Tear down the walls between your dreams and venture into a vortex of an episode combining ten comic book issues and the final episodes of the Netflix adaptation of Neil Gaiman's THE SANDMAN. In episode 238 Luke & James weigh the decisions made by Allen Heinberg and the tv writers on how to best end a season of television, the nudity of a dream vortex, a choice with Despair, what truly makes Death'...

One of Neil Gaiman's most iconic works has finally come to Netflix as a TV series, but the path it took to wind up there was long and bumpy. In episode 237, Luke & James react to the first five episodes of Allen Heinberg's adaptation, wonder what it means for something to be "unfilmable" these days, give props to Tom Sturridge's portrayal of an eternal godlike being, react to the amazing David The...

In the 1980s Neil Gaiman took a character originally created by Jack Kirby and completely reimagined him, in the process making a goth icon that would propel Gaiman into literary super stardom. In episode 236, Luke & James read through the first ten issues and reflect on what made them so different, geek out about the inventive style, debate author self-inserts, and explore the origins of Death he...

Joe Hill is more than just the son of horror icon Stephen King, and Scott Derrickson's adaptation of his short story helps showcase what makes him a powerhouse in his own right. In episode 235, Luke & James talk about how authors can approach writing taboos, what they might risk, exploring childhood trauma, Ethan Hawke's standout performance, catharsis through horror, and using True Crime as an in...

Author Rachael K. Jones rejoins to discuss James Whale's incredibly influential adaptation of Mary Shelley's FRANKENSTEIN. In episode 234, Luke, James, and Rachael discuss what's in a name, the physical toll that Boris Karloff endured to play the monster, an innovation in camera motion, a real human skeleton, an adaptation of an adaptation, the Rock band KISS's surprising connection, Stephen King...

Author Rachael K. Jones joins to discuss one of the foundational works for all science fiction and horror, Mary Shelley's FRANKENSTEIN. In episode 233, Luke, James, and Rachael discuss hand washing and cadaver dissection, a psycho-sexually fraught writer's retreat, wrapping Percy Shelley's heart in silk, and the unending angst contest between Victor and the Creature. Join them all next week when R...

Before John Carpenter's iconic adaptation of the novella "Who Goes There?'', another director brought the story to life and inspired a generation of filmmakers. But was it directed by Christian Nyby or was it actually Howard Hawks? How does the 50s classic hold up to a modern viewing? This episode was formerly a Patreon-exclusive! Become a Patron for hours of exclusive content & more: www.patreon....

Should we still celebrate THE LORD OF THE RINGS? Michael Moorcock once penned an infamous and scathing takedown of JRR Tolkien's LOTR series, but is it convincing today? Luke & James react to his argument about the inherent Toryism and "corrupted Romance" of Tolkien's writing, as well as that of C.S. Lewis and Richard Adams. This episode is an example of the kind of experimental things we put out...

George Saunders's short story, "Escape from Spiderhead," was a tragicomic success worthy of The New Yorker , but did it successfully make the leap to film? In episode 232, Luke & James discuss director Joseph Kasinskis's big month, George Saunders's literary lineage, why we all have a little Chris Hemsworth in our brains, and finally cast their vote on which was better: the book or the movie! Ink...

Author & translator Simone Heller rejoins the show to compare the Rankin/Bass adaptation of Peter S. Beagle's fantasy classic. In episode 231, Luke, James, & Simone discuss the German love for the movie's soundtrack, Schmendrick as an author stand-in, a realm-walking butterfly, and how embracing mortality can unlock artistic expression. They finish by casting their votes on which is the better ver...

Author and Translator Simone Heller joins to discuss one of her all-time favorite novels and a classic of fantasy, THE LAST UNICORN by Peter S. Beagle. In episode 230, Luke, James, and Simone discuss the concept of thinning magic, what it means to be trapped in a fairytale, the wisdom of a forgetful butterfly, and why a pure mythical beast can never love a hero. And join them next week when Simone...

Arthur C. Clarke was already one of the most famous SciFi writers of all time before collaborating with Stanley Kubrick on 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, so how did he feel about the release of the film just beating his novel by a few months and ultimately overshadowing it? In episode 229, Luke & James discuss a potentially tarnished legacy, a unique form of collaboration, a difference of tone, and how ch...

Stanley Kubrick didn't just change Science Fiction, but film as an art form forever with his mind-bending space epic that introduced the world to mysterious alien monoliths and HAL 9000's cold red eye. In episode 228, Luke & James cover Arthur C. Clarke's original short story "The Sentinel" briefly before getting into one of the most famous movies ever made. Topics include spaghettification, time...

If it's true that we never have friends later in life like we did when we were 12, what causes that to happen? Director Rob Reiner's adaptation of Stephen King's novella "The Body" seeks to answer that question and establishes itself as an immediate cult classic of 80s cinema. In episode 227, Luke & James take the fun, but potent nostalgia drug and reminisce about the times that came before. They...

With Stephen King's 1982 collection, DIFFERENT SEASONS, he tried publishing a collection of novellas outside the horror genre. Among the other notable works included, "The Body" would go on to form the basis for the 80s classic, "Stand By Me." In episode 226, Luke & James discuss a shocking revelation about James's childhood discovery, delve into their own feelings about returning to their small h...

Roald Dahl is one of the bestselling children's authors of all time, but how does this middle grade classic hold up when adapted by Henry Selick? In episode 225, James & Luke explore what scenes stayed with them most over the years and which did not, including a traumatic rhinoceros, an odd mecha-shark, some misguided live-action sequences, Randy Newman's music, and a couple of potentially problem...

Showrunner Rebecca Sonnenshine's ambitious adaptation of a horror audio drama has been cancelled after just one season, but what was she able to accomplish in the time she had? In episode 224, Luke & James finish out Marc Sollinger and Daniel Powell's source material, debate the role of withholding knowledge in storytelling of all genres, define what's meant by the term "soft horror," and finally...

For the first time in Ink to Film history Luke & James tackle another podcast—an audio drama—and its impressive adaptation! In episode 223, they tackle the first half of season 1 of both show and pod. Luke rants about Netflix's strategic error and foolish cancellation of the show, and how they could have better set Archive 81 up for success. Plus, what made the audio drama take off, the story behi...

"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" by Joyce Carol Oates is a rare short story that's more famous than its film adaptation. In episode 222, Laura from the "Why the Book Wins" podcast & YouTube channel joins Luke & James to discuss both versions and help them get to the heart of the enduring tale. Topics include hints of a supernatural explanation for Arnold Friend, Laura Dern's surprising...

William Gibson is considered a founding father of the cyberpunk genre, but does he deserve the reputation? In episode 221, Luke & James read one of Gibson's earliest stories set in the world of his "Sprawl" trilogy, then watch the adaptation directed by Robert Longo and compare the two. Topics include sharp dressed men in business suits, the Mandela Effect, a cross-dagger wielding Dolph Lundgren,...

Autumn de Wilde's adaptation of one of Jane Austen's timeless novels is a visual feast that isn't afraid to let things get loud in a way seldom seen in regency romance. In episode 220, Luke & James debate just how punk rock this movie is, dial in the color saturation, shred on the pianoforte, worry about Anya Taylor-Joy's nosebleeds,  and find the source of that ghastly draft. They finish by votin...

Is this sequel to the original Pet Sematary (1989 film) worth watching today? Is the spirit of Stephen King's original work present in the continuation? This month, Luke and James dive into director Mary Lambert's second outing covering Pet Sematary. Become a Patron for hours of exclusive content & more:  www.patreon.com/inktofilm Ink to Film's  Twitter ,  Facebook ,  Instagram  (@inktofilm) Home...

Jane Austen wrote Emma Woodhouse to be "a heroine whom no-one but myself will much like," but did that end up being the case? In episode 219, Luke & James return to the regency era with carriage rides, questions of sensibility, and misunderstandings galore. They end by asking the question: By novel's end, are things as happy as they might seem? Join them next time when they discuss Autumn de Wilde...