"The Tommyknockers" is one of the few science fiction mini shows that's based upon a Stephen King novel. The production values aren't exactly lavish and some of the acting is rather over-the-top. It's the writing and the narrative which I enjoy the most. The characters are depicted as being ordinary ones and no more brave or heroic than anyone else. The fact that thy have no idea what is about to be unleashed upon their small town, adds to the tension. Each of the main cast members are given quite a lot of depth which is all the better. It isn't as if we witness loads of aliens with bald heads and big, dark eyes roaming the countryside. Both the novel and the teleplay opt for a more subtle approach and it works. Having the story set and filmed in the countryside helps to keep the narrative on an even keel and also makes the whole thing more imaginative. The ending is a bit of a letdown as it all feels rushed and is rather clichéd. Even so, I still enjoy this production.

The superbly named Stephen King book turned TV miniseries, The Tommyknockers is another story that gets the treatment it deserves, a full length feature. Acquiring quality actors and actresses is obviously a challenge when it comes to a King horror miniseries but Tommyknockers managed to pick up some talent. Jimmy Smits is a suitable lead actor to depend on and the supporting actresses of Marg Helgenberger, Allyce Beasley and Traci Lords all had solid performances were and easy on the eyes. The pace at times was dull not giving much of anything away in terms of the aliens. Characters possessed by alien life forces could have been a bit more sinister instead cheap effects and robotic mannerisms were used to imply they've been taken over. The ending itself was rather ho-hum and didn't have any memorable or re-watchable traits. The Tommyknockers may be worth about one watch and that's it.

Granted, the book in this case was not much better. This movie just did not have the best scenes from the book, it tacked on an ending that was just a bit to happy, and it was horribly miscast as when I read the book the pictures of the characters I got in no way resembled what we got here. Sometimes they get it near perfect, here they were off by a whole lot. The story is basically taken from "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" with some Stephen King twists and perversions added to the mix, the book has the perversions, the movie takes all that kind of stuff out. In the end the movie is a dried husk of the book which was not particularly strong either. Jimmy Smits is awful in it, but then so is everyone else, and the fact it is a two parter and extended needlessly does not help matters out either. So all I can say is be prepared to see a lot of green light, a very toned down ending (granted I can see why they could not do the whole woman being naked at the end), and also be prepared for a very unmemorable ride. I would suggest reading the book instead, but it is not really all that worth finding either.

The I rating is for the moment the credits went up on this utterly boring tripe.It makes no sense and its like 2 or 3 movie excerpts were stitched together. Logic? There was none-dolls that come to life for no reason and daft sub plots about cheating husbands. Science fiction should have an element of at least mystery and at least some logic but this has none.Why make a kid disappear through a magic trick? If these aliens who emerged towards the end had been used right they'd have scared people into submission yet one gets attacked with a shovel? Really this is an insult to viewers who enjoy proper science fiction like War Of The Worlds or The Invaders or Quatermass. The average zombie film makes more sense It says nothing in the end only you wasted time watching it