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If It Bleeds

If It Bleeds is a collection of four novellas by American author , published on April 21, 2020, by Scribner. The book debuted at number one on The New York Times bestseller list and features King's signature blend of horror, suspense, and human drama in longer short fiction format. The novellas include , which explores an intergenerational friendship between a young boy and a reclusive billionaire that takes a disturbing turn after the man's death involving a smartphone; "The Life of Chuck", a poignant tale told in reverse chronological order chronicling the life and mysterious death of an ordinary man; If It Bleeds, the second story centered on private detective Holly Gibney as she confronts a psychically linked bomber targeting schools; and "Rat", where a struggling writer and his son face isolation and terror during a storm in a cabin infested by a monstrous rodent. The title novella continues the Holly Gibney series, originally introduced in the Bill Hodges trilogy (Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, and End of Watch) and further developed in The Outsider, and since continued in the novels Holly (2023) and Never Flinch (2025). If It Bleeds received critical acclaim for its masterful storytelling and thematic depth, earning a nomination for the for Superior Achievement in a Fiction Collection. Several stories have been adapted into films: "Mr. Harrigan's Phone" became a 2022 Netflix movie directed by , while "The Life of Chuck" was adapted into a 2024 feature film by Mike Flanagan starring . An adaptation of "Rat" was announced in September 2025.

Novellas

"Mr. Harrigan's Phone"

"Mr. Harrigan's Phone" is the first novella in the collection, focusing on an intergenerational friendship between a young boy named Craig and a reclusive, wealthy retiree, Mr. Harrigan. After Craig uses lottery winnings to buy Mr. Harrigan a smartphone, the device becomes central to eerie events following the older man's death, exploring themes of technology, loss, and the afterlife.

"The Life of Chuck"

The second novella, "The Life of Chuck," is structured in reverse chronological order, chronicling the life of an ordinary man named Charles "Chuck" Krantz from his death at age 39 to his childhood. Presented in three interconnected acts, it blends poignant everyday moments with surreal elements, emphasizing themes of mortality, joy, and human connection.

"If It Bleeds"

The title novella, "If It Bleeds," continues the story of private detective , previously featured in King's Bill Hodges trilogy and The Outsider. Holly investigates a devastating school bombing in , growing suspicious of a TV news reporter with an uncanny ability to cover major tragedies, revealing supernatural elements tied to psychic phenomena. The story delves into grief, intuition, and the blurred line between reality and the otherworldly.

"Rat"

"Rat," the final novella, follows Drew Larson, a struggling and English plagued by , who retreats to a remote cabin in with his young son during a fierce blizzard to complete his . Facing isolation, illness, and insecurities, Drew encounters a sinister supernatural entity in the form of a , leading to a that tests the costs of creativity and family.

Reception

Commercial performance

If It Bleeds debuted at number one on The New York Times Best Seller list for Hardcover Fiction for the week of May 3, 2020, holding the top position for one week. The book remained on the list for a total of six weeks. In the United States, the collection sold nearly 200,000 hardcover copies in its first month following release, according to NPD BookScan data. Its strong initial performance contributed to overall robust sales throughout 2020, bolstered by increased demand for reading material during the early stages of COVID-19 lockdowns. Internationally, If It Bleeds topped the Sunday Times bestseller list in the United Kingdom. It also achieved strong sales in Canada and Germany. The book's commercial success was enhanced by its timely publication amid global lockdowns, which spurred heightened interest in fiction, as well as promotional efforts including virtual events hosted by author Stephen King. Additionally, it received a nomination for the 2021 Locus Award for Best Collection.

Critical reception

If It Bleeds received widespread critical acclaim upon its release, with reviewers praising it as a return to form for in the genre, showcasing his mastery of , , and emotional depth across varied tones from terror to poignant . The collection earned strong professional reviews, averaging around 4 out of 5 stars based on major outlets, and was hailed for its accessibility to newcomers while delighting longtime fans with King's signature blend of the and the everyday. Critics noted the novellas' range, from the macabre technological unease of "" to the heartfelt of "The Life of Chuck," affirming King's enduring skill in shorter . Key reviews highlighted King's finesse in weaving genres and character development. USA Today awarded it 3.5 out of 4 stars, stating that "King's mastery of the shines" through tales that explore dreams and human frailties. Publishers Weekly described the collection as King "at his finest," commending his "finesse in blending genres" like and , particularly in the Faustian "" and the detective-driven title story. Kirkus Reviews called it "vintage King," ideal for newcomers, with its -laced narratives that refresh familiar conceits such as recurring malevolent forces. Specific elements drew particular praise and some critique. "The Life of Chuck" was lauded for its emotional depth, unfolding backward to meditate profoundly on mortality and the impact of an ordinary life, making it a standout for its moving apocalyptic framework. The title novella was commended for advancing Gibney's character arc, portraying her growth as a confronting shape-shifting entities tied to sensationalism. However, "Rat" faced mild criticism for pacing issues and conventional tropes, with some reviewers viewing it as a familiar retread despite its meta elements. Broader analysis emphasized the timeliness of the collection's themes, including grief as a world-ending force in "The Life of Chuck" and the perils of technology in "Mr. Harrigan's Phone," where a smartphone bridges the living and the dead. Reviewers observed a lack of the interconnected narratives found in King's earlier collection Full Dark, No Stars, opting instead for standalone variety that prioritizes individual emotional resonance over unified plotting. Minor criticisms targeted predictability in supernatural elements, such as recurring undead motifs, though these were seen as comforting hallmarks rather than flaws. The collection was nominated for the 2020 for Superior Achievement in a Fiction Collection and the 2020 Choice for Best Horror Book. The audiobook version was a finalist for the 2021 for Best /Suspense. In the long term, If It Bleeds has influenced discussions of King's later short fiction, particularly through Gibney's expanded role, which carried into subsequent novels like Holly (2023), and the adaptation of "The Life of " into a 2025 that amplified its themes of loss and humanity. The collection solidified King's reputation for timely explorations of modern anxieties, sparking ongoing analysis of his evolving approach to grief and technology in post-2020 works.

Adaptations

"Mr. Harrigan's Phone"

The film adaptation of King's novella "" was developed by in collaboration with producers , , and Carla Hacken. It was written and directed by , who adapted the story into a supernatural coming-of-age . Principal casting announcements began in 2021, with production starting that October. The lead roles are played by as the young protagonist Craig and as the reclusive billionaire Mr. Harrigan. Supporting cast includes as Ms. Hart, Craig's teacher; as Craig's father; and additional performers such as Colin O'Brien and . The adaptation remains faithful to the novella's core premise, in which a boy discovers he can communicate with his deceased friend via a buried with him, while incorporating to depict the eerie phone interactions. Filming took place primarily in , with locations including Fairfield, Norwalk's Lockwood Mathews Mansion Museum, Stamford, Wilton, and a in , to stand in for the story's small-town setting. The wrapped in late 2021. premiered on on October 5, 2022, with a runtime of 104 minutes. The film received mixed reviews, holding a 47% approval rating on based on 64 critic reviews. Critics praised the strong performances by and Martell but critiqued the slow pacing and lack of tension, with the consensus noting that it "never quite connects with the source material's haunting potential." endorsed the adaptation, tweeting that a near-final cut was "nothing short of brilliant."

"The Life of Chuck"

The film adaptation of "The Life of Chuck," the second novella in Stephen King's 2020 collection If It Bleeds, was announced in 2021 as the third collaboration between director Mike Flanagan and King following (2017) and Doctor Sleep (2019). The story, which unfolds in reverse chronological order from a dystopian to the protagonist's childhood joys, was adapted to emphasize its existential themes of mortality and human connection through a non-linear structure. Development began when Flanagan, through his production company founded in 2020, secured the rights to the novella after initially being turned down by ; the project was greenlit shortly after Flanagan's departure from in 2020. Flanagan wrote the himself, drawing directly from King's text to preserve its blend of sentimentality and while expanding on the three-act reverse timeline. The film was produced by in association with Pictures, with Trevor Macy serving as a key producer alongside Flanagan. The cast featured in the titular role of Charles "Chuck" Krantz, portraying the character across different life stages from to youth. Supporting roles included as a colleague in the adult segment, as a romantic interest, and as Gus Wilfong, a neighbor in one of the story's poignant scenes; additional performers such as , , and Benjamin Pajak played variations of Chuck and other figures to highlight the narrative's multiplicity. Flanagan's frequent collaborator also appeared in a supporting capacity. Principal photography took place from October 2023 to early 2024 primarily in , including in and County, to capture the novella's grounded yet otherworldly settings. The production emphasized practical effects for the dystopian elements in , such as crumbling urban landscapes, while relying on to evoke the intimate, everyday of Chuck's personal milestones; the approach allowed for a modest scale that aligned with Flanagan's return to independent filmmaking post-streaming projects. McLachlan handled the visuals, focusing on warm, nostalgic tones to contrast the apocalyptic bookends. The film had its world premiere at the on September 8, 2024, where it won the People's Choice Award, before a limited U.S. theatrical release on June 6, 2025, expanding wide on June 13; distributed by , which acquired North American rights in September 2024, the movie runs 110 minutes. 's strategy positioned it as a prestige drama rather than , capitalizing on festival buzz for awards contention. Early critical reception was positive, with an 80% approval rating on based on over 280 reviews, praising the film's emotional depth, Flanagan's sensitive handling of King's material, and Hiddleston's multifaceted performance as conveying quiet profundity amid life's impermanence. Critics highlighted scenes of joy and loss as particularly moving, though some noted the deliberate pacing might challenge genre fans expecting more suspense. Commercially, it grossed $6.7 million domestically and $11.4 million worldwide, reflecting solid performance for an release amid a crowded summer slate.

"Rat"

The film adaptation of Stephen King's novella "Rat," the fourth story in his 2020 collection If It Bleeds, has undergone several changes in its development since its initial optioning. In July 2020, the rights were acquired by Ben Stiller's , with Stiller attached to produce, direct, and star in the project. By September 2025, the adaptation saw new attachments, including producer Jay Van Hoy—known for his work on acclaimed horror films such as The Witch (2015) and (2019)—alongside director Isaac Ezban, a Mexican filmmaker whose credits include Parvulos (2021). The screenplay is being written by Jeff Howard and Ezban himself. Ezban has described the film as "a survival movie about , and also as the ultimate tale of our craft vs. our family," aligning with the novella's Faustian theme of a struggling confronting a entity during a storm-bound stay with his son. As of November 2025, the cast remains unannounced, and the project is in with the screenplay undergoing revisions. The has faced challenges, including multiple transitions over the five years since the initial announcement, shifting from Stiller's involvement to the current team led by Van Hoy. No release date or distributor has been confirmed, though the emphasis on the story's isolated, horror-fantasy elements suggests a potential low-budget approach.

"If It Bleeds"

In July 2020, announced a film adaptation of the title novella "If It Bleeds" from Stephen King's 2020 collection of the same name. The project is to be directed by , known for films such as The Blind Side and . Producers include of , Ryan Murphy, , and , with the adaptation tying into King's broader universe through the protagonist . The story follows , a whose arc evolves from her earlier appearances in King's Bill Hodges trilogy and The Outsider, as she probes a city bombing after spotting a supernatural entity in news footage. As of November 2025, the project remains in early development, often described as stuck in , with ongoing script rewrites but no commenced. No official cast has been announced. The adaptation is envisioned as an ensemble thriller emphasizing psychological tension and elements, though details on or —such as a potential pivot to a —remain unconfirmed amid the lack of progress since the announcement. Recent overviews of projects exclude it from active production lists, underscoring the stalled status.

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