How Stephen King’s Legacy Shaped Horns With Radcliffe and Carpenter

Back in 2013, Daniel Radcliffe took a sharp turn from his wizarding days, stepping into the shoes of Ig Perrish in a film that slipped under the radar for many. Horns, a blend of dark comedy, fantasy, and horror, handed Radcliffe a pair of supernatural appendages and a rather peculiar set of powers. Juno Temple appeared as his ill-fated girlfriend, while a young Sabrina Carpenter portrayed her in earlier years. Despite the intriguing premise, the film didn’t exactly set the box office alight or win over the critics.

The King Connection: Family Ties and Source Material

What’s perhaps most fascinating is the story behind the story. Horns is adapted from a novel by Joe Hill, who, as it happens, is the son of Stephen King and Tabitha King. Hill, born Joseph King, has carved out his own niche in the world of horror and fantasy, with works like Heart-Shaped Box, NOS4A2, and The Fireman to his name. Much like his father, Hill has seen several of his books make the leap to the screen. Horns, in particular, earned a nod for the Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel in 2010, even if its cinematic counterpart didn’t quite achieve the same acclaim.

The film adaptation was announced in 2012, with Alexandre Aja at the helm and Mandalay Pictures and Red Granite Pictures producing. Radcliffe and Temple were cast in the lead roles, a move that piqued the interest of fans familiar with Radcliffe’s previous forays into the fantastical. Director Aja remarked at the time,

“After reading Joe Hill’s cult book, I couldn’t resist temptation to dive into the devilish underworld and reinvent a universal myth.”

Box Office Blues and Critical Reception

Despite the pedigree behind the project, Horns struggled to find its audience. Over a month-long run, it managed just under $4 million at the box office. Reviews were less than glowing, with a Rotten Tomatoes score hovering at 41% and audiences only slightly more generous at 49%. The film’s tone, a curious mix of genres, left some viewers scratching their heads, and its two-hour runtime didn’t help matters. Critics often pointed to the symbolism as being more silly than sinister, and the overall execution failed to live up to the promise of its source material.

At the heart of the story is Ig Perrish, a 26-year-old accused of murdering his girlfriend, Merrin Williams. Ostracised by his community, Ig wakes up after a night out to discover he’s grown horns—along with the unsettling ability to compel people to reveal their darkest secrets. Determined to clear his name, he uses these powers to unravel the mystery of Merrin’s death, with flashbacks revealing the couple’s complicated past. Carpenter’s portrayal of young Merrin adds a poignant touch to these glimpses into their earlier lives.

What the Film Got Right

While Horns may have missed the mark for some, there were elements that stood out. The concept of a devilish figure able to draw out hidden truths found success elsewhere, notably in the television series Lucifer. For fans of horror-fantasy, the film offered plenty to chew on. Radcliffe, stepping in after Shia LaBeouf’s departure, delivered a performance that signalled his willingness to embrace more unconventional roles post-Potter. This project arguably set the tone for the string of offbeat choices that would follow in his career.

Director Alexandre Aja, known for his work on High Tension, The Hills Have Eyes, and Piranha 3D, brought his own flair to the adaptation. Though the end result divided opinion, some viewers appreciated the ambition and the willingness to take risks with tone and narrative. Horns is now available to stream on The Roku Channel and MovieSphere+, offering a chance for new audiences to discover its peculiar charms.