Summary
WhileYou Like It Darker’sCujosequel is already a follow-up to a Stephen King story, it made me wish for a sequel to another one of the author’s underrated horror novels. Notall of Stephen King’s booksneed to be revisited, but I think many of the author’s stories deserve an update. The writer himself seems to agree with me on this point, judging by his latest collection. The short story collectionYou Like It Darkerfeatures a direct sequel toCujo, a story similar to King’s 1987 novelThe Tommyknockers, and a Flannery O’Connor short story retelling.
AlthoughYou Like It Darker’s satisfying spinon “A Good Man Is Hard To Find” isn’t a case of King revisiting his back catalog, it is further proof that the author has recently been reaching into the past for inspiration. Perhaps the most explicit instance of this isYou Like It Darker’s novella “Rattlesnakes.” This story is a direct follow-up toCujo, the killer dog novel that was later adapted into a movie. “Rattlesnakes” reintroducesCujo’s Vic Trenton in a tale that is dark, ominous, and one ofYou Like It Darker’s best stories.
The Scariest Story In Stephen King’s You Like It Darker (& Why It’s So Terrifying)
Stephen King’s stories in You Like It Darker explore a wide range of fears, but one of them stands out as the most terrifying and disturbing.
You Like It Darker’s Cujo Sequel Makes Me Want A Follow-Up To 2008’s Duma Key
Duma Key’s Story Could Be Revisited In A Sequel
However,Cujoisn’t the only early King novel that “Rattlesnakes” referencesin its literary ghost story. “Rattlesnakes” takes place on Rattlesnake Key on the Gulf Coast of Florida. I immediately recognized this setting from an earlier King novel and, sure enough, the story soon referenced 2008’s underratedDuma Key. This largely forgotten novel is one of many King stories that blend fantasy and supernatural elements with horror drama.Duma Keywas reasonably well regarded by critics upon its 2008 release, although its promised movie adaptation never materialized. However, “Rattlesnakes” didn’t make me miss this unmade movie.
The handful of oblique references that the novella made to Duma Key’s events were fun.
Instead, theCujosequel fromYou Like It Darkerleft me longing for a sequel toDuma Keyitself. The handful of oblique references that the novella made toDuma Key’s events were fun, and it was chilling to discover that there were plans to rebuild the eponymous setting after it was destroyed in a tropical storm. However, this just made me realize how much I’d love to see more from the story of Edgar Freemantle. A construction worker who loses his arm in a workplace accident, Edgar is plagued by a brain injury that leaves him unable to choose words.
Stephen King’s Cujo Sequel References The Author’s 2008 Novel
Cujo’s Followup Expands King’s Fictional Universe With Duma Key Links
WhenDuma Key’s story begins, Edgar is sent to the titular seaside setting so he can learn to be with himself again. Frustrated by his slow recovery and divorce, Edgar finds solace in drawing for the first time since his childhood. However, a strange, evil force closes in as Edgar spends more time indulging in art, andDuma Keygradually grows scarier as the book’s story continues.Stephen King’sThe Tommyknockersalready exploredthe ways in which art can be used as a metaphorical stand-in for inner demons, butDuma Keytook this idea further in its deeply creepy story.
The nods to the novel are only enough to leave viewers eager for more.
Unfortunately,Duma Keydoesn’t have a sequel,and “Rattlesnakes” is as close as King has come to revisiting the novel’s story. TheCujosequel might reference the setting ofDuma Key, but the nods to the novel are only enough to leave viewers eager for more. While “Rattlesnakes” makes a perfect companion piece forCujo, I was frustrated when it reminded me of how muchDuma Keyneeds a follow-up. Now I can’t wait for aDuma Keysequel and, unfortunately, I know that the odds of this happening are pretty low.
How A Duma Key Sequel Could Work (& Why It Probably Won’t Happen)
King Rarely Writes Sequels Despite His Literary Universe’s Potential
Stephen King doesn’t tend to write many sequels, although he did break his own rules for 2014’sThe Shiningfollow-up,Doctor Sleep. Since that sequel wasn’t as acclaimed as the original andDoctor Sleep’s darker movie adaptationstruggled to recapture the magic of 1980’sThe Shining, it makes sense that King usually steers clear of sequels. However, I think he should make an exception forDuma Key.Duma Keycomes from a divisive period in King’s career when he received as many negative reviews as positive ones, which could prove to be a good thing.
Duma Key’s sequel could revisit the world of King’s novel.
Expectations wouldn’t be unduly high forDuma Key’s sequelsince, although well liked, the original novel wasn’t universally acclaimed and didn’t receive a major adaptation. As such,Duma Key’s sequel could revisit the world of King’s book without worrying about letting down a big fan base.Duma Keyleft a lot of ambiguous mysteries unsolved and “Rattlesnakes” reminded me just how much the book deserves a sequel to explore these. Thus, I hopeYou Like It Darker’sCujosequel prompts anotherStephen Kingfollow-up from the author in the future.
