MOVIE NEWS – Stephen King’s adaptations are known for their intense special effects and memorable stunts, often pushing the limits of filmmaking. However, even in less action-heavy films like Rob Reiner’s Stand By Me (1986), unexpected accidents can occur.

Though Stand By Me is a coming-of-age drama rather than a typical horror film, one scene involving a train nearly led to a serious mishap. The movie, starring Wil Wheaton, Corey Feldman, River Phoenix, Jerry O’Connell, and Kiefer Sutherland, follows a group of boys searching for the body of a missing peer. In a tense moment, a train charges towards them, forcing the boys to jump out of harm’s way.

Rob Reiner, committed to authenticity, chose not to rely heavily on visual effects. Instead, he modified the train by partially disabling the brakes to create a more realistic effect. This decision resulted in the train barreling towards the camera with little control, ultimately smashing the front mount and camera lens.

The train scene, where the boys frantically leap off the tracks, is one of the most iconic in all of Stephen King’s film adaptations. To elicit genuine fear and tears from young actors Wil Wheaton and Jerry O’Connell, Reiner resorted to shouting at them, a method that, while controversial, succeeded in capturing the intense emotions required for the scene.

After hours of shooting in sweltering heat, Reiner admitted to losing his temper, telling the boys, “If you’re not scared of that train, you should be scared of me!” This approach, though harsh, worked, and both boys ran to Reiner after completing the scene, saying, “We did it, Rob.” The dramatic train sequence took a full week to film, with female stunt doubles stepping in for the more dangerous shots.

Despite the risks and challenges on set, the hard work on Stand By Me paid off. The film earned an Oscar nomination and remains a beloved classic, with an 8.1 rating on IMDb and a 75 Metascore. Rob Reiner’s career continued to thrive, with successes in television series like The Good Fight and New Girl.

Source: MovieWeb