Stephen King's GRAY MATTER -- What Happened that Night?

[@MaskedRiderChris]

"It ain't just cats no more, is it, Richie?" This is one of my favorite early stories of King's that really showcases his Lovecraft influence and it's one of his best and creepiest, IMO. This is a really good take on the back story behind this one--including the evidence involving the dollar bills--and I like it. Well done!

[@MrBullethead63]

This is very similar to a story published by EC comics, in the 1950’s, I am sure that Steve “subconsciously” plagiarized it...

[@ProbablyOkay]

I read this one last night. Nothing King has written has scared me, but the ending of this story, where they run away from the thing and wait in the store to see who comes just freaked me out.

[@satisfied656]

That fortune could happen to almost a third of all us-citizens who are morbidly obese and suffer from diabetes!

[@diesel4125]

Did I just see Steve as a homeless person whom supposedly got devoured?😂 Brilliant! He’d love that.

[@curiositypiqued6573]

SK almost invented the creepypasta....a true pioneering father figure for modern and horror literature

[@JaceDanielFilms]

dude... creepypasta is just regular horror, just with a different name, and horror has been around for literal centuries

[@thing_under_the_stairs]

@@JaceDanielFilms And creepypasta is just the online word for spooky urban legends. Your point?

[@RaineeG62]

Gray Matter is one of my favorite King stories and the reason I always check the tops of cans before I drink out of them

[@dawnboese6613]

When you mention the homeless man that disappeared, you show Stephen King lol. Doubt he's homeless 😅

[@creepycassette]

Im sure he could play a convincing one, like he played the part of “jordi verril” in creepshow.

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

I'm glad you noticed XD... Must be an alternate world...

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

I loved Stephen King's performance in Creepshow!!!

[@kimberlydonohoe3427]

Gray Matter was one of my son's favorite King short stories. I wish he could have heard this.

[@SaraBellum777]

As a daughter of a mother from Bangor, Maine I would like to thank you for using your best Mainer accent. For me, it really brings the story together 🙌🏽🥰

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

That's very kind of you to say... I was hoping to do justice to the accent :)

[@bikesnmore]

I grew up reading King and still do (born 76), after listening to 2 of your videos I immediately subscribed and just wanted to say thanks. Keep up the great work.

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

Wow, thank you!

[@ozarklisa1199]

I was around 11 or 12 when I read "Carrie," and it was so painful. I was so shocked at the abuse she suffered. She was miserable with no end in sight.

[@hawkeyenextgen7117]

Teenagers are capable of knowing right from wrong, they just think their youth gives them an excuse

[@Emerald.She-Ra]

It wasn't just the school bullies. Her religious zealot of a mother dealt out a lot, too. Sadly, despite the telekinesis aspect of the novel, the abuse Carrie suffered is far more common in real life than people realise. Look at religions and their severe fundamentalists, or even the "Family Vloggers" who abuse their kids psychologically, emotionally, and physically to coerce them into making content. Nobody sees what happens behind closed doors.😢

[@krisaaron8180]

The movie versions don't dwell the bullying nearly as much in the book it's made clear this has been going on for most of her school life, and is really horrific.

[@ozarklisa1199]

@@krisaaron8180 it really was so gritty and emotional, my heart broke for her.

[@hawkeyenextgen7117]

Having been sexually abused by my own peers in boys high school...I could never read Carrie, let alone watch it.@@ozarklisa1199

[@Donathon-qx8kq]

This story makes you always check the expiration date, doesn't it... especially on your favorite beer

[@brianrunyon266]

It'd be favorite wine for me, a I'm not much of a beer fan, though I do drink it on some occasions.

[@ellagoreyshorrorstories7524]

Nice job! Gray Matter is one of my favourite King short stories. It's so perfectly executed, creepy and realistic and low-key, with absolutely horrific implications. I enjoyed your additions. I think Richie ate Parmalee, but the bullet still unal!ved Richie. No one ever went back to the apartment and both bodies just rotted once the beer was gone. Maybe later the narrator and Timmy went back and set fire to the place. I think Mrs. Parmalee let Timmy stay and help run the shop until a place could be found for him in a group home, but he kept running away until Mrs. Parmalee just let him stay. They had a strained relationship but she cared for the boy. When Mrs. Parmalee passed on, she left him the store. He refuses to sell alcohol to minors, though.

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

Thanks! I love your take what happens to the characters!

[@MysteriousPreacherofCreatures]

This was an amazingly done podcast episode! By the presented details of its story and the way it was spoken I had no problem believing this was a true crime event… Or propaganda for the masses orchestrated by “The Shop”. Very Well done 😉 👍!!

[@superdoonz1]

"Beer is proof that god loves us, and wants us to be happy." - Benjamin Franklin

[@wade]

Lol! 😂

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

An American Genius!

[@ronitennant5253]

I first heard that about coffee, then years after, I found that the beverage was wine, which makes sense.

[@MrUndersolo]

And hangovers are a reminder that the Devil is still there.

[@CordeliaWagner1999]

Alcohol is a pretty strong poison. And it doesn't make you happy, it shuts your brain down. I don't understand why people think it's a good Thing to do, getting drunk. There are wayyy better and more civilized drugs. Alcohol is the stone age drug.

[@ozegirl44]

They managed to successfully mangle this story in Creepshow - how? I just don't know how. It was a straight forward story and they killed it.

[@ottopippenger1590]

It was remarkably awful, even for the Creepshow series, wasn't it? There is a GREAT adaptation I saw on the Dollar Baby Film Festival- unfortunately, these were all only given license for one showing (charity stream) so will probably never be seen again- maybe King will free the Dollar Babies in his will or something, they're sure not going to be any more available once Random House and Paramount own his stories entirely.

[@ewintertyler]

I was looking for this comment 😅

[@worldofdoom995]

What? I loved it. Only changes were a hurricane instead of a blizzard and not being obese like in the story. And the world ending.

[@jharris3267]

Timmy’s mom died and his father became an alcoholic, not a functional alcoholic though. This is a situation that Timmy should not have been left in. There is no way Timmy was not traumatized by his dad and their home environment. The house wasn’t clean the child had to be malnourished if all he did to cope was think that the dad was killed by the alien he is now stuck with. I can understand. Even now the attention is on the killers but not Timmy.

[@Androx-murdok34]

I love this channel.please do one for the road.

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

I'm excited to explore "One for the Road" in the not-too-distant future.

[@neowise6863]

Oooh I love One for the road!!

[@LogWhit]

I loved the reference to the mangler.

[@CordeliaWagner1999]

🖤🖤🖤

[@SubtleStair]

This story seems to be a combination of Rashomon Effect and folie a trois.

[@pr4790]

Your story telling is better than watching the movies, and short stories, it helps strengthen the brain, by using your own imagination, and how you picture it yourself, great job narrator ✨

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

Wow, thank you!

[@pr4790]

@@stephenkingbookclub1054 you’re welcome, and thank you✨🙂

[@Emerald.She-Ra]

If this WERE an actual crime, my theories would be: 1. Diabetic neuropathy and circulatory damage caused lack of heat, shivering, and pain. 2. The "slime" could have been a mixture of sweat and dead skin cells, which had built up. Without having regular assistance to wash, or even washing himself (if able to), the build up of both could also have contributed to the grey pallor. I'm certain that we've all experienced the "non shower weekend" and felt clatty/clarty for not scrubbing ourselves.😂 3. The holes in the bank notes could have been from acidic sweat eating through the paper, or even mould. 4. The son wouldn't have known what was happening to his dad, and if the hand felt cold and slimy under the blankets, there could also be a very, very disturbing aspect involved. Perhaps that's why the lad said what he did? 5. Perhaps the father was also suffering from congestive heart failure, or such a build-up of fluid that it began leaking from his pores.

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

I love these deductions! We may need to consult you on our next case!

[@Emerald.She-Ra]

@@stephenkingbookclub1054 I'll send you my consulting fee! 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Seriously, thank you for your kind words.💖 This is the sort of mindset I have reading books, watching films/TV. Whether horror, thriller, fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, fiction/non-fiction. Maybe it's because I always wanted to join the police, but sadly couldn't due to health reasons. 🤷‍♀️

[@13fyrefli]

Was there more content added to this story? The version I have ends with the two men running back to the shop and waiting to see if Henry comes back.

[@13fyrefli]

Okay never mind I just read the description. Good video!

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

Thanks! This was my version of "what happens next" -- But more importantly, what do you think happens?

[@Pieternel2002]

The alternative explanation is interesting 🤔

[@PrettyTigerlilly]

My favorite Stephen King short story.

[@maryhoyt2609]

This is my favorite "Night Shift" story. Thanks for the interesting ending....disappointing as it is. Once in a great while, I like the monsters to win! Although, not the ones that would take over the world, lol!!! Great job!

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

You may be happy to learn that the monsters win in the Creepshow TV episode... :)

[@maryhoyt2609]

@@stephenkingbookclub1054 Yeah, I did see that....weird.

[@Amy-tg8sp]

Nice shot of Twin Peaks gathering.

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

Nice! You're the first one to comment on it In addition to Stephen King, I'm a big TWIN PEAKS fan!!

[@mymothersdiva]

I heard this story when I was a child. This story didn't seem to be from something real, or about something real. I'm glad that I didn't think it could be even near real, as a child. 🤯

[@UncleEarl97]

6/19/2023.

[@voltinator]

The grey matter escaped. But it was cold out. So it retreated to its space ship under the ice to wait for the ice to thaw.

[@Comfortdoll]

The morgue being located in Kingdom Hospital was a nice touch, even though that was not one of Mr. King's original stories, but a great adaptation. Also, I always wonder about things like... what became of Timmy?

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

Poor Timmy! I too find myself wondering about the fate of orphaned characters in King's works.

[@daniellewillis2767]

​@stephenkingbookclub1054 with a name like Timmy, he probably got stuck in a well ....

[@daniellewillis2767]

I don't remember the morgue scene in the original story, just a description of something with eyes like a flatworm splitting itself down the middle after being shot. Then a fervent hope that that it was dead...

[@4817Indian]

Night shift is Brilliant. Battle ground was read in sixth grade and I appreciated the rich irony.

[@hubertvancalenbergh9022]

This differs somewhat from the original. Too, I miss the subsidiary tale about the maintenance worker descending in a sewer where he sees a spider 'the size of a good-size dog' setting in a web full of kitties and such.

[@BeautifulEarthJa]

I have to go listen to the audiobook and then I'll be back. I read NightShift almost 30 yrs ago.

[@GredelsRage]

Those damn aliens coming here tryin to do alien math multiplying and dividing the people. Damn them i say

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

I always knew Math was nothing but trouble!

[@GredelsRage]

@@stephenkingbookclub1054 you have earned a sub!

[@TruthSurge]

At least he wasn't REALLY a blob creature.

[@Mike-n6u9t]

Maybe the son control their mind to think that he was like some monster to kill his dad because his dad hit him or something

[@ozymandiasultor9480]

Oh, a well-known homeless man who happens to call himself Stephen King and is the biggest horror writer of his time, or maybe ever... But, the evidence is obvious, King sits in some back alley and kinda looks like homeless man...

[@erikaf198]

Im over 50 and still sniff every beer before i take a sip. I was 15 when i read that story. Scarred for life. Well done, Mr. King. Well done.

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

LOL!

[@Giles29]

Most people, other than Richie, would have spit the stuff out when they tasted it. But he drank everything before he tatsted it.

[@hopduncan7905]

The CreepShow tv series did this story.

[@Johnbartheart]

12:59 "hopsital" just an FYI.

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

Oh my gosh, I can't believe I didn't catch that! Maybe I've got a bit of dyslexia XD

[@jharris3267]

Well I saw it too the second time because my brain just autocorrected it.😂

[@pawlpoche8736]

I read this while I was in the navy overseas on the USS Arkansas CGN-41……1991

[@damienstone5470]

I prefer to think of myself as a consistent reader

[@jesusromanpadro3853]

As a diabetic this one is a bit scary.

[@artofjordanbray]

Even the ai version of uncle Steevie had to make a cameo

[@ellieeckhardt7620]

Reading insomnia

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

That novel really grew on me... I hope you're enjoying it :)

[@toddaulner5393]

It would not be murder if it is not human right?

[@JackieSkellington]

This one is great! So gross

[@cherbrowne1637]

I was captivated by the telling of this almost magical story. A real treat. Thank you so much for sharing

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@brianrunyon266]

Another excellent video. Love the occasional beer, though I'm more of a guy with a fondness for wine.

[@zeta1ret]

it's pronounced BANG-GOR

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

Oops! Darn it, I should've known better. Thanks for pointing it out so I don't screw it up in future videos :)

[@zeta1ret]

@@stephenkingbookclub1054 hehe...those Maniacs from Maine....which I am one...really get miffed when we hear "banger"...like some sort of English sausage.... 😉😎 ...ps...I also lived a block away from Mr. King...worked at a bookstore in town...see him often. Watching all your vids...fun channel!

[@aaronsaunders6974]

cool story

[@AceMoonshot]

One for the Road and Gray Matter had some of my favorite elderly characters.

[@josephbullaro4560]

I always thought the creepshow episode was stupid without an explaination of why he transformed. The real story is even more stupid.

[@blackdragon6]

Not sure i like the ending to this story. It was terrifying up until then. 🤔

[@Awelbeckk]

Read the novel. The ending is ... different. :)

[@Giles29]

The story ends different in the book. It's a lot scarier.

[@katelarouche2835]

Awww i cant believe you used stills from brendan frasers new movie to illustrate richie grenadine. Thats mean.

[@JF-cd5hc]

This is one of my favorite short stories, along with Nght surf and The mangler.

[@mnelson1960]

Also my favorite SK story! I remember reading it! Thank you!

[@pondponder]

I wonder if King got the idea after adding grenadine to some old beer in an attempt to make a Queen Mary.

[@GrammWright]

I love the work put into this... but i prefer the original take, it was a monster story

[@Shane-gw5yt]

this is amazing. thank you for the video.

[@FloridaMan0561]

Excellent channel and you have stellar narration man! I really hope that your channel blows up quickly!

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

Much appreciated!

[@barryholyoke5169]

I remember the Nite Owl store from my youth! so cool

[@arielhamm-flores6893]

THIS IS OPNE OF HIS GOOD STORYS I REMBER THIS ONE VERY WELL

[@lauramcguan]

I have a theory although, this may not have worked geographically. That Richie turned into the scum blob from The Raft.

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

LOL, I love that theory!

[@AntoinettexKitten]

Isn't this a creepshow episode

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

Yes, there's an adaption of GRAY MATTER in the Creepshow series (and we used a clip of it for the monster reveal)

[@TheZombiegenesis]

As someone who has lived in Bangor for the last 30 years, no one in Bangor calls it "Banger". I've never met anyone in the entire state of Maine that calls it Banger.

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

Sorry about that. I've tried to avoid that mistake in subsequent videos. I should know better... I'm from Washington state where tourists mispronounce tons of town and city names (like Spokane).

[@lauramcguan]

Some of this AI is just mean 😂

[@malihaghulam8783]

epic video

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

Thanks so much!

[@stockwellsantley6606]

Great job.

[@pbibbles]

Of course Stephen King is the hobo!

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

LOL, you noticed! :)

[@daniellewillis2767]

I wonder if King enjoys these. He'd be utterly tasteless not to...

[@FRADAVE02]

"Kingdom Hospital" LOL 🤣🤣

[@radracing3370]

✌️

[@gabriellemadrid2831]

Love this channel! ❤

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

We're glad you found us!

[@vickiwaatti1076]

is there a reason that I cannot save this to a list so I can watch it later?

[@leighb8485]

Omg I LOVED this story and I love what you’ve done here. This is amazing.

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

Thanks! I'm glad you found our channel :)

[@kakolicht]

Excellent video and expansion of the story, you got my subscription with it! Have "The Mangler" got a reading on this channel? 🤓

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

We did a spoof commercial about "The Mangler" -- but not a reading... When I first started building the channel, I imagined reading a lot of his short stories... But then it dawned on me that doing too much of that could lead to copyright issues... So I've been creating these creative analysis pieces :)

[@libratude9595]

Nice visuals, where'd you find them?

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

Most of them (for this video) were generated by MidJourney A.I. Art.

[@4817Indian]

Well made. Great images.

[@keremgo3d]

To me, this is his best story.

[@nf5973]

Just push in the beer, and go!

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

LOL

[@arleend5014]

Cool vid ❤

[@lisadolan689]

Subbed. 🙏for the content ☺️

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

Awesome, thanks for joining us!

[@Theysopretty2]

I love these so much ❤

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

Thank you... They have been a lot of fun to make :)

[@soulreaver1983]

🍺🙄

[@Rexorazor]

Poor guy. This can actually happen, just accuse someone of being a peedo and someone will come and chainsaw the guy. Oh wait..... This actually happened recently in America lmfao 😆

[@stephenkingbookclub1054]

Yikes!

[@ZEROZEN86]

What I found most stoking about this gem of a story wasn't the whole transforming into a slug thing, it was 4 bucks for a case of beer! !!! LETS GO BRANDON LET'S GO!!!

[@eliselianaboyd2547]

That's not how the story ends. Because alot of Stephen King 's short stories don't have happy ending, like gray matter, it ends with the end of the world.

[@Awelbeckk]

The ending wasn't bad. It was ambigious. The gun could have worked or not. We, as a reader, have no way to know.

[@eliselianaboyd2547]

@Awelbeckk king short stories are always darker than his novels and most of them end very badly, as in end of the world bad ending. That's why people read horror stories you want the monster to win, the world to end, everyone dies. Those are the best horror stories and that's how grey matter ends, monster eats the whole world 🌎. King is one of a handful of writers that knows the best stories are the darker one. Like 1408.. where the hero wins,,but not really wins. Hope you're enjoying his new collection of short stories, they're great