Review: Stripped of literary touches, Stephen King’s ‘Cell’ is just another zombie movie

It’s never been easy to adapt a Stephen King novel, since much of what makes them special — like the characters’ rich interior lives — doesn’t translate easily to the big screen. When those personal touches are missing, what’s left are mediocre monster movies.

Take “Cell.” The book’s story about a mysterious cellphone signal that turns technophiles into violent beasties functions as metaphor, as satire and as a vivid portrait of contemporary life. In director Tod Williams’ hands, though, the premise generates another ho-hum zombie picture.

John Cusack plays Clay, a graphic novelist who becomes one of the few survivors of the cell-pocalypse. Cusack has an appealing presence; and he’s ably supported by Samuel L. Jackson as Tom, a companion he picks up on his long odyssey back home. But aside from the few moments when they chat about pop culture and their respective pasts, the characters never really develop.

Instead, “Cell” takes the rough form of a road movie, stringing together one stale confrontation after another in mostly nondescript locations. Even King’s commentary on how cyber-connectivity breeds brainlessness feels shoehorned-in — mostly limited to a few lines from a snooty private-school administrator played by Stacy Keach.

King worked on the script for “Cell,” which isn’t that surprising given that many of the worst adaptations of his work have his name on them. It only proves how hard a job it is to adapt King. Even the author himself can’t ace it.

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‘Cell’

MPAA rating: R ,for disturbing violent content, terror, brief sexuality and language

Running time: 1 hour, 37 minutes

Playing: Laemmle Monica Film Center, Santa Monica