Netflix's 7-Part Psychological Thriller Was Praised By Stephen King

While many critics agreed that Netflix’s Baby Reindeer was a masterpiece, one of the show’s best reviews was penned by none other than horror legend Stephen King. Stephen King has written many books, a lot of which have been adapted into TV shows and movies.

However, the prolific author is more than just a writer. King is also a keen critic, and often shares his thoughts on books, movies, and TV shows on X. King has also penned longer pieces of criticism for various magazines and journals over the years, such as his Time review of Mildred Pierce back in 2011.

Stephen King Called Baby Reindeer “One of the Best Things I Have Ever Seen”

More recently, King took to The Times to dub Netflix’s Baby Reindeer “One of the best things I have ever seen.” Written by comedian Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer is a semi-autobiographical story that has the uneasy tone and intensity of a psychological thriller. The show focuses on Donny Dunn, a performer who is stalked by an unhinged fan.

King said that the brevity of the show’s episodes ensured it never felt bloated, while Baby Reindeer’s ending led him to realize its overarching message about the protagonist’s character arc. The author highlighted the show’s combination of poignancy and horror, breathlessly praising its storytelling in the process.

Baby Reindeer Is An Award Winning Masterpiece

King was far from alone in his praise of the Netflix series, which was based on Gadd’s real life but took numerous major creative liberties with his story. Baby Reindeer won six Emmys and two Golden Globes, earning the show a 99% Rotten Tomatoes rating.

The series was also one of Netflix’s most popular shows ever, dominating the streaming service’s most-watched list for months after its release. Compared to big-budget shows like Stranger Things and Wednesday, Baby Reindeer had little in the way of star power, thus making its ascent to success even more impressive.

Stephen King’s Baby Reindeer Praise Is Ironic

While King’s praise of the series was sincere and considered, it was also a little ironic. As well as its basis in reality, Gadd’s show borrows from a few existing movies with similar storylines. There are some nods to Clint Eastwood’s directorial debut, 1971’s Play Misty For Me, wherein an obsessive fan turns into a lethal nightmare for a DJ.

However, Baby Reindeer’s story also borrows from King’s own novel Misery and its Oscar-winning adaptation of the same name. The story of an injured author who finds himself trapped alone in a remote cabin with a deranged fan, Misery was a clear influence on Baby Reindeer's darkly comic tale of obsession.