When I was a kid, before graduating to books by authors like Stephen King and Clive Barker, I was an avid reader of Roald Dahl novels. Dahl’s books for children are full of the marvelous and macabre, never talking down to his audience or turning away from the unpleasantness of life. Dahl’s work provided a gateway into more gruesome tales, while also sticking with me well into adulthood.
The best movies based on Dahl’s books reflect that darkness, bringing it to life with energetic creativity. Several of Dahl’s most famous novels, including “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “The Witches” and “Matilda,” have been adapted multiple times, and his work keeps finding new fans as each generation of children discovers his stories for the first time.
