Stephen King's Son Created the Horror Film That Launched Radcliffe's Weird Era
A forgotten 2013 fantasy horror movie starring Daniel Radcliffe and featuring a young Sabrina Carpenter has surprising connections to America's master of horror through his talented son.
Back in 2013, Daniel Radcliffe starred in a bizarre fantasy horror flick that barely registered with audiences. The movie, called Horns, gave the former Harry Potter actor supernatural powers and a pair of devil horns sprouting from his head. Juno Temple played his murdered girlfriend, while pop star Sabrina Carpenter appeared as the younger version of Temple's character.
The film connects directly to Stephen King through an unexpected family tie. Joe Hill, the author who wrote the source novel, happens to be King's son with his wife Tabitha. Hill, born Joseph King, carved out his own reputation in horror fiction without riding on his father's coattails.
Hill's bibliography includes Heart-Shaped Box from 2007, NOS4A2 in 2013, The Fireman in 2016, and his latest work King Sorrow released in 2025. Like his father's stories, multiple Hill novels have made the jump to screen adaptations. The original Horns novel earned a Bram Stoker Award nomination for Best Novel in 2010, even though the movie adaptation remains largely forgotten.
The Making of a Box Office Disaster
Hill announced the film version in 2012, revealing that Alexandre Aja would direct for Mandalay Pictures and Red Granite Pictures. The casting of Radcliffe and Temple generated excitement among fans who remembered the actor's previous fantasy work. Aja explained his attraction to the project at the time: "After reading Joe Hill's cult book, I couldn't resist temptation to dive into the devilish underworld and reinvent a universal myth."
The movie bombed spectacularly. Box office numbers show it earned just $3.9 million during its 31-day theatrical run. Critics weren't kind either, giving it a 41% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences proved equally unimpressed with a 49% score.
What Made This Horror Story So Compelling
Hill's novel centered on 26-year-old Ignatius "Ig" Perrish, wrongly accused of killing his girlfriend Merrin Williams. After being shunned by his community and having a one-night stand, Ig wakes up with horns growing from his skull. These horns grant him the power to make people confess their darkest secrets and act on their worst impulses.
Ig uses these abilities to investigate what really happened to Merrin. The story weaves through childhood flashbacks where young Sabrina Carpenter portrays the teenage version of the murdered girlfriend. These scenes prove crucial to understanding the mystery.
Critics called the 120-minute film "a bit of a tonal jumble." The lengthy runtime drew complaints, and many found the religious symbolism more silly than meaningful. The movie struggled to balance its horror, fantasy, and comedy elements.
Why Some Fans Still Defend This Flop
Despite its failures, Horns had genuine potential. The concept of a devil-like figure forcing people to reveal their true nature worked brilliantly in the TV series Lucifer. This movie contained all the ingredients horror-fantasy fans crave.
Radcliffe delivered solid work, replacing Shia LaBeouf who was originally cast. The role marked one of Radcliffe's strongest post-Potter performances and launched his streak of unconventional projects that have since gained cult followings.
Director Alexandre Aja brought experience from films like High Tension, The Hills Have Eyes, Mirrors, and Piranha 3D. For Aja, Horns represented some of his better directorial work.
The movie streams on The Roku Channel and MovieSphere+ for viewers curious about this strange chapter in Radcliffe's career.