Part mystery, part nostalgic coming-of-age tale, Scott Hicks`s lyrical, leisurely film of Stephen King`s novel captures the innocence, pain, and confusion of childhood. In one unforgettable summer, a lonely 11-year-old boy is befriended by his mysterious new neighbor. But the man makes clear that he is only passing through, and as the boy grows more and more attached to his new friend, he realizes that the dark forces the man fears aren`t just the boogeyman. Accompanied by a soundtrack filled with fifties pop tunes, Hicks (SHINE, SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS) evokes the timelessness of childhood hand in hand with the innocence of an era, a time when a boy`s first new bike was the Holy Grail, and his first kiss was the one by which all others will be judged--and found wanting. The first-rate cast is headed by Anthony Hopkins, who plays the neighbor with compassion and warmth coupled with an understated sadness, and the young Anton Yelchin, who paints a raw, naked portrait of a lost little boy finding his way as a man. William Goldman (THE PRINCESS BRIDE, MISERY) penned the script, and the film is dedicated to cinematographer Piotr Sobocinski, who died before its release.