I used to wonder, but he has written enough excellent non-horror stories (Stand by Me, the Shawshank Redemption) as well as a book on the craft of writing. So I mostly think if him now as a good writer.

I don’t know, but I can tell you no one I've read gets into characters heads like he does. I mean you actually know them.

I havent read any of his stuff or watched his movies yet

Never have read anything since 1992 probably

I prefer Ken Kesey who wrote “one flew over the cuckoos nest” along with others made into great movies. Similar style of writing in re to psychological thrillers.

Nope

He writes with empathy when it's called for, and that's how he elicites the same in the reader. He does write about sociopaths, though. We love to read about sociopaths.

No... he has bipolar disorder... though he's not all that different to any other horror or murder mystery author.