THE DEAD ZONE
1983 *** 103 mins.
I must admit that The Dead Zone is one of my least favourite Stephen King stories. It just doesn't seem to work as a novel or as a film very well. If it is to work at all, it is to work as a television series. But, that's another review.
That set aside, this is still an enjoyable little flick with a decent cast and a definite feel to it that is signaturely The Dead Zone. This is as good of a film we could ever get of this story. Christopher Walken plays Johnny Smith, who wakes up after a coma to find his whole world has moved on during the five years of his coma. He also wakes up to find that he has the power to see events of the past, present, and future simply by touching people or items. Interesting.
Rated R for language, violence, and sexual content.
NOTES:
- Original theatrical aspect ratio: 1.85:1
- Original theatrical release date: October 21, 1983
AWARDS:
- ACADEMY OF SCIENCE FICTION, FANTASY & HORROR FILMS AWARD: Best Horror Film
- ACADEMY OF SCIENCE FICTION, FANTASY & HORROR FILMS AWARDS NOMINATIONS: Best Actor (Christopher Walken), Best Director (David Cronenberg), Best Writing (Jeffrey Boam)
- AVORIAZ FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL AWARD: Critics Award (David Cronenberg)
- AVORIAZ FANTASTIC FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS NOMINATION: Grand Prize (David Cronenberg)
- FANTAFESTIVAL AWARDS: Audience Award (David Cronenberg) and Best Film (David Cronenberg)
2006 SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION DVD SPECIAL FEATURES:
- Memories From The Dead Zone
- The Look of The Dead Zone
- Visions and Horror From The Dead Zone
- The Politics of The Dead Zone
- Theatrical Trailer
- Widescreen Version (1.85:1) Enhanced for 16:9 TVs
- English Dolby 5.1 Surround
- English Dolby 2.0 Surround
- French Dolby Mono
- English Subtitles
- Closed Captioned for the hearing impaired
Starring:
Christopher Walken + Brooke Adams + Tom Skerritt + Herbert Lom + Anthony Zerbe + Colleen DeWhurst + Nicholas Campbell + Martin Sheen
Based on the Novel by
Stephen King
Screenplay by
Jeffrey Boam
Directed by
David Cronenberg
Other Films with:
Nicholas Campbell - The Omen (1976)
David Cronenberg - Crash (1996) and The Fly (1986)
Colleed DeWhurst - The Exorcist III
Stephen King - Carrie (1976), Children of the Corn, Cujo, The Dead Zone (2001), Graveyard Shift (1990), It (1990), Maximum Overdrive, A Return to Salem's Lot, Salem's Lot (1979), Secret Window, The Shining (1980), and The Shining (1997)
Herbert Lom - Spartacus (1960)
Martin Sheen - Apocalypse Now and Badlands
Tom Skerritt - Alien and Harold and Maude (billed as M. Borman)
Christopher Walken - Pulp Fiction and True Romance
Anthony Zerbe - The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, The Omega Man, and Star Trek: Insurrection
Motion Pictures