The Dead Zone (1983)

Director:

David Cronenberg

Writers:

Stephen King (novel)
Jeffrey Boam (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 October 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

In his mind, he has the power to see the future. In his hands, he has the power to change it.

Plot:

A man awakens from a coma to discover he has a psychic detective ability.

Plot Keywords:

Coma | Psychic | Car Accident | Psychic Power | Fire

Awards:

7 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Christopher Walken	...	Johnny Smith
Brooke Adams	...	Sarah Bracknell
Tom Skerritt	...	Sheriff George Bannerman
Herbert Lom	...	Dr. Sam Weizak
Anthony Zerbe	...	Roger Stuart
Colleen Dewhurst	...	Henrietta Dodd
Martin Sheen	...	Greg Stillson
Nicholas Campbell	...	Deputy Frank Dodd
Sean Sullivan	...	Herb Smith
Jackie Burroughs	...	Vera Smith
Géza Kovács	...	Sonny Elliman (as Geza Kovacs)
Roberta Weiss	...	Alma Frechette
Simon Craig	...	Chris Stuart
Peter Dvorsky	...	Dardis
Julie-Ann Heathwood	...	Amy

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Russian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Netherlands:12 | South Korea:18 | Italy:T | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1984) | Norway:18 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Dino De Laurentiis Company

Trivia:

In the WWII scene, civilians in the burning city are speaking Polish.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: After seeing Johnny in the clinic, Sarah drives away and stops to cry. Lights and at least one person are reflected in the car door.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Johnny Smith: [Johnny is reading "The Raven" to his class] And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting, on the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door, and his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming, and the lamp light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor, and my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor, shall be lifted... nevermore.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Saturday Night Live: The Best of Christopher Walken (2004) (TV)

A deep and stirring thriller.

Well-done big screen adaptation of the Stephen King novel is one of the most acclaimed King-based films ever, and rightfully so.

School teacher awakens from a five year coma to discover that he has the power to see into a person's past or future trauma by merely touching them.

The story that drives this solid thriller is a well-rounded and often moving character study. It's a compelling tale with some great sequences of suspense and the occasional good jolt. Director David Cronenberg delivers splendidly well-shot sequences in this film, as well as a nice atmospheric kind of bleakness that's completely in tune with our story. The music score is also quite beautiful.

The cast is the best highlight however. Star Christopher Walken does perhaps one of his best performances as our tormented hero, whom we build quite a bond with. Brook Adams is quite good as Walken's lost love. Martin Sheen is impressive as a sinister politician. Tom Skerritt and Colleen Dewhurst are also good in their small roles.

All around The Dead Zone is a wonderful film, even if you're not a fan of Stephen King.

Remade as a TV series in 2002

*** 1/2 out of ****