The Dead Zone (1983)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

David Cronenberg

Writers:

Stephen King (novel)
Jeffrey Boam (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 October 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | 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:

There are several deleted scenes that were filmed and completed but have never been seen publicly and are thought to have been discarded prior to the films release. Among them: - A prologue showing John Smith as a boy (played by Stephen Flynn) who sustains a head injury during an ice hockey match. The scene features actor Sean Sullivan as John's father. - An alternate scene of John Smith’s vision of the Camp David scene (featuring Martin Sheen) in which John himself appears in the vision as a helpless spectator. Photos of these scenes appeared in the December 1983 issue of Cinefantastique.

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:

Referenced in The Id Proxy (2009)

Vintage Walken & King; kudos to Croneberg

THE DEAD ZONE (1983) *** Christopher Walken, Brooke Adams, Tom Skerritt, Herbert Lom, Colleen Dewhurst, Martin Sheen. David Cronenberg directed this exceptional adaptation of Stephen King's successful chilling novel about sad-eyed school teacher Johnny Smith (eerily personified by the always wonderful Walken) who after hurtled into a coma from a car accident, resurrects to find himself with clairvoyant powers by the simple touch with another human being. Effectively creepy at times and nice use of snow engulfed Maine as its setting. One of Walken's uncanniest performances and one of his own personal faves (which he lampooned later to much hilarity on a `Saturday Night Live' skit ).