The Dark Half (1993)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

George A. Romero

Writers (WGA):

Stephen King (novel)
George A. Romero (screenplay)

Release Date:

23 April 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery

Tagline:

Serious writer or serial killer? George is in two minds.

Plot:

A writer's fictional alter-ego wants to take over his life...at any price.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Alter Ego | Book | Sparrow | Surgery

Awards:

3 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Timothy Hutton	...	Thad Beaumont / George Stark
Amy Madigan	...	Liz Beaumont
Michael Rooker	...	Sheriff Alan Pangborn
Julie Harris	...	Reggie Delesseps
Robert Joy	...	Fred Clawson
Kent Broadhurst	...	Mike Donaldson
Beth Grant	...	Shayla Beaumont
Rutanya Alda	...	Miriam Cowley
Tom Mardirosian	...	Rick Cowley
Larry John Meyers	...	Dr. Pritchard
Patrick Brannan	...	Young Thad Beaumont
Royal Dano	...	Digger Holt
Glenn Colerider	...	Homer Gamache
Sarah Parker	...	Wendy & William Beaumont
Elizabeth Parker	...	Wendy & William Beaumont
John Ponzio	...	Todd Pangborn
Chelsea Field	...	Annie Pangborn
William Cameron	...	Officer Hamilton
Rohn Thomas	...	Dr. Albertson
Molly Renfroe	...	Hilary
Judy Grafe	...	Head Nurse
John Machione	...	Male Nurse
Erik Jensen	...	Male Student
Christine Forrest	...	Trudy Wiggins
Nardi Novak	...	Pangborn's Receptionist
Zachary Mott	...	Norris Ridgewick
David W. Butler	...	Trooper #1
Curt DeBor	...	Trooper #2
Drinda Lalumia	...	Dodie
Lamont Arnold	...	NYC Cop #1
Lee Hayes	...	NYC Cop #2
Jack Skelly	...	Man in the Hallway
Marc Field	...	Donaldson Cop #1
Rik Billock	...	Donaldson #2
Bruce Kirkpatrick	...	Officer #1
David Early	...	Officer #2
Jeff Monahan	...	Wes
Jeff Howell	...	Dave
Melissa Papp	...	Rosalie
J. Michael Hunter	...	Garrison
Therese Courtney	...	Receptionist
Marty Roppelt	...	Young Officer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Donna Lynne Champlin	...	Babysitter (uncredited)

Directed by
George A. Romero

Writing credits (WGA)
Stephen King		(novel "The Dark Half")
George A. Romero		(screenplay)

Produced by
Declan Baldwin	....	producer
Christine Forrest	....	associate producer
George A. Romero	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Christopher Young

Cinematography by
Tony Pierce-Roberts

Film Editing by
Pasquale Buba

Production Design by
Cletus Anderson

Art Direction by
James C. Feng

Set Decoration by
Brian J. Stonestreet

Costume Design by
Barbara Anderson

Makeup Department
Everett Burrell	....	special makeup effects supervisor
Jeannee Josefczyk	....	makeup artist
Christopher P. Martin	....	animatronics
Larry Odien	....	special makeup effects artist
Carol Paulick	....	makeup artist
John Vulich	....	special makeup effects supervisor

Production Management
C. Cory M. McCrum-Abdo	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tom Dubensky	....	second unit director
Nicholas Mastandrea	....	assistant director
Drew Ann Rosenberg	....	assistant director

Art Department
Mia Boccella	....	set dresser
Vincent Borrelli	....	scenic artist
Paul Bucciarelli	....	scenic artist
Robert Buncher	....	carpenter
David Eckert	....	set designer
Daniel Fisher	....	set dresser
Eileen Garrigan	....	charge scenic
Marty Garrigan	....	assistant property master
Thomas J. Garrigan	....	scenic artist
Megan Graham	....	set dresser
Smith Harper Hutchings	....	set dresser
Jane Hyland	....	set dresser
Gregory Jones	....	lead set dresser
Gary Levinson	....	property master
Mary O'Brien	....	scenic artist
Jan Pascale	....	buyer
Ralph Roger Pivirotto	....	set dresser
Gregory Puchalski	....	sign painter
Sonja Roth	....	set dresser
Beth A. Rubino	....	set dresser
Maurin L. Scarlata	....	set dresser
Louis P. Taylor	....	construction coordinator
Barbara E. Thompson	....	set dresser
Pete von Sholly	....	storyboard artist

Sound Department
Gregg Barbanell	....	foley artist
Jim Bryan	....	sound effects editor
Elliott Koretz	....	sound editor
Joan Rowe	....	foley artist
John Sutton	....	sound mixer
Gregory H. Watkins	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Nikolai Galitzine	....	special effects technician
Carl Horner	....	special effects supervisor
Kristina M. Horner	....	special effects coordinator
Kevin McTurk	....	special effects makeup

Visual Effects by
David Emerson	....	optical supervisor: VCE
Paul Gentry	....	live action motion control operator
Brian Griffin	....	optical line-up
Rick Hannigan	....	optical camera
Peter Kuran	....	special visual effects producer
Al Magliochetti	....	visual effects
Pam Vick	....	rotoscope animation: VCE

Stunts
Don Hewitt	....	stunts (as Donald Hewitt)
Peter Hock	....	stunts
Cynthia Neilson	....	stunts
Phil Neilson	....	stunt coordinator
Michael Russo	....	stunts (as Michael C. Russo)
Gregg Smrz	....	stunts (as Greg Smrz)
James Thompson	....	stunts (as Jim Thompson)

Camera and Electrical Department
Savas Alatis	....	assistant camera: second unit
Stephen Brock	....	chief rigging electrician
Bart Flaherty	....	grip
John Janusek	....	key grip
Michael Asa Leonard	....	assistant Steadicam operator
Michael Levine	....	camera operator
Frank McGough	....	set lighting technician
Ethan Phillips	....	electrician
Jon Sharpe	....	process photographer
Jeffery J. Tufano	....	camera operator: second unit
Joey Wrubleski	....	grip

Casting Department
Donna M. Belajac	....	casting: Pittsburgh

Editorial Department
Ray Boniker	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Jeff Atmajian	....	orchestrator
Peter Fuchs	....	score recordist
John La Salandra	....	music editor
Paul Talkington	....	orchestra manager
E. Gedney Webb	....	assistant music editor
Allan Wilson	....	conductor
Christopher Young	....	orchestrator
Mark Zimoski	....	musician: synthesizers

Transportation Department
Tom Costello	....	picture car wrangler
Marc Scott	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Jessica Abrams	....	assistant production coordinator
Ursula Brauner	....	animal trainer
Kelly Bromage	....	stand-in
Linda Carola	....	production assistant
Fernando Celis	....	bird trainer
Rick Clark	....	stand-in
Robin Cousart	....	production auditor
Fred 'Fredo' Donatelli	....	production assistant
Paul Giorgi	....	stage manager
Barry Gutterman	....	production attorney
Mark Harden	....	animal coordinator
Mark Harden	....	bird coordinator
Mark Harden	....	lead animal trainer
Brian Hartman	....	location manager
Richard Hawley	....	production assistant
Andrew Herrle	....	stand-in
Nicholas Herrle	....	stand-in
Scott Hornbacher	....	location supervisor
Jessica Johnston	....	stand-in
Lisa Kruczek	....	assistant accountant
Mary Ann Marino	....	production coordinator: re-shoot
Bill McCue	....	stand-in
Steve Parys	....	production assistant
Bob Pomeroy	....	production assistant
Dawn Murphy Riley	....	production assistant
Tom Rough	....	stand-in
Traci Rough	....	stand-in
Ann Ruark	....	production coordinator
Jon Sharpe	....	film projectionist
Scott Small	....	stand-in
Jesse Warnick	....	stand-in

Thanks
John Amplas	....	special thanks

Distributors

• Orion Pictures Corporation (1993) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1994) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Image Entertainment (1994) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Phonovision (1996) (UK) (video) (laserdisc)
• Filmayer (????) (Spain) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Orion Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Munich Symphony Orchestra  music performed by

Runtime:

122 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | France:-16 | Germany:18 | Norway:18 | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Trivia:

Final film of Royal Dano.

Goofs:

Continuity: Near the end, when George Stark is holding Thad's twins his gun is a Colt 1911 (as he's had throughout the movie). When Thad moves closer, the gun changes to a Beretta 92FS. After Thad takes one of the twins, George's gun is again a 1911 when he tucks it in his waistband.

Quotes:

Thad Beaumont: They've come to take one of us away, haven't they? Which one?
Reggie Delesseps: The loser, of course. I do hope it's not you, Thaddeus. I'd hate to think of George Stark taking over your lecture group.

Movie Connections:

References Duck Soup (1933)

Soundtrack:

Are You Lonesome To-night?

Good adaptation from a great book.

I saw this movie after i read the book and i have to say pretty much of the book was also in the film, although not all. Some parts with the sparrows for instance weren't in the film, probably because the budget wouldn't allow special effects that elaborate. And the murders, although violent enough in the movie, were particularly more gruesome in the book.

Ultimate conclusion: great acting from top notch actors/actresses who usually are nowhere to be found in horror (if you discount Michael Rooker's performance in "Henry"), pretty good special f/x and direction from a director who has made his mark in horror.