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IMDbPro

The Dead Zone

  • 19831983
  • RR
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
69K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,999
95
The Dead Zone (1983)
Home Video Trailer from Paramount Home Entertainment
Play trailer2:13
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Horror
  • Sci-Fi
A man awakens from a coma to discover he has a psychic ability.A man awakens from a coma to discover he has a psychic ability.A man awakens from a coma to discover he has a psychic ability.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
69K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,999
95
  • Director
    • David Cronenberg
  • Writers
    • Stephen King(based on the novel by)
    • Jeffrey Boam(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Christopher Walken
    • Brooke Adams
    • Tom Skerritt
Top credits
  • Director
    • David Cronenberg
  • Writers
    • Stephen King(based on the novel by)
    • Jeffrey Boam(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Christopher Walken
    • Brooke Adams
    • Tom Skerritt
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 265User reviews
    • 118Critic reviews
    • 69Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 7 wins & 4 nominations

    Videos2

    The Dead Zone
    Trailer 2:13
    The Dead Zone
    The Dead Zone
    Trailer 1:24
    The Dead Zone

    Photos177

    Christopher Walken and Brooke Adams in The Dead Zone (1983)
    Nicholas Campbell and Roberta Weiss in The Dead Zone (1983)
    Christopher Walken in The Dead Zone (1983)
    The Dead Zone (1983)
    Martin Sheen in The Dead Zone (1983)
    Christopher Walken, Nicholas Campbell, and Roberta Weiss in The Dead Zone (1983)
    Nicholas Campbell in The Dead Zone (1983)
    Christopher Walken and Sean Sullivan in The Dead Zone (1983)
    Christopher Walken and Roberta Weiss in The Dead Zone (1983)
    Christopher Walken and Brooke Adams in The Dead Zone (1983)
    Colleen Dewhurst in The Dead Zone (1983)
    Christopher Walken and Herbert Lom in The Dead Zone (1983)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Christopher Walken
    Christopher Walken
    • Johnny Smith
    Brooke Adams
    Brooke Adams
    • Sarah Bracknell
    Tom Skerritt
    Tom Skerritt
    • Sheriff Bannerman
    Herbert Lom
    Herbert Lom
    • Dr. Sam Weizak
    Anthony Zerbe
    Anthony Zerbe
    • Roger Stuart
    Colleen Dewhurst
    Colleen Dewhurst
    • Henrietta Dodd
    Martin Sheen
    Martin Sheen
    • Greg Stillson
    Nicholas Campbell
    Nicholas Campbell
    • Frank Dodd
    Sean Sullivan
    Sean Sullivan
    • Herb Smith
    Jackie Burroughs
    Jackie Burroughs
    • Vera Smith
    Géza Kovács
    • Sonny Elliman
    • (as Geza Kovacs)
    Roberta Weiss
    • Alma Frechette
    Simon Craig
    Simon Craig
    • Chris Stuart
    Peter Dvorsky
    Peter Dvorsky
    • Dardis
    Julie-Ann Heathwood
    • Amy
    Barry Flatman
    Barry Flatman
    • Walt
    Raffi Tchalikian
    • Denny #1
    Ken Pogue
    Ken Pogue
    • Vice President
    • Director
      • David Cronenberg
    • Writers
      • Stephen King(based on the novel by)
      • Jeffrey Boam(screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director David Cronenberg had to re-shoot the scene in which John Smith has his first premonition. It showed a little girl's room burning and a small E.T. doll could be seen on one of the shelves. The scene had to be re-shot when Universal Pictures threatened to file a lawsuit against them.
    • Goofs
      All the lights on the tanker stay lit even though it completely detaches from the rig.
    • Quotes

      Johnny Smith: The ICE... is gonna BREAK!

    • Crazy credits
      As the opening titles roll, certain parts (or "dead zones") of the screen become blocked out, until the part of the screen you can see spell out the title "The Dead Zone."
    • Alternate versions
      Although the UK cinema version was 18-rated and intact in 1986 Thorn-EMI released a British home video version with 13 seconds cut to obtain a 15 certificate rating from the BBFC. A scissor suicide sequence was re-edited to remove shots of the preparation and aftermath, and shots of topless nudity and the descending scissors were removed from the gazebo murder. Later 18-rated releases feature the full uncut print.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Deal of the Century/Richard Pryor Here and Now/Testament/The Dead Zone/The Osterman Weekend (1983)
    • Soundtracks
      The Yankee Doodle Boy
      (a.k.a., "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy") (uncredited)

      Written by George M. Cohan

      (Cohan included a snippet of "Yankee Doodle" (traditional) in his own composition)

      Performed by Traditional

    User reviews265

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    one of the most human--and humane--King adaptations
    I keep having to remind myself that David Cronenberg directed this, as it is so unlike his previous and subsequent work--more mainstream, less cold, and far less fixated on gooey special effects. What is going on here? One of the most stunning adaptations of a Stephen King novel with Christopher Walken absolutely brilliant as tortured coma victim Johnny Smith, that's what. An elementary-school teacher preparing to marry Sarah (Brooke Adams), Johnny has a run-in with fate that throws him into a coma for 5 years; when he awakens, he is plagued by psychic visions, including a chilling apocalypse that frames the film's final act. While the horror elements (including a suicide via scissors) carry an appropriate impact, the core of "The Dead Zone" is Walken's performance--he portrays Johnny as a recluse who regards his visions as a curse, and taps into a sensitivity and vulnerability that is rarely seen in male film characters; his interactions with others carry a down-home, plausible feel that gives the film a strong emotional resonance. Cronenberg directs Jeffrey Boam's script almost as a series of vignettes, but maintains a flowing pace and trusts Walken to deliver the film to a heartfelt, tragic conclusion.
    helpful•25
    1
    • Jonny_Numb
    • Sep 29, 2005

    FAQ6

    • What are differences between this film & the television series?
    • What is 'The Dead Zone' about?
    • Is 'The Dead Zone' based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 21, 1983 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Canada
    • Languages
      • English
      • Polish
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Stephen King's The Dead Zone
    • Filming locations
      • Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Dino De Laurentiis Company
      • Lorimar Film Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $10,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $20,766,616
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,556,083
      • Oct 23, 1983
    • Gross worldwide
      • $20,766,616
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 43 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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