For the record, I have read the 1979 Stephen King novel, "The Dead Zone". The novel itself is really good and is somewhat overlooked by readers who largely consider books like "It" (which is highly overrated) to be the best Stephen King book. It was not until 1983 when a film adaptation was released. The film was directed by David Cronenberg (of which this is the first Cronenberg directed film that I have watched). The film was also produced by Debra Hill, most known for her work on the Halloween films and other John Carpenter directed films. The film stars Christopher Walken, Brooke Adams, and Martin Sheen. The Dead Zone did pretty well at the box office and did even better with critics and audiences who praised this film.
The film follows pretty close to the novel here which follows an everday man named Johnny Smith (played by Christopher Walken) who is working as a school teacher. Everything in his life seems to be going alright. He has a girlfriend and all that. Until he gets into an accident which puts him into a coma for five years. When he wakes up, he finds that he has lost everything including his girlfriend who has since remarried and even had a child. Not only has he lost everything, but he now possesses the ability to see the future (and past) and is also able to prevent events from happening. Some see this as a gift, but for Johnny, it is a curse. There are two parts to the film which include a murder plot where Johnny is asked to use his ability to find a serial rapist killer. And another includes a dangerous politician (but only Johnny knows what he will do).
This film is just fantastic all around. Since this an adaptation to a book, how does it stack up? Fairly well actually. This had no involvement with King (other than the book) and this film does great without him. There are some minor changes made from book to film and they are good changes. For example, the dead zone itself. In the novel, the dead zone is basically the stuff he cannot see in his visions. In the movie, the dead zone are these blind spots that mean the future is not set and that it can be altered. Either interpretation of the dead zone works with me. As I said in my introduction, this is the first David Cronenberg film that I have ever watched (and as of this review, the only one I have ever watched) and I already love his work. This film is wonderfully and even beautifully directed and this gives me an idea as to what the other Cronenberg films are like. (No wonder why I have alot of his films in my watchlist). I love the cinematography which really helps set the dark, bleak tone of this film. Most of the scenes are winter scenes and take the tunnel scene for example. It is scenes like that that help set a tone. A tone that matches the tone of the book. The story is amazing here and we see Johnny as an everyday man (this is to show that Johnny could literally be anyone) struggling with this new world which has changed from the last time he saw it. It is often considered a horror story (and it is) but I also view it as a thriller and even a romance in a way. Christopher Walken gives an absolute amazing performance here. Now these days, you get some awkward Walken performances, but this one is not one of those and it is truly great. Walken conveys so much emotion in scenes where he does not even have to say a word. Absolute genius. The rest of the acting here is also fantastic as well. I should mention a great performance by Martin Sheen as Greg Stillson. I have heard people call his performance as overacting (it is even brought up in a few documentaries) and like some people, I believe that his performance was not overacted. It is an entirely beliveable performance. I can look at this character and tell that this guy is not what many people seem to view him as. That is what the performances in this film are. Very believeable.
The Dead Zone is a wonderfully directed film that also has some wonderful acting. This is a Stephen King adaptation that tends to get overlooked and I do hope it gets more recognition because it is truly a fine Stephen King adaptation.
The film follows pretty close to the novel here which follows an everday man named Johnny Smith (played by Christopher Walken) who is working as a school teacher. Everything in his life seems to be going alright. He has a girlfriend and all that. Until he gets into an accident which puts him into a coma for five years. When he wakes up, he finds that he has lost everything including his girlfriend who has since remarried and even had a child. Not only has he lost everything, but he now possesses the ability to see the future (and past) and is also able to prevent events from happening. Some see this as a gift, but for Johnny, it is a curse. There are two parts to the film which include a murder plot where Johnny is asked to use his ability to find a serial rapist killer. And another includes a dangerous politician (but only Johnny knows what he will do).
This film is just fantastic all around. Since this an adaptation to a book, how does it stack up? Fairly well actually. This had no involvement with King (other than the book) and this film does great without him. There are some minor changes made from book to film and they are good changes. For example, the dead zone itself. In the novel, the dead zone is basically the stuff he cannot see in his visions. In the movie, the dead zone are these blind spots that mean the future is not set and that it can be altered. Either interpretation of the dead zone works with me. As I said in my introduction, this is the first David Cronenberg film that I have ever watched (and as of this review, the only one I have ever watched) and I already love his work. This film is wonderfully and even beautifully directed and this gives me an idea as to what the other Cronenberg films are like. (No wonder why I have alot of his films in my watchlist). I love the cinematography which really helps set the dark, bleak tone of this film. Most of the scenes are winter scenes and take the tunnel scene for example. It is scenes like that that help set a tone. A tone that matches the tone of the book. The story is amazing here and we see Johnny as an everyday man (this is to show that Johnny could literally be anyone) struggling with this new world which has changed from the last time he saw it. It is often considered a horror story (and it is) but I also view it as a thriller and even a romance in a way. Christopher Walken gives an absolute amazing performance here. Now these days, you get some awkward Walken performances, but this one is not one of those and it is truly great. Walken conveys so much emotion in scenes where he does not even have to say a word. Absolute genius. The rest of the acting here is also fantastic as well. I should mention a great performance by Martin Sheen as Greg Stillson. I have heard people call his performance as overacting (it is even brought up in a few documentaries) and like some people, I believe that his performance was not overacted. It is an entirely beliveable performance. I can look at this character and tell that this guy is not what many people seem to view him as. That is what the performances in this film are. Very believeable.
The Dead Zone is a wonderfully directed film that also has some wonderful acting. This is a Stephen King adaptation that tends to get overlooked and I do hope it gets more recognition because it is truly a fine Stephen King adaptation.