User Reviews

The Dead Zone is one of those critically acclaimed movies which I'm astounded has taken me this long to get around to.

Starring Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen and the late great Herbert Lom this Stephen King adaptation tells the story of a man who upon coming out of a coma learns he has gained the power of premonition.

The interesting thing about the Dead Zone is it's almost like a mini-series squeezed into a single film as it doesn't have one solid storyline throughout and instead is a series of stepping stones to the brilliant finale.

The cast are on point and Lom who is famous for his villianous characters (Pink Panther for example) is highly likeable and steals every scene he's in.

I'm so glad coming out of this that I finally got round to it as it is yet another great King adaptation worthy of its acclaim.

The Good:

Opening a movie with an Edgar Alan Poe quote works for me

Perfectly executed from performances to writing

Great finale

The Bad:

Cheating protagonists, they never get old

Would have benefitted from at least 30 minutes more

Things I Learnt From This Movie:

It's scary how alike Martin & Charlie were around the same age

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.

I'm a great admirer of David Cronenberg, and "The Dead Zone' could well be his most underrated movie. The problem is that it's just not very Cronenbergesque, and being "Deprave" Cronenberg's first mainstream Hollywood movie, and coming hot off his provocative and mind blowing 'Videodrome', many people regard it as some kind of sell out. I really cannot agree. If you forget your preconceived idea of what Cronenberg movies SHOULD be (and let's not forget his other career oddities 'Fast Company' or 'M. Butterfly'), and just accept it for what it is, you'll see that it is a very well made and well acted thriller, and is almost impossible to fault. In my opinion it joins Kubrick's 'The Shining' and De Palma's 'Carrie' as the most effective Steven King adaptations to date. Christopher Walken is on top form here, and I think gives one of his very best performances. The supporting cast are also excellent, the lovely Brooke Adams ('Invasion Of The Body Snatchers'), horror veteran Herbert Lom ('Mark Of The Devil'), Martin Sheen ('Badlands'), Tom Skerritt ('Alien'), Anthony Zerbe ('The Omega Man'), and Cronenberg regular Nicholas Campbell, who is involved in the movies most unforgettable sequence. I've lost track of how many times I've watched 'The Dead Zone' over the years, but it never fails to hook me in, and I always get something more out of Walken's performance every time I view it. This movie may not be typical fare from David Cronenberg, but it is one of his most straightforward and entertaining films. Highly recommended.

It seems that movies starring Christopher Walken just can't go wrong! David Cronenberg's adaptation of Stephen King's "The Dead Zone" features him in one of his most interesting roles as literature teacher Johnny Smith, who becomes psychic after surviving a car wreck. He uses his newfound power to help people avoid danger, but soon faces a moral dilemma when it looks like political candidate Greg Stilson (Martin Sheen) may become the next Hitler.

This is one of those movies that has shades of everyone involved in it. Walken's eerie presence, Sheen's (apparent) "aw shucks" demeanor, plus the horrific feeling of Cronenberg and King. You're sure to love it. Also starring are Brooke Adams as Johnny's ex hubby, and Herbert Lom as a doctor (you may expect him to launch into an anti-Clouseau diatribe, but his role here is as far removed from Commissioner Dreyfus as possible).

Very well done.

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.

Strung together like installments of a TV series, which is what this material eventually became. Released the same year as Christine and Cujo, The Dead Zone is one of the better attempts to bring Stephen King's work to the screen, and features a superb performance from Christopher Walken which is the best thing about the film; his performance holds the film together. Directed by David Cronenberg, the film lacks momentum, the episodes don't really connect and they often feel incomplete and rushed and there's too much of Martin Sheen's villain. A subplot featuring a concerned parent who refuses to heed the psychic's warning makes no sense. There are some jolts and suspense as we wait for Walken to grasp someone's hand in order to get a startling vision, thus making the film somewhat predictable. A somber, downbeat film with an unhappy and reluctant hero, The Dead Zone is compelling and definitely recommended.

A schoolteacher Johnny Smith (Christopher Walken) a survivor of a road accident awakes from a five-year coma to discover he has psychic abilities, which he gets visions of the past, present and the deadly future. And how he does it, is through the use of touch. But life has changed within that time with his girlfriend (Brooke Adams) being married; he's basically crippled and no longer having a job. So now he uses his abilities to help a sheriff (Tom Skerritt) solve a murder case, to save a child's life and predicting world's fate from an evilly corrupt politician (Martin Sheen) who plans to be president.

It's definitely one of my favourite King adaptations and you could say Cronenberg at his best. This time around Cronenberg has taken a more mainstream (even though depressing) approach with none of his grotesque and disturbing visuals evident, but that doesn't take away from the experience - as on show is good story telling, performances and film-making. Visually the film does hold strong imagery (especially the vision scenes) and also the picture truly captures the unsaturated colours of the wintry backdrop, which makes the bleak atmosphere such a dour affair. Though the sharp stabbing sounds when Johnny gets a vision truly knocks you, but it's the stinging outcome that made the film for me. Distinctive photography by Mark Irwin was beautifully constructed and pretty smooth in the detail of the settings. While, the driving score stood out and was particularly on the spot with capturing the right mood. Sound performances are given by the likes of the sympathetic Christopher Walken and the innocent Brooke Adams. Martian Sheen delivers a rather hammy performance and Tom Skerritt's performance is the total opposite, being rather toned down. Cronenberg's solid direction paces the film swiftly and also creates some well-staged sequences of tension that stick in your head. In all you can always expect dashing film-making by Cronenberg and that's what you get in this picture.

The story is what I had some gripes with. At times it felt like writer Jeffrey Boam was trying to squeeze too much into the story. Some interesting and intelligent sub-plots (murder investigation) felt hurried and rather contrived - it was like it was concentrating and building more towards the final act instead. But then again time is money and it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of this film. The plot is basically a portrait of a man coming to grips with his pain and accepting the fate his been chosen and also throw in some social commentary into the mix. Also added is the occasional dabbing of dry/witty remarks, but for me it was uncomfortable humour. That being pretty much the state of the film. One thing I noticed, but don't know if this symbolism was intended but the way Johnny is always wearing the black coat reminded me of death (fate). Especially with touch his can see into the future and actually alter what can happen (say death). Maybe it was just I?

It isn't gut wrenching stuff (visually speaking) we've come to expect by Cronenberg, but still he nails down a well drawn up and gripping drama/thriller.

"The Dead Zone" is one of my favorite Stephen King novels, and this adaptation dos the job nicely, mostly turning the story into a morality tale and pumping it full of wintery atmosphere.

Sheen gets to play the truly sinister bad guy politician (compare this with his amazing idealistic Jed Bartlett, and they're both great performances at either end of the spectrum), glad-handing the crowd one minute and firing off threats with stone cold menace the next. The kind of guy that'll use an infant as a meat shield during a sniper attack. Walken on the other hand bears the pain and torture of having 5 years ripped away . . . and then finding out his beloved has moved on with her life. If that's not enough, he's got to be constantly reminded of her new life at every turn. It's just an incredibly sad situation, sweetened - if only - by Walken's heroism. And he sells it, no question.

This is fairly conventional Cronenberg, but a fine thriller, regardless.

7/10

Christopher Walken is in his weary, paranoia-stricken best in the

awesome film adaptation of Stephen King's best-seller, THE DEAD ZONE. Walken plays Johnny Smith, a once-mild mannered teacher who receives a mixed blessing of predicting the future after a nasty car accident. Soon enough Smith becomes a center of attention as he predicts murders, accidents, and the like. The "gift" takes an even sharper turn as Smith realizes that a candidate for the presidential election (Martin Sheen, shades of THE WEST WING here?) has his sights set on nuclear domination. Walken is mesmirizing as Johnny, as the man tries in vain to cope with his power. And former PINK PANTHER actor Herbert Lom also shines as Johnny's shrink.

First of all, let me say that I liked "The Dead Zone". The problem, if there's one, is that there's a dream team at work here: David Cronenberg, Stephen King and Christopher Walken. It couldn't go wrong. And it didn't. Sorta.

This is probably the most accessible movie from Cronenberg, even more so than the recent (and good) "Eastern Promises" and "History Of Violence", or even "The Fly".

Stephen King's story is interesting, although it is not one of his most inspiring.

And Walken does a fine job, as usual.

So what we have here are three very talented people working on a movie that could have been fantastic, but it's just good. Not that there's anything wrong with that. The story is told in a very linear way, the direction seems constrained at times and the acting is good. The score by Michael Kamen is nothing memorable, but it is effective. The ending is fitting, as well.

I don't really want to discuss the plot, as it is very straightforward. Just read the tagline and the plot description on IMDb, you'll know if this is the kind of movie for you.

That's my only problem with the film. I was expecting something awesome because of the people involved, but it turns out that this is just a good movie. I was left a bit disappointed, but I have to recommend it, specially if your expectations are not too high.

6/10

At this point in his career, Stephen King had the miraculous, almost Hitchcockian ability to allow a story to proceed from the most believable of circumstances, trickle like water delicately over tiny steps which, taken alone, did not seem too out of the ordinary, and then coalesce magnificently into masterpieces that defy categorization – not horror, not science fiction, but truly something magical, if unnameable. Dead Zone is such a masterpiece.

Owing in no small part to the subtle yet compelling performance of Christopher Walken, who in the same year would star in one of my most beloved films of the genre, Brainstorm, Dead Zone may well be one of King's best. Almost certainly based to some extent on real-life psychic Peter Hurkos, Dead Zone shows the master, King, taking an already well known premise to a new and thrilling conclusion.

The theme developed here is a common one for King. An innocent victim, through no fault of his own, is thrown into a paranormal world that will lead to an ultimate test. The idea is classic literary tragedy at its best, and is represented with equal aplomb in King's contemporaneous work such as Firestarter and Christine.

Director David Cronenberg, smoking hot at the time with masterpieces of his own – Scanners and Videodrome, delivers a film that resonates perfectly with King's book, with pacing and tone that capture what was best about King in this period. King himself was experiencing his golden age, with Cujo, Firestarter, Carrie and The Shining rounding out his catalog within a few years. In other words, this is the best of the best for some people who gave us some pretty good stuff.

The supporting cast is brilliant. Martin Sheen, Tom Skerritt, Anthony Zerbe, and the lovely Brooke Adams are all exceptional. Screenwriter Jeffrey Boam, who also penned such classics as Lost Boys, Lethal Weapon 2 and 3, and the Witches of Eastwick, crafted a brilliant treatment that works absolutely perfectly from start to finish. Michael Kamen's brilliant score is but one jewel in the crown of his many achievements, and was said to be so disturbing that overhearing him practicing it gave his neighbors nightmares.

I suppose I could try to think of more ways to say it, but there is no need. It can be summed up once and for all in a single sentence. Dead Zone is perfection.

One of the unwritten laws of the movies is that Stephen King books are nearly always disappointing when transferred to the big screen. One film which doesn't fit that rule is The Dead Zone. In the hands of David Cronenberg, you may expect this to be a gore-filled affair, but it is actually a very well-made, subtle film which emphasises the psychological sense of fear rather than settling for blood-spattered mayhem. There isn't a moment in the film that will make you jump out of your seat, but it is still an effectively scary film because it plays on your mind.

Normal, down-to-earth everyman Johnny Smith (Christopher Walken) is involved in a terrible car crash which leaves him comatose. Four years later, he miraculously awakens. To begin with, he is devastated to learn that his girlfriend has moved on, marrying and starting a family with another man. But soon he realises that this is the least of his problems. He soon discovers that the accident has left him with remarkable powers, which enable him to see into people's futures just by touching their hand. And Johnny is in for one hell of a nasty shock when he shakes hands with potential senator Greg Stillson (Martin Sheen) at a political rally....

An intelligently paced and very well-acted film, The Dead Zone is also full of unpredictable plot developments. Walken elicits great sympathy as the normal guy who rapidly learns that his new gift is actually a curse, and there are fabulous supporting performances from Tom Skerritt, Herbert Lom, Brooke Adams and the terrifying Martin Sheen. The film has several tremendous moments, but the climax in particular builds to an emotional crescendo. The premise of The Dead Zone is probably rather silly if you stop to think about it, but other than that it is a most impressive film - and still ranks as one of, if not THE, best adaptation of a Stephen King story so far.

A Stephen King adaptation worthy of taking its place next to Kubrick's "The Shining", this one directed by the estimable David Cronenberg in a manner more straightforward than we were used to at the time. Christopher Walken, (excellent), is the young schoolteacher who awakens out of a five year coma only to discover he has the ability to see a person's future, (or their past), simply by grasping their hand; needless to say, the futures he sees aren't always rosy.

Although it's a tale of the supernatural, King and Cronenberg keep the suspense on a very basic level with a strong degree of moral ambiguity thrown in for good measure helped, not just by Walken's performance, but by a fine supporting cast that includes Brooke Adams, Tom Skerritt, Herbert Lom and a terrific Martin Sheen as the kind of politician who should never be allowed to run for public office. Perhaps because its horrors are subdued, (both by King and Cronenberg standards), the film isn't really seen much now but it remains a superior example of its kind and is worth seeing.

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 ****

The Dead Zone (1983) was somewhat based upon the Stephen King novel. Cronenberg plays "director-for-hire" as he adapts the novel with his own vision in mind. Even though he was only a hired gun, his trademark is everywhere. The movie has a cold and clinical feel to it. The book is the opposite of this movie, but it makes a interesting companion piece.

Christopher Walken stars in the lead role as Johnny Smith. He's a school teacher who one day (after a terrible accident) is blessed (or cursed) with the ability to for see a certain future. Herbert Lom co-stars as his doctor and Brooke Adams co-stars as well as his former love interest. Martin Sheen plays in what's nothing more than an extended cameo appearance. He plays Greg Stiltson with restraint but with an underlining madness. Tom Skeritt co-stars as well as the constable who seeks out Johnny's help.

The movie follows the book somewhat but there's something missing. Cronenberg takes the story and adds his own coldness to the overall film. The cinematography is very Norman Rockwell (in an interview he told his Director of Photography to accomplish this feat with his lens). The performance of Walken is also cold and clinical. I don't know if this was done on purpose or if that's just the way he acted during this time period.

Despite the lack of involvement with writing the screenplay, this film has Cronenberg written all over it. But many of his fans (such as myself) will feel conflicted if they're fans of the book (such as myself). So it's up to you to decide how to feel about this movie. It's an interesting movie for horror fans in general but not necessarily for fans of Stephen King. All depends on one's taste I guess. I have to give this one a passing grade.

B-

If Hollywood could get back to maving good honest movies like this. You know the sort of movie. One that you can go to the cinema, pay your money and be entertained by a good story unspoiled by ugly CGI effect and mediocre TV actors who think they're A listers.

I watched Dead Zone after trying to tackle Cronenberg's Cosmpopolis having already seen the movie back in the 90's. I think I wanted to just check if Cronenberg really did make The Dead Zone and it was as good as I thought it was after seeing the turkey Cosmopolis.

My curiosity was confirmed. The Dead Zone was a good old fashioned horror thriller, intellectually provoking, great cinematography, great acting from all especially Walken who rarely disappoints. Is it too much to ask that Hollywood goes back to doing what they were always able to do very well? Probably!

The story is about a man who attains psychic abilities after 5 years in a coma due to a car crash. From that point Walken finds himself in various scenarios where his new super powers are put to the test. Martin Sheen hams it up as the nasty presidential candidate. I found the movie, sad in places, at times exciting and also thought provoking. Not as much gore as we normally see from Cronenberg but this was a mainstream production, probably the only one of two he made in that bracket, the other being The Fly.

The Dead Zone had all the ingredients of a good movie and I guess that's why it stands the test of time. I wonder who will remember Cosmopolis?

Good movie adaptations of Stephen King novels are far and few between. The Dead Zone is not one of them. This film is lackluster and devoid of any real emotion. It's very slow paced, which I can respect in a thriller, the problem being that this movie is not suspenseful or thrilling in any way. It is the story of a man named Johnny Smith (Christopher Walken) who gets into a horrible car accident. He wakes up five years later from a coma with the ability to see people's futures. He is struck with the moral debate of whether to help people with his newfound ability or to let the future be and hide away. The whole films strikes with an interesting concept, but unfortunately it is executed very poorly, and the whole idea becomes very mediocre and uninteresting.

This film is very stale and static. It seems to never change tone or mood, staying at the same level of dull stagnancy. The plot seems to drag along with very little actually happening, and I found myself gradually losing interest. The characters follow the same pattern as the plot. There is little in the way of character development and I lost interest in all the characters by the end of the film. In fact, the characters don't do much to help the story along. The supporting cast is very weak, and most of the focus is on Christopher Walken's character. Walken does a decent job in his role, except that he has little to work with. His character only slightly changes throughout the film, and not for the better. He only gets less interesting and his psychic ability ends up boiling down to a neat trick that isn't really exciting anymore after the second or third time.

The Dead Zone seems to be missing a spark of interest and intrigue that you would expect it to have. Everything here seems to be highly underdeveloped and it would have had a lot more potential if it had been properly executed and thoroughly fleshed out. This film is missing key elements to be a good film, and it could have been so much more. There isn't much use in watching this film.