On D List of Movie Reviews

(For optimum viewing, adjust the zoom level of your browser to 125%.)


The Dark Half (1993)

Rate: 8
Viewed: 11/16

DarkH
11/16: Mostly shot on location in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, The Dark Half is a nice little horror movie with an interesting story and great acting.

Timothy Hutton is the one who makes the premise work, and he does an excellent job of playing two different characters. I can't even recognize his doppelgänger. Amy Madigan is okay, but she's miscast for the most part and rarely blends in well on screen. Michael Rooker gives a sound performance.

The special effects with the birds are better than The Birds. According to IMDb: "In total, 4,500 cut-throat finches were used for the sparrows in the film. The birds would consume 100 pounds of birdseed and 15 gallons of water on a daily basis during the production."

Although the story is absorbing, the ending is a disappointment. It feels like a lazy, cheap escape to wrap up the show. Made in 1991, The Dark Half wouldn't be released for two years due to Orion's bankruptcy problems. By the way, the car is a 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado.

All in all, The Dark Half works well for a Stephen King picture.