On D List of Movie Reviews
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The Dead Zone (1983)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
9/10, 7/15
9/10:
It's always an experience when I see a David Cronenberg picture, especially when it's from the early 80's.
Being in the same vein as The Brood,
Scanners, and Videodrome, The Dead Zone serves up a
fascinating insight into telepathic powers of an ordinary person. There's a series of vignettes with each being more
interesting than the previous. Usually, Stephen King's stories don't translate well on screen, but this one does.
Christopher Walken gives a great performance, and the supporting players rise to the occasion to
complement him. The plot is excellent, elicting a mix of David Cronenberg's style and
The Manchurian Candidate, with a sharp twist at the end.
All in all, The Dead Zone is a superbly made Cronenberg picture.
7/15:
The Dead Zone is possibly the most calm David Cronenberg picture made which means it has no visceral graphics or
anything that's gross.
It's the story that makes the film a winner because the ability to see the future is a fascinating topic. Hence, it's the
chief reason why Quantum Leap was one of the best sci-fi TV shows ever produced. The finale is reminiscent of
The Manchurian Candidate.
Christopher Walken is excellent. Ironically, his character makes a mention of
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and what happened to him plays out the same way as the eponymous character in
Rip Van Winkle with both stories having been written by Washington Irving.
All in all, Stephen King's novels rarely translate well on screen, but The Dead Zone is an exception to
this rule.