The Dead Zone (1983)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

David Cronenberg

Writers:

Stephen King (novel)
Jeffrey Boam (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 October 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

In his mind, he has the power to see the future. In his hands, he has the power to change it.

Plot:

A man awakens from a coma to discover he has a psychic detective ability.

Plot Keywords:

Coma | Psychic | Car Accident | Psychic Power | Fire

Awards:

7 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Christopher Walken	...	Johnny Smith
Brooke Adams	...	Sarah Bracknell
Tom Skerritt	...	Sheriff George Bannerman
Herbert Lom	...	Dr. Sam Weizak
Anthony Zerbe	...	Roger Stuart
Colleen Dewhurst	...	Henrietta Dodd
Martin Sheen	...	Greg Stillson
Nicholas Campbell	...	Deputy Frank Dodd
Sean Sullivan	...	Herb Smith
Jackie Burroughs	...	Vera Smith
Géza Kovács	...	Sonny Elliman (as Geza Kovacs)
Roberta Weiss	...	Alma Frechette
Simon Craig	...	Chris Stuart
Peter Dvorsky	...	Dardis
Julie-Ann Heathwood	...	Amy

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Russian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Netherlands:12 | South Korea:18 | Italy:T | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1984) | Norway:18 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Dino De Laurentiis Company

Trivia:

Cronenberg fired a .357 Magnum loaded with blanks just off camera to make Smith's flinches seem more involuntary; this was Christopher Walken's own idea.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Shape of a blood bag clearly visible under Henrietta Dodd's sweater when she is shot by the sheriff.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Johnny Smith: [Johnny is reading "The Raven" to his class] And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting, on the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door, and his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming, and the lamp light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor, and my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor, shall be lifted... nevermore.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Politics of 'The Dead Zone' (2006) (V)

Psychic Zone

This is without a question the most "normal" of all the films director Cronenberg has made in his long career. It is also one of his best films, where plot holes are kept to the minimum, a rare thing for a Cronenberg movie. It is an elegant, deeply emotional movie with Cronenberg rearranging writer Stephen King's sensibilities so they can fit into his own personal vision. It's a great marriage of ideas and styles, that seem to work surprisingly well. Christopher Walken's moving, truly wonderful performance is the icing of the cake, and that music score! At first, the film doesn't look like your typical Cronenberg movie, but sharp viewers familiar with the director's work will notice many elements that are pure Cronenberg. Also, it is one of the best films based on a King novel.