The Dead Zone (1983)

Director:

David Cronenberg

Writers:

Stephen King (novel)
Jeffrey Boam (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 October 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | 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:

Gothic | Clothes Ripping | Stephen King | Blouse Ripping | Good Versus Evil

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

Also Known As:

Zone neutre, La (Canada: French title)

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English | Russian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Portugal:M/16 | Netherlands:12 | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Iceland:16 | 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:

Martin Sheen's character says he has had a vision that he will be the President of the United States. Sheen went on to play the President of the United States in the mini series "Kennedy" (1983) (mini) and in "The West Wing" (1999).

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)

dead zone, lively film

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.