X
- 1983
- R
- Paramount Pictures
- 1 h 43 m
- 1983
- R
- Paramount Pictures
- 1 h 43 m
Summary After a car accident puts him into a coma for 5 years, teacher Johnny Smith (Christopher Walken) wakes up to discover he can see people's futures after touching them.
Directed By: David Cronenberg
Written By: Stephen King, Jeffrey Boam
- 1983
- R
- Paramount Pictures
- 1 h 43 m
- 1983
- R
- Paramount Pictures
- 1 h 43 m
The Dead Zone
69
8.4
Where to Watch
Summary After a car accident puts him into a coma for 5 years, teacher Johnny Smith (Christopher Walken) wakes up to discover he can see people's futures after touching them.
Directed By: David Cronenberg
Written By: Stephen King, Jeffrey Boam
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 8 Critic Reviews
69
88% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
13% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 8 Critic Reviews
69
88% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
13% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Arguably the best adaptation of a Stephen King novel.
The Dead Zone does what only a good supernatural thriller can do: It makes us forget it is supernatural.
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 111 User Ratings
8.4
87% Positive
97 Ratings
97 Ratings
11% Mixed
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
2% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 111 User Ratings
8.4
87% Positive
97 Ratings
97 Ratings
11% Mixed
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
2% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
The Dead Zone is a fun supernatural thriller with Christopher Walken. The movie is thrilling and
the plot is intriguing and original. The cast also has Martin Sheen who gives an interesting performance
as a politician running in the local election, A+.
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This was outstanding, and ranks right up there for me, both in terms of Stephen King adaptations in general and Cronenberg's work in particular. It also houses one of my very favourite Christopher Walken performances. When I see Martin Sheen be such a jerk here, it both makes me realize where his son Charlie gets that side of his personality from and makes me fear, even though I'm Canadian, the fact that Donald Trump actually has a chance of being the next president of the United States. It also reaffirms in my heart the great adoration I have for Brooke Adams.
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It has some of that episodic ‘compressed miniseries’ feel which a lot of King pictures get stuck with (the book was later redone as a TV serial with Anthony Michael Hall) but still manages a lot of powerful material.
The Dead Zone, from the book by Stephen King, a horror novelist whose prolific output is the scariest thing about him, is academic filmmaking all the way, a crafty Establishment tour de force. [21 Oct 1983]
It never really chills you, but then it never insults you, either, and it's more affecting than you expect any film based on a Stephen King novel to be. [22 Oct 1983]
By no means a bad film, just a disappointingly bland and superficial one.
Despite the over the top third act, The Dead Zone is still one of the best adaptation to a Stephen King novel I've seen. The acting is great, the cinematography is beautiful and the atmosphere is dark and gritty. If you're a fan of the novel, you will not be disappointed.
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A book and a film or TV adaptation has to focus on the main story with the main character on what he or she does when completing the whole plot but David Cronenberg deserves respect from adapted the story and his vision of The Dead Zone fits well with a serious drama, a mood of science-fiction and horror is the key word of Stephen King's imagination.
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[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
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Awards
Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival
• 3 Wins & 4 Nominations
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
• 1 Win & 4 Nominations
Fantafestival
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
