Dead Zone, The (1983)
The Dead Zone (1983)
Rating: 
David Cronenberg’s 1983 psychic thriller “The Dead Zone” (based on the novel by Stephen King) is the story of a young teacher who, after a horrific accident and 5-year coma, wakes up to find he has the ability to see the future. He is now faced with physical rehab, the loss of Sarah to another man, and the flood of media and people begging for his help as a psychic.
Overall, “The Dead Zone” is well written and well directed. As with any film, there are elements that were lacking. I felt the film lacked some continuity in places, and the soundtrack didn’t work well with the film. The acting from greats like Walken, Martin Sheen, and Tom Skerritt left you with a real understanding of their characters.
I find this to be one of Cronenberg’s more straight ahead films. While the psychic element is outlandish, it doesn’t reach the scale of bizarro film making like “Videodrome (1983)” or his remake of the classic body horror film “The Fly (1986)”.
I highly recommend this film to fans of horror movies as well as psychological thrillers. It’s visually captivating, and the story itself draws you in and grabs hold of your psyche. It’s a must have for fans of Christopher Walken, David Cronenberg, and Stephen King.
Bloody Blake
