Retro Film Review: The Dead Zone (1983)

Works of Stephen King are the clearest examples of good literature being basis for bad or mediocre movies. The most popular and influential contemporary horror writer in America had seen almost all of his works adapted either for films or for television. But in most cases, all those works were mediocre, disappointing at best, or sometimes even downright awful. Not even the talents of reputed directors like Carpenter could save King's work. One of the talents to tackle King was David Cronenberg, Canadian director who had made reputation with his inventive, yet disturbing and extremely gory horrors in 1970s and early 1980s. The Dead Zone, his 1983 adaptation of Stephen King's novel represents one of his first departure from the horror genre.

The plot revolves around Johnny Smith (played by Christopher Walken), mild- mannered English teacher that lives a normal life and is just to be married to his beautiful girlfriend Sarah (played by Brooke Adams). His life is shattered to pieces when he becomes a victim of a terrible traffic accident. Awaken from coma after five years, he finds that he had lost his job, girlfriend and ability to walk without a limp. But he gained something else in return – psychic ability to have visions about someone's past and future. At first it looks like a gift, but Johnny soon realizes that all his visions concern death, violence, pain and misery. Johnny shields himself from world, unsuccessfully trying to get his old life back working as a home tutor. In the meantime, Greg Stillson (played by Martin Sheen), ambitious politician, shows no scruples in his unstoppable campaign for U.S. Senate.

On the surface, The Dead Zone looks like a very good film, one of the better Stephen King's adaptations. The story is interesting, pace is good and Cronenberg is this time more interested in characters and settings than blood or gore. The atmosphere is also fine, with a clear contrast between snowy, fairytale American Northeast and dark secrets that lie within their inhabitants (the exception is sometimes too monotonous musical score by Michael Kamen). Unfortunately, what this film lack is coherence. Instead of clear plot we have whole bunch of subplots patched together. The result looks like a multi-part mini-series being edited into feature film. The subplot that had the potential to be most intriguing comes too late - somewhere in the last third of the film. Until then viewer had been exposed to many interesting storylines, all of them being dealt adequately, but not enough to gather our proper attention. Interesting characters, played by small army of very capable actors, come and go without an apparent reason. One of those storylines, for examples, is subplot dealing with serial killer - its implausible, yet on the other hand predictable resolution is probably the weakest part of the film; it also provided some really gratuitous nudity and violence.

The actors in this film are rather good. Christopher Walken, one of the most prolific character actors in contemporary American cinema, is here in rare opportunity to play not only the lead, but also a good guy. His minimalist approach is perfect for the role of the normal man who is constantly tormented, first by the loss of his previous life, than by the powers that force him to abandon human contact, and, finally, with the greatest responsibility someone has to imagine. His talent sometimes helps us to forget some of the really dreadful lines provided by not too inspired screenwriter Jeffrey Boam. On the other side is Martin Sheen that sometimes goes too far playing the role of egomaniac without scruples. Tom Skerrit as Sheriff Bannerman is good, but he spends too little time on screen. Same is with Herbert Lom as Doctor Weizak, who is very impressive and who happens to deliver the most parts of dialogue in the movie.

With an impressive atmosphere, good acting and some rather interesting issues raised in the last segment, The Dead Zone still remains very good film. Unfortunately, it also leaves the viewer with the impression that it could have been much better. But, considering the really bad record with Stephen King's adaptations, sometimes we must satisfy ourselves with the less than stellar material.

(Special note to x-philes: William B. Davis, who later became household name with his portrayal of Cigarette Smoking Man in The X-Files, could be seen in this film in a small role of ambulance driver.)

RATING: 7/10 (+++)

(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.movies.reviews on April 5th 1999)

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