The Dead Zone (1983 Movie)
Even though this movie had the same major plot points as the book, it felt really disjointed going from one storyline to another.
The Dead Zone
Starring: Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen, Brooke Adams, Tom Skerritt
Directed by: David Cronenberg
Written by: Jeffrey Boam
Rating: R
Length: 1 hour 43 minutes
Genre: Sci-Fi Thriller
Release Date: October 21, 1983
I thought this movie adaptation of The Dead Zone was okay. I wonder if I would have liked it more if I hadn’t read the story. I missed that it didn’t have the Wheel of Fortune at the beginning or even Johnny hitting his head on the ice as a kid. It did seem to hit all the other plot points but the movie still felt disjointed going from the romance with Sarah to solving a murder case to random premonitions to deciding to do something about Stillson. These were all in the book but it seemed all over the place in the movie and I didn’t get that feeling while reading it.
One the main parts of the book that I enjoyed was the tragic love story between Johnny and Sarah. I didn’t get that from the movie, mostly because there was no chemistry between Johnny and Sarah.
I love Christopher Walken but I laughed every time he did a bit of overacting. These are the two scenes that I clipped that made me laugh the most. His last lines in each scene are the best.
I have had issues with some of Cronenberg’s movies in the past, so it could have mostly been an issue with him as the director. I am wondering if this movie was directed by someone else, it would have flowed better.
Grade: B-