The Dead Zone Movie Information

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Movie Information

Overall Rank: 1556

Average Rating: 2.9/4

# of Ratings: 123

Theatrical Release Date: 10/21/1983

Language: English

Genre: Drama, Fantasy

MPAA Rating: R

Director: David Cronenberg

Actors: Christopher Walken, Brooke Adams, Tom Skerritt, Herbert Lom, Martin Sheen, Anthony Zerbe

Plot: After coming out of a coma after many years, a man has to come to terms with his new psychic powers, which may become his undoing when he crosses paths with a corrupt politician.

Logan D. McCoy - wrote on 09/16/2023

"The Dead Zone" is what you get when one horror icon gracefully adapts the work of another. Make the premise as moving as it is freaky while adding an affable lead performance from Christopher Walken, and it turns into one of the most approachable and effective works from either Cronenberg or King.

Unknown - wrote on 09/04/2012

Cronenberg's most easily accessible film is both a solid adaptation and an interesting thriller. It has a good story sprinkled with some nice jolts. Walken leaves behind a memorable lead role.

Allison - wrote on 10/23/2009

One of the most amazing films of all time. This is everything Taxi Driver should have been and more. Christopher Walken knows an elected official is going to be the next Hitler and has a chance to stop him. But will he be able to prove to the world that the action he takes is justifiable?

Daniel Corleone
Movie God

The Dead Zone review

Daniel Corleone - wrote on 10/18/2012

A provocative screenplay as always coming from the gifted director. Johnny Smith (Christopher Walken) is a teacher who was about to get married to Sarah (Brooke Adams) until an unfortunate accident which puts him in a deep coma for 5 years. He then garners inexplicable power. Some cool lines: Johnny - "Some things are worth waiting for." "I'm already living in a controlled environment." Greg - "...keep their money because times are tough." and Dr. Sam - "Because it was not meant to be." The well paced elegant direction from Cronenberg and brilliant score of Kaman kept the film suspenseful. Walken's performance keeps you glued from beginning to the meaningful conclusion. The Dead Zone may not gain popularity, but its themes of political agenda, selfish motives, inhumanity, fate …

Yojimbo
Movie God

"The Dead Zone" by Yojimbo

Yojimbo - wrote on 02/13/2012

A teacher involved in a near fatal car crash reawakens from a coma five years later with the power of second sight. David Cronenberg's most restrained and mainstream movie is based upon a Stephen King novel, but don't let that put you off. The Dead Zone, along with The Shining, is one of the very best examples of his numerous adaptations and is a fine exercise in supernatural suspense. The inventive plot sees a man haunted by images of future events, finely played by Christopher Walken in one of his least flamboyant performances. His hollow eyed, almost shell shocked interpretation strikes the mark perfectly and he is ably supported by Herbert Lom as a pragmatic doctor and holocaust survivor and Martin Sheen as an insidious senatorial candidate. The score also deserves a mention, …

Franz Patrick
Movie God

Noticeably Segmented

Franz Patrick - wrote on 11/16/2008

Most people put this under the horror genre but this is a supernatural thriller more than anything. This film, directed by David Cronenberg, is smart because instead of avoiding the question of how will people react if they know about the main character’s ability to tell the future, it tackles the subject head-on and drives the story forward. I completely bought that Christopher Walken has the power of premonition because of his soft-spoken nature but knowledgeable (yet shifty) eyes. I also bought the romance between Walken and Brooke Adams because they had chemistry. My main problem with the film is that it feels like it’s divided into episodes: how the ability came about was part one, the murderer of the town was part two, the boy that was being tutored was part three, and the …