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The Dark Half

Play trailer Poster for The Dark Half R 1993 2h 2m Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
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61% Tomatometer 38 Reviews 42% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Thad Beaumont (Timothy Hutton) has had success writing novels under both his real name and his pseudonym, George Stark, which he uses to publish base thrillers. When word gets out that they are one and the same, the author holds a mock funeral for Stark. But after a rash of murders eerily similar to those in the Stark books, Thad and his wife, Liz (Amy Madigan), realize that Stark is real and responsible, and must work with local Sheriff Pangborn (Michael Rooker) to stop him.
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The Dark Half

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Critics Consensus

The Dark Half is a highly serious psychological study that can be faulted for being more curious than actually scary.

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Critics Reviews

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Susie Eisenhuth Sydney Morning Herald Strong performances add the required heft to keep you onside when the plot gets dodgy. Hutton's nice-guy image is perfect for the dual role. Feb 28, 2024 Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Tribune As if to make up for the slack pacing, the violence seems unnecessarily garish and sadistic. Rated: 2/4 Oct 4, 2019 Full Review Jack Yeovil Empire Magazine This is too well-made and acted to be a total failure, and even the formulaic slasher scenes are handled with creepy aplomb. Rated: 2/5 Oct 8, 2018 Full Review David Reddish CBR For a general audience, The Dark Half will come off as dated and silly. One would have thought the combined powers of two horror masters would create a classic of the genre. Instead, it comes off as a classic dud. Rated: 2/4 Nov 19, 2024 Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com …fuses elements of Frankenstein and Dr Jekyll lore and comes up with something dark and disturbing… Rated: 3/5 Feb 27, 2024 Full Review Grant Watson Fiction Machine There is much to enjoy here, but thanks to a simplistic script and needless repetition there is only so much enjoyment to be had. Rated: 6/10 Feb 20, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Elvis D Después de Creepshow y Tales From The Darkside, Romero vuelve a ser partícipe del mundo de las historias de Stephen King adaptando la novela The Dark Half. Está seria la última vez que Romero adaptaría un relato de Stephen King y él optó por hacer algo mucho más comprensible debido a que la novela es mucho más compleja. La novela se caracteriza por ser un thriller psicológico que gira en torno a los crímenes de George Stark y que comparte demasiadas similitudes con Thad Beaumont. Tanto en la película como en el libro, George Stark era originalmente un gemelo no nacido de Thad que acabo siendo absorbido y extirpado. Pero George siguió aferrado mental y espiritualmente a Thad convirtiéndose en un doppelganger que se encarga de escribir las exitosas novelas de crímenes de Thad. Cuando Thad decide que es hora de ponerle fin a George por pensar que solo fue una falsa identidad, George se manifiesta para demostrar que es real y que se niega a morir. Debido a que George y Thad comparten la misma apariencia, inculpar a Thad como sospechoso no es nada difícil. En la novela se deja abierta dos posibilidades sobre quien o que es George Star realmente. Thad llega a preguntarse si George es realmente un ser sobrenatural que se ha manifestado como producto de su lado oscuro o si en realidad se trata de una personalidad adicional. La novela no explica con claridad lo que es George Stark, nada más deja abierta las posibilidades de que George sea un ser sobrenatural o que Thad en realidad sea un esquizofrénico con doble personalidad y George sea su lado oscuro tomando control de su mente. La novela tiene un final ambiguo que no responde cuál de estas dos posibilidades es la más acertada. En la película, Romero prefirió optar por la posibilidad de que George Stark sea una manifestación sobrenatural. No se dejó de lado que George haya sido un gemelo no nacido y aquí la idea sería que George en vez de morir, su espíritu siguió aferrado a Thad hasta que finalmente decidió materializarse negándose a ir al más allá y tratando de tomar el lugar de Thad. Los gorriones en la película aparecen como seres que buscan a George Stark para llevarlo al más allá, ya que se ha vuelto un ente que no desea partir del mundo de los vivos. La conexión mental entre ambos es algo que se conservó de la novela y tiene sentido debido a que se dice que los gemelos están mentalmente conectados. Aunque la película no tiene tanto misterio y suspenso como la novela, es un thriller funcional con una inteligente narrativa. Es una historia que aborda el concepto de Jekyll y Hyde de una manera menos psicológica y que va más a lo metafísico. King había escrito la novela basándose en sus conflictos internos con su pseudónimo Richard Bachman y si hay algo que el libro y la película tienen en común es que la historia trata de ese enfrentamiento entre nuestra identidad externa con nuestra identidad interna. El concepto del doppelganger siempre ha tratado de esa lucha mental y espiritual entre la identidad que le mostramos al mundo y la que mantenemos oculta. Thad es la identidad externa de una persona con una vida socialmente normal y George es la identidad interna llena de sentimientos violentos que se niega a quedar en la oscuridad. George hace lo que sea para destruir la identidad perfecta de Thad y ocuparla mientras Thad trata de encontrar la forma de vencer a este ser que refleja su lado más oscuro. Con un buen elenco, buenos efectos especiales y una buena banda sonora compuesta por Christopher Young, The Dark Half es una satisfactoria película de intriga sobre el doppelganger y otra buena colaboración entre Romero y King. Como muchas de las adaptaciones de Stephen King que se han hecho en el momento, es una historia atractiva y otra buena recomendación de la filmografía de este autor. Mi calificación final para esta película es un 9/10. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/13/24 Full Review Jens B 🐦 None other than George Romero himself took on the adaptation of this story! However, those approaching the film with high expectations may end up disappointed. The Dark Half is by no means a bad King adaptation, but it’s not quite a horror cinema masterpiece either. Instead, it delves into processing personal experiences as a star author with a sinister pseudonym. ✏️ The result feels like a blend of Misery and In the Mouth of Madness, with a dash of Giallo à la Tenebre. Timothy Hutton is excellent, as is Michael Rooker; the practical effects are impressive, and Christopher Young's score sets an atmospheric tone. Yet, horror—or even suspense—never fully takes hold. 📚 In the end, I got a moody mystery-slasher that’s leagues better than, say, Thinner. And it was nice to be back in Castle Rock again. But exactly how the evil twin thing works is best left unquestioned. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/27/24 Full Review Sparky K One of the better Stephen King adaptations. A little dated perhaps but a fairly faithful telling of the story, apart from being condensed (as King films always are) with a few minor details changed. Definitely a film worth seeing. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/20/24 Full Review StephenPaul C The greatest 02 hours: and 02 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/04/23 Full Review Brian W This Stephen King adaptation was good in the sense that the portrayal of the characters were in good taste of what was needed from them. The logic behind the background of the story might be off the beaten path but as a twin we all have these thoughts. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Will G Just about my favourite Stephen king adaptation. Massively underrated and very faithful to the book. One of Romero's best works , the special effects are excellent still and the facial makeup in the last scenes just has to be seen. It's tightly scripted, doesn't sag at all with no unnecessary padding. One of my favourite supernatural horror movies. 5 stars out of 5.👍 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

The Dark Half

The Dark Half: Official Clip - Sparrow Annihilation The Dark Half: Official Clip - Sparrow Annihilation 2:57 The Dark Half: Official Clip - Revealing Nightmares The Dark Half: Official Clip - Revealing Nightmares 2:16 The Dark Half: Official Clip - A Tale of Two Authors The Dark Half: Official Clip - A Tale of Two Authors 2:16 The Dark Half: Official Clip - One in the Same The Dark Half: Official Clip - One in the Same 2:24 The Dark Half: Official Clip - Suspected for Murder The Dark Half: Official Clip - Suspected for Murder 2:29 The Dark Half: Official Clip - A Cut & Go Business The Dark Half: Official Clip - A Cut & Go Business 1:50 The Dark Half: Official Clip - Startling Discovery The Dark Half: Official Clip - Startling Discovery 0:56 The Dark Half: Official Clip - Showdown The Dark Half: Official Clip - Showdown 1:27 The Dark Half: Official Clip - George Stark Strikes The Dark Half: Official Clip - George Stark Strikes 1:30 The Dark Half: Official Clip - Mikey, Mikey, Mikey The Dark Half: Official Clip - Mikey, Mikey, Mikey 2:17 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Thad Beaumont (Timothy Hutton) has had success writing novels under both his real name and his pseudonym, George Stark, which he uses to publish base thrillers. When word gets out that they are one and the same, the author holds a mock funeral for Stark. But after a rash of murders eerily similar to those in the Stark books, Thad and his wife, Liz (Amy Madigan), realize that Stark is real and responsible, and must work with local Sheriff Pangborn (Michael Rooker) to stop him.
Director
George A. Romero
Producer
Declan Baldwin
Screenwriter
George A. Romero, Stephen King
Production Co
Orion Pictures
Rating
R
Genre
Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 16, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$9.0M
Runtime
2h 2m
Sound Mix
Surround
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