The Dead Zone

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The Dead Zone

R

Released Oct 21, 1983

1h 43m

Mystery & Thriller

Sci-Fi

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Popcornmeter

89%

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53 Reviews

77%

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25,000+ Ratings

When Johnny Smith (Christopher Walken) awakens from a coma caused by a car accident, he finds that years have passed, and he now has psychic abilities. Heartbroken that his girlfriend (Brooke Adams) has moved on with her life, Johnny also must contend with his unsettling powers, which allow him to see a person's future with a mere touch. After shaking the hand of aspiring politician Greg Stillson (Martin Sheen), Johnny sees the danger presented by the candidate's rise and resolves to kill him.

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Critics Consensus

The Dead Zone combines taut direction from David Cronenberg and and a rich performance from Christopher Walken to create one of the strongest Stephen King adaptations.

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Adam Nayman

The Ringer

What makes the The Dead Zone so frightening-and finally deeply moving-is how it commits to the psychology of a guy whose destiny is destroyed and fulfilled by the way he's slipping through the cracks.

Sep 5, 2019

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Variety Staff

Variety

An accomplished psychological thriller.

Oct 7, 2008

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Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

Cronenberg attempting a little mainstream with this Stephen King yarn and really pulling it off.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 25, 2007

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Joe Lipsett

Anatomy of a Scream Podcast Network

The Dead Zone is a better Stephen King film than a David Cronenberg film. There's some great imagery here, but the best storylines (the murders) are speedily wrapped up to get to the hastily developed battle between Johnny and Stilson

Rated: 3/5

Nov 21, 2023

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Farah Cheded

A Good Movie To Watch

Walken’s layered performance and Cronenberg’s sensitive direction [give] The Dead Zone an acutely bittersweet edge.

Sep 16, 2023

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

One of [Cronenberg's] most perceptive and complex dramas.

Rated: 4/4

Feb 22, 2023

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Jon G

A great psychological movie with a mesmerizing performance by Christopher Walken.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/14/24

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Liam D

Combining the source of Stephen King and the filmmaking of David Cronenberg (Rabid, Fast Company) makes for an tense thriller that has an incredible performance by Christopher Walken (The Anderson Tapes, Roseland)

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/25/24

Full Review

Ian B

By far the best adaptation of a King novel. Keeps itself very close to the text with excellent performances from all concerned. Just a shame it doesn't receive the same coverage of other King based films.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/20/24

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Dallas H

I got a kick out of this movie. I noticed two points of irony in this flick. First observation, Christopher Walken's character is a school teacher who later inherits supernatural abilities. Early in the story, he recommends the Washington Irving story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow to his students. In real life, Walken portrays the supernatural being of the headless horseman in Tim Burton's film adaptation of the story. It was released in 1999. Second, Martin Sheen portrays a politician who aspires to become the President of the United States. Sure enough, Sheen portrays a fictionalized version of the President in the highly-rated television program The West Wing. Its first season was broadcast in 1999. Thus concludes my observations from The Twilight Zone.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/17/24

Full Review

Jonathan O

Truly one of Stephen King's powerful adaptation film ever is really suspenseful and very emotional thriller and Christopher Walken's performance is absolutely force of nature he's character is so human and tragic and you really do care for John who lost everything but he has the power to change the past, present and future to save mankind and this is very different directing from David Cronenberg with out body horror and make it a human drama psychological political thriller and really outstanding musical score to make the dead zone a true masterpiece and really strong writing to make this film possible.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/08/24

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Sams K

The geniuses of Stephen King writing and David Cronenberg directing, with a stunning Christopher Walken give us a perfect thriller drama! Great!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/27/24

Full Review

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David Cronenberg

Director

Christopher Walken

Johnny Smith

Brooke Adams

Sarah Bracknell

Tom Skerritt

Sheriff Bannerman

Herbert Lom

Dr. Sam Weizak

Anthony Zerbe

Roger Stuart

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Synopsis

When Johnny Smith (Christopher Walken) awakens from a coma caused by a car accident, he finds that years have passed, and he now has psychic abilities. Heartbroken that his girlfriend (Brooke Adams) has moved on with her life, Johnny also must contend with his unsettling powers, which allow him to see a person's future with a mere touch. After shaking the hand of aspiring politician Greg Stillson (Martin Sheen), Johnny sees the danger presented by the candidate's rise and resolves to kill him.

Director: David Cronenberg
Producer: Debra Hill
Screenwriter: Stephen King, Jeffrey Boam
Distributor: Video Classics, Paramount Pictures, VTI Home Video
Production Co: Dino De Laurentiis Productions, Lorimar Film Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 21, 1983, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Runtime: 1h 43m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital

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