Review of The Dark Half (1993) by Tim S — 22 Sep 2008
During the 1980's and early 1990's, there were several George A. Romero and Stephen King collaborations, Creepshow being the most successful of the bunch. These projects weren't always the best the two men had to offer, but they were fun and inventive.
The Dark Half was not only the final film of Romero's to be shot in Pittsburgh, but also the final project that King and Romero ever collaborated on. While Stephen King had little to no impact on the movie itself, George A.
Romero wrote his screenplay using as much of King's original novel as possible. A couple of character changes were made, as was the ending, but it more or less translated well from book to screen, being one of the better King adaptations, in my opinion.
Probably the best thing about the movie is Timothy Hutton's performance as George Stark. He's quite effective in both roles, but it's Stark where he really gets to stretch and be a pretty nasty character.
Michael Rooker is also surprisingly down-to-earth in his role as a small town sheriff with a strong moral fiber. Amy Madigan also does some good work as Thad's wife, trying her best to remain strong for her husband, even when he's accused of murder.
In the long run, these performances are what really drive the movie and make it worth watching, more so than the special effects or the story.
This review of The Dark Half (1993) was written by Tim S on 22 Sep 2008.
The Dark Half has generally received mixed reviews.
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