Review of The Dead Zone (1983) by Sally S — 07 Nov 2012
It has a well-written plot that is darkly ironic and extremely compelling. Although the tone of the movie is quite chilling, it is not a typical Stephen King scare because it drifts more into the realm of drama, suspense and with a touch of science fiction.
The simple concept of a man haunted by the ability to see disastrous future events is excellent and the situations Stephen King constructs from that framework are suspenseful and thought provoking. It makes the viewer question their own set of values several times about what they would do if they could see the future.
It makes you ask yourself if you had the ability to alter future events, would you? Christopher Walken does a very nice job playing a character that undergoes a continual transition throughout the movie.
He skillfully handles going from confused and scared to grieving victim turning into a bitter curmudgeon, and finally regains perspective that his abilities give him the power to help others. Walken's performance carries the movie and makes the profound moral dilemma more potent.
It holds up well over time even though the concept has been reused and imitated several times.
This review of The Dead Zone (1983) was written by Sally S on 07 Nov 2012.
The Dead Zone has generally received positive reviews.
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