The Dead Zone

Name: The Dead Zone
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Fantasy
Released: October 21, 1983
Duration: 103 min
Rating: 69
Cast: Brooke Adams, Christopher Walken

1983

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 8 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 108 Ratings

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8.5

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8.5	User Score Universal acclaim based on 108 Ratings

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The Dead Zone

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Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: October 21, 1983 | R

Starring: Brooke Adams, Christopher Walken

Summary: After a car accident puts him into a coma for 5 years, teacher Johnny Smith (Christopher Walken) wakes up to discover he can see people's futures after touching them.

Director: David Cronenberg

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Fantasy

Rating: R

Runtime: 103 min

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Critic Reviews

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Arguably the best adaptation of a Stephen King novel. Read full review

Roger Ebert

The Dead Zone does what only a good supernatural thriller can do: It makes us forget it is supernatural. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

David Cronenberg turns The Dead Zone into an accomplished psychological thriller. Read full review

Empire Kim Newman

It has some of that episodic ‘compressed miniseries’ feel which a lot of King pictures get stuck with (the book was later redone as a TV serial with Anthony Michael Hall) but still manages a lot of powerful material. Read full review

Jay Scott

The Dead Zone, from the book by Stephen King, a horror novelist whose prolific output is the scariest thing about him, is academic filmmaking all the way, a crafty Establishment tour de force. [21 Oct 1983]

Jay Carr

It never really chills you, but then it never insults you, either, and it's more affecting than you expect any film based on a Stephen King novel to be. [22 Oct 1983]

Dave Kehr

By no means a bad film, just a disappointingly bland and superficial one. Read full review

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User Reviews

TylerDurden900

Jul 14, 2014

The Dead Zone is a fun supernatural thriller with Christopher Walken. The movie is thrilling and
the plot is intriguing and original. The cast also has Martin Sheen who gives an interesting performance
as a politician running in the local election, A+.

14 of 15 users found this helpful141

talisencrw

Jul 12, 2016

This was outstanding, and ranks right up there for me, both in terms of Stephen King adaptations in general and Cronenberg's work in particular. It also houses one of my very favourite Christopher Walken performances. When I see Martin Sheen be such a jerk here, it both makes me realizeThis was outstanding, and ranks right up there for me, both in terms of Stephen King adaptations in general and Cronenberg's work in particular. It also houses one of my very favourite Christopher Walken performances. When I see Martin Sheen be such a jerk here, it both makes me realize where his son Charlie gets that side of his personality from and makes me fear, even though I'm Canadian, the fact that Donald Trump actually has a chance of being the next president of the United States. It also reaffirms in my heart the great adoration I have for Brooke Adams.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Compi24

Aug 24, 2015

Part police procedural, part political thriller, part supernatural horror - "The Dead Zone" is a phenomenal mixed bag wrapped in fantastic intrigue and sure-handed direction from David Cronenberg.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

Meth-dude

Apr 30, 2018

Despite the over the top third act, The Dead Zone is still one of the best adaptation to a Stephen King novel I've seen. The acting is great, the cinematography is beautiful and the atmosphere is dark and gritty. If you're a fan of the novel, you will not be disappointed.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Spangle

May 12, 2015

The Dead Zone is a film that does not do much wrong, but does not much particularly great to be seen as such. It features some really good acting from Christopher Walken in the lead role, as well as typically great direction from David Cronenberg. The writing is really good and it is veryThe Dead Zone is a film that does not do much wrong, but does not much particularly great to be seen as such. It features some really good acting from Christopher Walken in the lead role, as well as typically great direction from David Cronenberg. The writing is really good and it is very well paced. However, ultimately, I felt like the story was a little lacking. Though it had all these good pieces and the idea was really, really good, it came together more like a by-the-numbers television series. Walken's character was essentially put in many different positions throughout the film and I think it would have been well-served if it chose one of these, rather than a bunch of them. The film tried to do much and made itself feel as though it were multiple different films, rather than one single film. In addition, I never found it scary. This isn't a negative, since I just expected a supernatural thriller, but I've seen it listed as a great horror film and I think I must have missed that aspect of it, as I found none of it that scary at all. Certainly, is unsettling, but never once was it scary. Overall, The Dead Zone is a pretty good film with good parts that could be even better if it was a more focused picture.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

eliezerladeira

Mar 23, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Good adaptation, somewhat improbable story but if the person embarks without questioning too much, you can enjoy the film well. End with a good turnaround and with a happy ending, the other way around.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

JLau

Sep 18, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Teacher rejects his date's offer to come in for coffee, has a car accident, goes into a coma, wakes up with ESP and then tries to assassinate the future president.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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