The Dead Zone

Turns out to be an engaging new hour, boasting crisp writing, near-cinematic production values and an almost fail-safe plot. [14 June 2002, p.3]

What is clear, is that series stars Anthony Michael Hall and Nicole de Boer are fun to watch and that the powers of Hall's character, Johnny Smith, can give rise to any number of imaginative stories. [12 June 2002]

It's not science fiction, but it's about a hero's journey through the weird and the wondrous. [14 June 2002, p.20]

A serviceable thrills-and-chills skein that stands out as one of the cabler's more ambitious projects thanks to the subject matter as well as ace production values. [14 June 2002, p.18]

Humor is woven throughout The Dead Zone, particularly in scenes between Smith and his physical therapist, Bruce Lewis (John L. Adams), who helps update him on what happened during his long sleep. [16 June 2002, p.TV-5]

It all makes for an intriguing series that's out of the normal without being out-and-out ludicrous. [16 June 2002, p.TV-3]

USA's The Dead Zone takes its concept and characters seriously, without any playful subtext or comic relief. So does Hall, who plays his character as David Janssen played "The Fugitive": rarely smiling, always nervous, and only occasionally believed by those around him. There is reason to believe, though, that this Dead Zone may be the real thing.

The first episode spends much of the time establishing the series, and it's not particularly edge-of-the-seat scary. But the paranormal special effects are good and the acting holds up. How the action unfolds is questionable - the constant touching, gasping and seeing visions could get old. [16 June 2002, p.A07]

Hall lacks Walken's natural aura of strangeness, and he looks a little too well-fed for a guy who has been vegetating for half a decade. But he does manage to make Smith credible and sympathetic. [14 June 2002, p.B51]

Truth is, Johnny's predicament has a mix of emotional trauma, supernatural hoodoo and old-fashioned conniving that just might work. Or not, depending on how often the writers beat the same drum -- saving a small kid every week will get old quick. For now, let's give the show the benefit of the doubt. [14 June 2002]

The pilot managed to hold my interest for the most part, and I'll credit Hall for bringing a moody allure to the role...Who knows? The show could still flatline over its 13-episode run, but for now it seems to be alive and kicking. [16 June 2002, p.C4]

So far, the plot's in place, but Dead Zone's good old gotcha is minimal. And in anything claiming to trace its roots to Stephen King, minimal chill factor could be risky - maybe even the kiss of death. [15 June 2002, p.9]

It isn't terrible, as TV hours go, but nothing about it leads you to believe turning the movie into a series was a good idea. [14 June 2002, p.13E]