(VIDEO) "The Dead Zone" (9/10)

[Brock Landers]

"The Dead Zone" A Brock Landers Overview of A David Cronenberg Film (9/10)

It sure seems like a lot of people see this film as either a great Stephen King book-to-film translation or a great horror flick, but I think it goes way beyond that, thanks in part to the style of the one-of-a-kind director David Cronenberg. What it really boils down to is Cronenberg's distorted view of human beings, physically and psychologically. That view serves this film well, making it into an intelligent and compelling psychological thriller. Cronenberg's approach is sterile and cold in a "clinical" way, and anyone who has seen some of his other films, in particular "Dead Ringers", can understand just how skilled he is at portraying an almost documentary-type feel. His films are like grotesque paintings that while disgusting and shocking never push me away, instead leaving me wanting more of the same. The characters he creates, while unlikely candidates, are filled with humanity and compassion, their plight making them victims of the strange and beautiful human condition that rules us all...

Johnny Smith (Christopher Walken) is the center of the story. He is a well-liked schoolteacher who seems to be reaching a good point in his life... career, romance, everything. One fateful and stormy day he falls victim to misfortune in the form of an automobile accident. Semi-truck versus Volkswagen Beetle... you make the call. As a result of the accident he goes into a five year coma, his life changed forever... career gone, romance gone, everything. He learns of his love lost and his body changed, not to mention the strange sensation he gets when he comes in contact with someone's flesh. With his heart broken and feeling like he has woken from some terrible nightmare, he slowly becomes more and more aware of his newfound paranormal powers, learning how to use them to see tragedy before it happens. The local sheriff (Tom Skerritt) learns of his ability and incorporates him in a manhunt of a local serial killer which leads to a wonderfully morbid bathroom scene. Johnny goes on to work as a private tutor and has more disheartening visions as his notoriety grows. In the end, Johnny is left with some difficult and important decisions... how to use his powers and what role he must play in the future...

The entire film is dependent on a great central character, and Walken comes through with yet another brilliant performance. In fact, this performance is very different from many he has played in that he really shows the viewer a wide assortment of true and honest emotions, from innocent and in love to depressed and betrayed, happy and sweet to tortured and sad. His performance is uplifting yet tragic, a bit of a walking and talking oxymoron, a real and three-dimensional contradiction, but then again so is Christopher Walken. The rest of the cast make for an interesting backdrop to Walken's Smith, but this movie belongs to Walken and Cronenberg. In fact, I thought it was interesting that only about twenty minutes of the film are in keeping with Stephen King's novel adaptation. Cronenberg made his own film, so the best way to view this film is as his take on King's characters and as close to a romantic film as Cronenberg has ever made. Also, despite straying from King's book and script (the film credit's show Jeff Boam) Cronenberg brought to life one of my favorite novels in a fashion befitting of the original story. I would definitely recommend this film to any fans of psychological thrillers, romantic films or character study's... just keep in mind that Cronenberg is not your average director...

[playgames]

I agree ,Brock,this was a great movie.Another great review, too.I would like to add that Martin Sheen gave a new definition to slime in this movie.He was so convincing that I didn't like him on his next 4 movies,just because of this one.For some reason I don't think Walken has ever received the critical praise he deserves.

one of my favorite cronenberg movies as well as overall movies it still stands out as it approaches its twentieth anniversary.
If you knew what hitler would become would you kill him?
Grade A

[This message has been edited by Green (edited 03-14-2001).]

[kerryanne]

Great review Brock...Walken did a great job, the movie is basically reolving around him...I tend to focus on Sheen. I really liked Martin Sheen in this movie...he was a creepy little man (holding up a baby to protect himself WTF) It seems like something "Dubbya" would do in a pinch. (Sorry had to throw him in...our president really reminds me Sheen's character in this movie...creepy little man) Any whoo, this is one of King's best adaptations...9/10 is a good rating.

[playgames]

cool kerryanne,hmmmmmmmm thoughts to ponder.You may be more right than you imagine

[Brock Landers]

Thanks for all the great comments... just thought I'd throw in some IMDB trivia and a quote... later [img]/ubb/wink.gif[/img]

Johnny Smith: "Bless me"? Do you know what God did for me? He threw an 18-wheeled truck at me and bounced me into nowhere for five years! When I woke up, my girl was gone, my job was gone, my legs are just about useless... Blessed me?! God's been a real sport to me!

- Director David Cronenberg
had to reshoot the scene in
which John Smith has his first
premonition. It showed a little
girl's room burning and a small
E.T. doll could be seen on
one of the shelves. The scene
had to be reshot when
Universal Pictures threatened
to sue.

- Cronenberg fired a .357
Magnum armed with blanks
just off camera to make
Smith's flinches seem more
involuntary; this was Walken's
own idea.

- Before the accident, Johnny
instructs his class to read "The
Legend of Sleepy Hollow."
Christoper Walken would
later go on to play the
Headless Horseman in Tim
Burton's Sleepy Hollow
(1999).

- Martin Sheen's character says
he has had a vision that he will
be the President of the United
States. Sheen went on to play
the President of the United
States on "West Wing, The"
(1999).