The Dead Zone (1983)

Note des utilisateurs:

7.3/10   

Réalisateur:

David Cronenberg

Writers:

Stephen King (novel)
Jeffrey Boam (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 octobre 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Accroche:

In his mind, he has the power to see the future. In his hands, he has the power to change it.

Plot:

A man awakens from a coma to discover he has a psychic detective ability.

Plot Keywords:

Coma | Psychic | Car Accident | Psychic Power | Fire

Awards:

7 wins & 4 nominations

Avis des utilisateurs:

Brilliant thriller with a superb performance from Christopher Walken. One of the very best Steven King adaptations.

Ensemble

Christopher Walken	...	Johnny Smith
Brooke Adams	...	Sarah Bracknell
Tom Skerritt	...	Sheriff George Bannerman
Herbert Lom	...	Dr. Sam Weizak
Anthony Zerbe	...	Roger Stuart
Colleen Dewhurst	...	Henrietta Dodd
Martin Sheen	...	Greg Stillson
Nicholas Campbell	...	Deputy Frank Dodd
Sean Sullivan	...	Herb Smith
Jackie Burroughs	...	Vera Smith
Géza Kovács	...	Sonny Elliman (as Geza Kovacs)
Roberta Weiss	...	Alma Frechette
Simon Craig	...	Chris Stuart
Peter Dvorsky	...	Dardis
Julie-Ann Heathwood	...	Amy

Autre(s) titre(s):

Dead Zone (France) [fr]
La zone neutre (Canada: French title) [fr]

Durée:

103 min

Pays:

USA

Langue:

Anglais | Russe

Couleur:

Couleur (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Son:

Dolby

Classification:

Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Netherlands:12 | South Korea:18 | Italy:T | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1984) | Norway:18 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18

Emplacements De Pelliculage:

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Dino De Laurentiis Company

Anecdotes:

During the time Michael Kamen was composing the music for the film in London, he would play the score on the piano in his home. He received several complaints by his neighbors who asked, "Can you please stop playing that music? I can't sleep and it's giving my family nightmares."

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: After seeing Johnny in the clinic, Sarah drives away and stops to cry. Lights and at least one person are reflected in the car door.

Guillemet:

[first lines]
Johnny Smith: [Johnny is reading "The Raven" to his class] And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting, on the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door, and his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming, and the lamp light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor, and my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor, shall be lifted... nevermore.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Saturday Night Live: The Best of Christopher Walken (2004) (TV)

Brilliant thriller with a superb performance from Christopher Walken. One of the very best Steven King adaptations.

I'm a great admirer of David Cronenberg, and "The Dead Zone' could well be his most underrated movie. The problem is that it's just not very Cronenbergesque, and being "Deprave" Cronenberg's first mainstream Hollywood movie, and coming hot off his provocative and mind blowing 'Videodrome', many people regard it as some kind of sell out. I really cannot agree. If you forget your preconceived idea of what Cronenberg movies SHOULD be (and let's not forget his other career oddities 'Fast Company' or 'M. Butterfly'), and just accept it for what it is, you'll see that it is a very well made and well acted thriller, and is almost impossible to fault. In my opinion it joins Kubrick's 'The Shining' and De Palma's 'Carrie' as the most effective Steven King adaptations to date. Christopher Walken is on top form here, and I think gives one of his very best performances. The supporting cast are also excellent, the lovely Brooke Adams ('Invasion Of The Body Snatchers'), horror veteran Herbert Lom ('Mark Of The Devil'), Martin Sheen ('Badlands'), Tom Skerritt ('Alien'), Anthony Zerbe ('The Omega Man'), and Cronenberg regular Nicholas Campbell, who is involved in the movies most unforgettable sequence. I've lost track of how many times I've watched 'The Dead Zone' over the years, but it never fails to hook me in, and I always get something more out of Walken's performance every time I view it. This movie may not be typical fare from David Cronenberg, but it is one of his most straightforward and entertaining films. Highly recommended.