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Title: The Dead Zone
Region: One
Genre: Horror
Stars: Christopher Walken, Brooke Adams, Tom Skerritt, Herbert Lom, Anthony Zerbe, Colleen Dewhurst, Nicholas Campbell, and Martin Sheen
Writer: Jeffrey Boam
Based On The Novel By: Stephen King
Director: David Cronenberg
Feature length: 103 minutes
Extras: Theatrical Trailer
Languages: English Dolby Digital 5.1 and English Dolby Surround 2.0 and French Mono
Subtitles: English Captions
Packaging: Amaray Keep Case
Chapter Stops: 16
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and Stereo Surround Sound and Mono Sound
Year of Theatrical Release: 1983/DVD Release: 2000
Theatrical Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Home Video Distributor: Paramount Home Video
MPAA Rating: R
Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera
A week or so ago I read in a local newspaper a critic describing David Cronenberg's "The Dead Zone" as the best cinematic adaptation of Stephen King bar none. I am not sure if this is true because I have not read enough Stephen King to make that call, but I will say it is among the best film adaptations of a King novel ever made and it is also one of David Cronenberg's best films.
The film shows a remarkable amount of restraint on Cronenberg's part and it shows that not only can Mr. Cronenberg direct films without any real gore, but that the Canadian Auteur has a heck of a lot more of a grasp for filmmaking and in particular presenting this visual version of King's novel with such great care than people have given him credit for. On the part of Stephen King as an Author, the film seems to follow the classic paradigm where the most fantastic things can occur in the most unlikely of places and through unforeseen circumstances. Just watch "The Green Mile" and see a miracle occur in the most unlikely place with the most unexpected results. To coin the cliché phrase, "The Lord moves through mysterious ways," seems to play an important part in King's stories.
Another comparison between "The Green Mile" and "The Dead Zone" is that both feature characters given gifts of extraordinary power and both characters through most of the story do not know why this has happened to them and have some reservation about using it in the modern world. Christopher Walken delivers a great performance of a schoolteacher who awakes from a five-year coma to find life has passed him by, but left him with an amazing ability for foresight and empathy. Reluctant to use his powers after discovering them accidentally, eventually his character is forced to make a critical decision at the crossroads of humanity's future.
The film also features good supporting roles by Herbert Lom, Tom Skerritt, Anthony Zerbe, and Martin Sheen as a psychotic senatorial hopeful with an eye on the Presidency. Screenwriter Jeffrey Boam manages to keep the story going at a brisk pace without having it feel rushed and Cronenberg's direction is excellent.
Paramount Home Video's DVD edition of "The Dead Zone" features an anamorphic widescreen transfer at a (1.85:1) aspect ratio. The print looks quite good though there is some visual grain in the earth tones and some of the flesh tones appeared a bit reddish. The print has a few scratches, but none of them were intrusive to the viewing experience and enjoyment of the film.
A full and ambient English Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack and a very natural English Dolby Surround 2.0 soundtrack are encoded on to this DVD along with a French Mono track and English Captions as an option for the hearing impaired.
The theatrical trailer is also presented in a widescreen (1.85:1) aspect ratio and is very scratchy and faded. There are no other extras included on this DVD edition. The menus are standard interactive stills and are easy to navigate.
"The Dead Zone" is a good movie and a good DVD. It will be available on DVD on September 19, 2000. Fans of the film might have wished there were more extras, but will still appreciate having the film on DVD.
© Copyright 2000 By Mark A. Rivera