The Dead Zone [Blu-ray] [1983]

David Cronenberg’s THE DEAD ZONE is an absolute masterpiece. I was so excited when this Scream Factory blu ray was announced, I ordered it as soon as the preorder popped up. Watching it for the first time in HD, I was blown away all over again. Well made, moving, and thrilling, this gem from 1983 resonates now more than ever. The legendary Christopher Walken plays our lead, Johnny Smith. Johnny is a school teacher engaged to his fellow teacher, Sarah (a radiant Brooke Adams). After a date, where Johnny experienced a spell of lightheadedness, he heads home early. Unfortunately, he’s involved in a freak car accident on the way home which puts him into a five-year long coma. Upon awakening, he discovers his fiancé has moved on and is now married with a child. He also seems to have gained some psychic abilities that allow him to have visions of the past, present, and future. Eventually, this puts him on a collision course with Greg Stillson (Martin Sheen pulling off gregarious, ambitious, and menacing) a demagogic political candidate who will one day trigger a nuclear holocaust. Additionally, Tom Skerrit shows up as a sheriff needing assistance on a serial killer case, Herbert Lom plays Johnny’s loyal and caring physician, and Anthony Zerbe is a wealthy businessman father of Johnny’s favorite pupil. It’s a great cast, but this is Walken’s film and he kills it. His Johnny is a deeply wounded but fundamentally decent man. His anguish when he finds out the love of his life has moved on is palpable. This is absolutely one of his warmest, and best, performances. Jeffrey Boam’s script, based on the Stephen King novel, is tight and precise but allows room for characters to breathe. Maybe the most notable element of the film besides the story and acting is Michael Kamen’s haunting, ominous, and mournful orchestral score. Cronenberg masterfully weaves it into the visuals, providing depth to the cold New England setting. Up to this point in his career, Cronenberg had mostly made body horror pics. This film proved he could also terrify in a completely different way. The paranoia leading up to Johnny’s fateful confrontation with Stillson is expertly composed. You can almost taste the dread. Though it plays on Cold War fears, the Stillson character is also still broad enough to represent sinister intent in any corridor of power. Philosophical, political, authentic, and engaging, David Cronenberg’s adaptation of Stephen King’s THE DEAD ZONE is a masterclass in filmmaking. While retaining a literary flavor, it’s nevertheless propulsive and starkly cinematic. Christopher Walken is sympathetic as the almost Shakespearean Johnny Smith. While not really epic, it tackles some heady subjects, and it’s still a breathtaking film. I’m of the opinion that it’s flawless and it may be my favorite Cronenberg flick. Highly recommended.

Well done movie based on the Stephen King novel of the same name.

I saw this in a theater and I bought it in every home video format; the "Collector's Edition" is, without a doubt, the best this movie has ever looked and sounded. IMHO this is one the better adaptations of Stephen Kings books and Scream Factory has finally done it justice.

This is how it should be done. Image and sound are about as wonderful as I could hope this title to look and sound. Extras are of typical Scream Factory excellence. The movie is a classic. Absolutely recommended.

My husband bought this using his best buy account and reviewed it, then we had our accounts merged, and all his old purchases are showing up on MY review page, so I'm re-reviewing so-to-speak to get the points.

I really love this movie. Chris Walken deserved an Oscar nomination and it's one of David Cronenberg's very best (and very little gore to speak of). This disc is loaded with bonus stuff.

A great movie with a dazzling performance from Christopher Walken. One of the better Stephen King adaptions of the 80s. Shout Factory brings some good bonus features to the table as well.

The masterpiece finally gets the HD treatment! The sound and picture quality are awesome! The extras are great!