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The Dead Zone

The Dead Zone

1983
Sci-fi, Suspense/Thriller
1h 43m
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Avg Percentile 56.25% from 2160 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(2160)
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Rated 14 Aug 2016
85
86th
I touch Donald Trump's hand *FLINCH* VISION* Donald Trump rubbing hands vigorously with hand sanitizer. The last time Christopher Walken wasn't cast as a funny talking joke, he's incredible.
Rated 16 Feb 2018
20
22nd
Christopher Walken is Christopher Walken in a Christopher Walken Story. Also Starring Christopher Walken as Christopher Walken, and Tom Skerrit as Christopher Walken. That is the movie Cronenberg should have made. Instead we get a guy brooding for 2 hours while Steven King cashes his check. The scariest part of Dead Zone is trying to figure out how it snowed *inside* the tunnel pictured on the poster.
Rated 23 Dec 2013
73
74th
When Christopher Walken is the lead in your movie, you're going to have to bring something strong to the table in order to get any creepier. Suicide by scissors is definitely that thing.
Rated 27 Oct 2019
76
75th
Walken’s unique style really suits the character post-trauma here, making him suitably quirky and affected; some fine work. Aside from the good performances, this is an interesting story, told efficiently and effectively, and is quite unsettling at points. It does feel a bit “TV movie” (Cronenberg’s influence isn’t really apparent) and perhaps could be a bit deeper, but I enjoyed it and it held my attention. Fans of Walken will certainly enjoy this.
Rated 27 Oct 2008
75
59th
Scissor suicide is the suicide for me!
Rated 28 Jan 2010
65
45th
Somehow I always caught the last 20 minutes of this on television. After seeing it from beginning to end, it seems I didn't miss much. Walken moves from set piece to set piece, but it never really connects in a meaningful or even entertaining way. The concept is nifty, but it's wasted on rather tame or uninspired events.
Rated 30 Jun 2013
66
79th
Oddly normal for a Cronenberg film, and while it's not his best, or Stephen King's best, or even Christopher Walken's best, it might be close. It's a completely solid effort; it's intense, creepy, unsettling, and powerful. It feels like The Manchurian Candidate with more supernatural elements.
Rated 16 Jun 2016
78
58th
Well, Cronenberg-lite is still rather good. A fairly easy-going supernatural horror film that only gets a little freaky with the premonition scenes, but most other scenes work well at building atmosphere whilst casually divulging this daft, but fun storyline. The score is terrific and in a number of scenes is what really evokes the horror and suspense in otherwise pedestrian moments. Walken seems perfect for his role, but Martin Sheen probably stole the show as the ridiculous uber-villain
Rated 08 Sep 2010
75
61st
Not a bad movie, although I felt it could've engaged a lot more on all fronts: character-wise, the supernatural element, Cronenberg's talent at the weird, the love triangle, friendships, Sheen's evilness etc. etc. It tried to do a lot, but I felt it didn't quite get there.
Rated 08 May 2011
78
66th
had never even heard of it until well after it was remade into a show, and thus had no expectations for it. it turns out that this movie isn't half bad. it's very similar to the first few episodes of the show with the exception of the ending, but to tell you the truth i was fairly satisfied by the ending of this movie, and walken wasn't half bad either.
Rated 06 Oct 2011
85
72nd
One of my few missing Cronenberg's. Walken is...it's hard to go into a Walken movie and not be overwhelmed by the man, to the detriment of the movie. This, happily, is an exception, and a really logical one after I'd thought about it, as he shares that sincere alien quality with Goldblum that worked so well in The Fly. It's important here especially, as the narrative is both sparse and ambling, but Walken pulls it off.
Rated 30 Jun 2012
70
43rd
Disappointing given its nifty premise. Walken was solid but the film never really connects in any way, meandering from one scene to the next. It asks the intriguing question of whether being psychic is a gift or a curse but does nothing to expand on it. Expected it to be creepier too; there were many frightful scenes that setup with the requisite music and tension but would fall flat every time.
Rated 28 Aug 2015
65
37th
The Dead Zone lacks Cronenberg's daring creative spark, but its by-the-books competance also ensures it isn't one of his worst. This is not a thriller, but instead a drama focused around Walken trying to find a way to cope with his lost time from a coma. The abridged screenplay shows itself as the film feels like three separate acts with no projected goals where Walken wanders around until a new job lands in his life. I'd sooner believe this to be adapted from serials. Stupid ending.
Rated 12 Mar 2022
70
52nd
Gotta respect Cronenberg's commitment to Canada. This film just sort of ambles from scene to scene. Like, the serial killer plot seems like it's going to be the focus of the film, and then it's solved within ten minutes and we have moved on. Everyone is just enjoying a nice, relaxed film, and then Martin Sheen comes on screen with the intensity a thousand coked out Wall Street traders.
Rated 06 Mar 2024
61
28th
A man who gets Crossing Over with John Edwards powers tries to make the most by solving murders *and* politics because solving murders just ends up being way too easy for him. Don't be fooled by Cronenberg x King, it's not the horror outing one might expect
Rated 14 Aug 2007
73
55th
THE ICE... IS GONNA BREAK!
Rated 14 Aug 2007
83
73rd
Cronenberg's best movie. Before Walken was a walking caricature of himself. It often gets lumped in with the 80s King adaptations - which were by-and-large crap. Be sure to give this one a closer look, though.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
4
43rd
One of the rare cases where the TV show outdoes the movie. Still, Walkenites should probably check it out if only for his rare first billing.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
64
23rd
One of the better King adaptations, which isn't saying much. I would have liked to see more of Cronenberg's style in this.
Rated 09 Aug 2008
75
83rd
Christopher Walken given a chance to be intense... cannot lose.
Rated 10 Sep 2008
79
70th
Cronenberg channels Hitchcock like Johnny channels prophecies: idiot cops, Catholic imagery, color symbolism, slow-boiler tension, and a plot really about a love triangle. I swear the end feels like and homages the second 'Man Who Knew Too Much' (get it?). All of this is good, though. Despite some stilted dialogue in places this is the best of all possible creative worlds.
Rated 13 Oct 2008
85
56th
Nice Stephen King adaptation, but probably would have benefited from being expanded a little.
Rated 07 Dec 2008
86
73rd
Not one of Cronenberg's most idiosyncratic films, but a very effective one nonetheless - dark, quiet, brooding, melancholy and fatalistic. All the characters seem to be mere toys to the whims of fate, which makes their struggle touching. Walken is remarkably low-key in this one, which serves the character well. There's a poignant early scene when the Doctor learns from Johnny that his mother has survived the camps unbeknownst to him until then, and at the last minute renounces speaking to her.
Rated 06 Sep 2010
81
91st
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLhFIwkbtJI
Rated 22 Sep 2010
66
51st
If you are waiting for some crazy Cronenberg shit , you will be disappointed. I was, as it would have helped here with the supernatural aspects of the story. Walken is out of place here shockingly enough and the whole movie rings hollow of any real feeling or purpose. It's slightly above average.
Rated 28 Jan 2012
82
71st
Cronenberg does wonderful things in this film, and it's a real pleasure to see a master like him at work. He knows how to incorporate fear and terror into his films in quite astonishing ways and it's ever present here. Walken fits the role perfectly and this is surely one of his finest performances that I've seen. A real horror delight with and ending that will send shivers down your spine. Genius
Rated 19 Apr 2012
95
93rd
Cronenberg creates this incredibly effective chilly Maine atmosphere. It's pretty much the place you imagine whenever you read a Stephen King novel, so that's pretty cool. Christopher Walken is excellent and the supporting cast is nice, including an insane turn by Martin Sheen. I do think that Videodrome, Cronenberg's other 1983 effort, blows The Dead Zone away, but I can see it growing on me in time.
Rated 19 Feb 2013
87
94th
This unsettling, episodically structured story must be one of the most underrated films directed by Cronenberg. What starts as a mere psychological drama -- a teacher turned into a psychic after an accident and coma -- slowly, and though a series of events, -- he is in sorrow, his old girl sleeps with him for just one night, he sort of gets his life back, he wants to change the future even if it ends his life -- becomes a mesmerizing superhero tale, with a strong political and christian agenda.
Rated 08 Dec 2013
64
36th
The plot is a bit choppy, going one way and then another, ties together well enough in the end however. The score is a touch over-done but Walken limps through the schmultz duly. Highlight would be the scene in which Walken and Zerbe first meet. Their phonetic delivery is so similar in that scene it's as if Walken is talking to an older version of himself.
Rated 16 Sep 2014
76
63rd
I think it's pretty common for people to overlook Christopher Walken as a great actor, but he totally brings it here. It's definitely normal for a Cronenberg movie, but he can do dark and disturbing just as well as brutal and disgusting.
Rated 11 May 2015
39
30th
Incredibly low-key and non-risk-taking flick where not much happens. Not sure what went wrong, but it lacks the twisty turns needed to keep it interesting and the general fucked-up-ness of a Cronenberg joint.
Rated 17 Jun 2015
67
25th
I've never been a huge fan of episodic movies like this. On top of that, Walken's performance is never as good as it could be, his powers are never fully defined, and, as it usually happens in Stephen King adaptations, things go way too over the top in a pretty annoying way. It's an overall interesting concept that, in my opinion, wasn't executed very well.
Rated 18 Oct 2015
81
64th
Walken didn't work for me in the opening, as a supposedly normal schoolteacher, but after he becomes a psychic of sorts he does great with the role. It's a pretty fun and creative script that keeps chugging along pretty decently despite the narrative feeling a bit episodic. The climax of the film is pretty great, though the film might have been more interesting if that dilemma had gotten more depth and screentime.
Rated 11 Jun 2016
75
78th
I preferred this adaptation to the book: the tension from the score and the Christopher Walken from the Christopher Walken made this satire a gripping watch.
Rated 13 Jan 2018
60
22nd
Not really horror, certainly not scary. Sadly, also looks & freq feels dated & stilted. Only Walken (& Sheen later) keep it afloat. A few others = wooden & average standard seems below par. Walken's spooky manner + haunted & huge ghost-pale blue-grey eyes (Born 4 this part) fill at least $1 mil/30 year hole in special effects. He DOES looks like he just saw hell/other-side & that sells/saves vision scenes. Deserves decent (timely or too late!) remake; Cillian Murphy 4 lead (Alt = Jake Gyl)
Rated 14 Jul 2018
75
64th
When I saw Cronenberg in the opening credits, my mind expected to much. And while I was ultimately let down in that department, this is still a real interesting watch, with a great Christopher Walken role. I was impressed. A fun Stephen King film.
Rated 12 Aug 2019
65
50th
Completely disjointed and feels like 3 episodic stories which I guess explains why they made the odd choice of resurrecting this as a TV show so many years later. Christopher Walken reciting Edgar Allen Poe is something I didn't know I wanted. A couple of bonus points for the boiling gold fish bowl.
Rated 13 Oct 2019
75
69th
In this clash of two auteurs, Cronenberg largely yields the floor to King, a testament to his adaptability and technical skill as a filmmaker. King's story has the interesting structure of using several independent episodes to explore the Lynchian small-town setting instead of deeply diving into the protagonist's psyche - certainly works, but takes a bit to get used to.
Rated 30 Dec 2006
62
24th
not a good adaptation of the book
Rated 02 Jan 2007
84
75th
Em honra dos 75 anos de Christopher Walken completados hoje. Com a ascensão da extrema direita virando moda ao redor do mundo, as questões que esse filme traz se tornam atualíssimas. Blurayrip no MakingOff.
Rated 28 Jan 2007
80
84th
A pretty cool adaptation of King's novel with an appropriately creepy performance from Walken as the psychic coma victim.
Rated 19 Feb 2007
65
73rd
Great thriller.
Rated 12 Mar 2007
80
43rd
Totally episodic, and drags in the middle due to a largely unneccesary story involving his tutoring of a withdrawn kid, but when its good, its great. Cronenberg's most human film, anchored by a wonderful performance from Walken and a great villanous turn by Martin Sheen.
Rated 30 Mar 2007
60
47th
Not bad but the book is a lot better
Rated 21 May 2007
85
85th
Classic Walken. 2nd best King novel adaptation behind The Shining.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
45
34th
Conventional and rather uninteresting Cronenberg.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
84
87th
Probably one of the best adaptations from a Stephen King BOOK (as Shawshank and Stand by Me were novellas). Christopher Walken in arguably one of his best roles.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
68
49th
A series of interesting stories involving one man's gift and curse. Together, though, they don't make a cohesive and terribly effective story. Martin Sheen is the film's strongest point.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
78
79th
Consider it's a Cronenberg adaptation of a stephen King book, it's emphasis is NOT on blood and gore. Not the best Cronenberg, but still better than a LOT of other directors
Rated 17 Sep 2007
60
39th
well acted but uneven
Rated 27 Sep 2007
90
95th
Herbert Lom in a tremendous supporting role.
Rated 12 Nov 2007
67
48th
Definitely not anyone involved's finest moment. Needed more Cronenberg weirdness to avoid looking like the made-for-tv movie it does.
Rated 20 Jan 2008
85
94th
This great thriller is one of my top five favorite movies based on a Stephen King novel.
Rated 11 Feb 2008
76
75th
Good Cronenberg movie, but a bit aged with time.
Rated 20 Jun 2008
71
43rd
"The ice....is gonna break!" Well done adaptation of a Stephen King story (there are very few)
Rated 21 Jun 2008
83
45th
Chris Walken is chilling in this movie. End of review.
Rated 05 Aug 2008
85
62nd
It's a pretty run of the mill Stephen King movie but Walken gives an absolutely masterful performance. Really top-notch acting work makes this a must-see for Walken fans
Rated 08 Sep 2008
52
51st
Rather slow thriller which finishes very strongly. Probably would have been better as a half-hour piece. Walken does that thing that everyone else likes to see him doing (myself, I wouldn't call it acting myself). Can't help thinking that Cronenberg was under strict orders to make something that every tv station could broadcast, so there is little of his originality/unsettling weirdness in this. But its fine.
Rated 30 Sep 2008
25
25th
uhhhuu... gaaab
Rated 03 Oct 2008
76
79th
That's a awesome question. To bad sheen became president in west wing and walken came back from the dead in his favorite story sleepy hollow.
Rated 12 Oct 2008
71
79th
Nice
Rated 14 Dec 2008
65
41st
Walken seemingly aims his performance for nowhere in particular, and the direction is blasé. Not a crushing disappointment but just a weird sort of lead balloon. The novel is much more engaging.
Rated 15 Dec 2008
69
21st
again, another movie I've seen but need to rewatch.
Rated 08 Mar 2009
2
0th
"By no means a bad film, just a disappointingly bland and superficial one."
Rated 21 Mar 2009
25
37th
"...while the episodic structure worked in the novel, it does not translate as well to film."
Rated 26 Mar 2009
63
21st
The pic could have been bolder, but it's still worth a look.
Rated 26 Apr 2009
80
84th
Yes
Rated 30 May 2009
7
70th
Uh...ain't that movie tight!
Rated 18 Jul 2009
90
56th
it would be perfect if it didn't drag so much.
Rated 30 Jul 2009
60
36th
It seems really shallow compared to the novel, but I think someone fresh to the story wouldn't have a problem with it. It's funny because after reading the book I couldn't really see Christopher Walken in the main role and I still don't after watching the movie. This film is pretty disappointing considering it was good source material in the hands of a great director and it falls rather flat.
Rated 01 Dec 2009
82
39th
This Cronenberg film is un-typical for him on the surface level but has disturbing feeling under it's skin. Based on the better books of Stephen King it tells a story of man having capability to see in the future. This talent brings great responsibilities...
Rated 27 Jan 2010
83
56th
My favorite Steven King movie. Christopher Walken gives a very moving performance.
Rated 13 Jun 2010
75
50th
A decent enough premise, the film sags in the middle only to ramp up considerably - albeit melodramatically - in its third act. Satisfying, but neither the pinnacle of 80s Cronenberg or King adaptations (though a much closer contender in the latter category).
Rated 15 Jun 2010
89
84th
what makes this movie is the acting...Christopher Walken is incredible...this movie is not a horror movie per se, its a thriller, a drama.....but it has some eerie moments...still a great movie
Rated 17 Jun 2010
55
44th
Watchable. Works sort of like a superhero movie. The protagonist basically has a superpower and you root for him out of faith that he will use it for the good of mankind. Martin Sheen aspires to become president as Greg Stillson in this movie and fails, but later in his acting career the mission is accomplished.
Rated 17 Jun 2010
58
25th
Gecirdigi kaza sonrasi mistik gucler kazanan bir adamin oykusu...
Rated 26 Jul 2010
100
80th
Walken shines. One of the best Stephen King adaptations. Emotional, disturbing, creative. A must see for all science fiction and Walken fans.
Rated 17 Oct 2010
35
90th
"Don't let the fact that visible breath and frosty misery take priority over exploding heads and fetus-licking snow you." - Eric Henderson
Rated 15 Mar 2011
55
36th
Apart from Christopher Walken and Martin Sheen, there is little good to be said. It isn't scary, it isn't very effectfull either. The whole concept and the problem that the movie rises, is interesting (like in Eastwood's 'Hereafter', it's an interesting question whether being psychic is a gift or a curse), but isn't used well enough. In stead we're lead through visions in abundance, while tha villain and 50% of the characters from the climax haven't been introduced halfway through the film.
Rated 12 Jul 2011
79
26th
The Dead Zone features strong performances by Christopher Walken & Brooke Adams but suffers from an almost episodic format that shifts the focus of the film too often to give the story a clear driving force.
Rated 29 Aug 2011
70
23rd
The only film of Cronenberg's that was so bad it made me laugh
Rated 25 Oct 2011
79
63rd
78.625
Rated 17 Dec 2011
79
77th
I had not heard much about this movie beforehand, I enjoyed it. Christopher Walken was great in the title role. The direction was good and the story was interesting the entire way. I would definitely recommend this one.
Rated 19 Jan 2012
50
25th
I've reached a conclusion: Christopher Walken should never be a lead actor in films. Don't get me wrong, I love Walken in smaller doses, but as a leading man, he just doesn't work. I can't say I enjoyed this movie too much. I think it was just too silly and 80s and full of bad dialogue and mediocre acting.
Rated 10 Mar 2012
84
88th
Not some much in line with Cronenberg's body horror (there is really one scene I think that is typical of those films), but I liked this film more than several of his body horror films. It worked well as a thriller. Christopher Walken was good and I enjoyed Martin Sheen as the US Senate candidate. It isn't my favorite Stephen King film, but it would be in the top 5.
Rated 21 Mar 2012
5
56th
Walken sells it.
Rated 11 Jun 2012
70
53rd
I'm quite dissapointed. Yes the visions looked great, and the ending was FANTASTIC but it didn't convince me. it felt rather lazy and unfocused. This score is very generous.
Rated 18 Jun 2012
40
35th
Competent blandness. In other words, unlike Kubrick's 'The Shining', it seems to be faithful to what I always assumed must be the spirit of Stephen King.
Rated 12 Sep 2012
35
32nd
First Cronenberg movie I've seen that I didn't immediately like. The plot is just too fragmented.
Rated 26 Oct 2012
74
70th
* Casting, Acting : 8 * Script : 7 * Directing, Aura : 8 * Ease of Viewing : 7 * Naked Eye : 7
Rated 30 Jan 2013
65
63rd
Walken is fantastic
Rated 10 Feb 2013
50
26th
prophets are inarticulate, they help us in a way we can not understand, but the overall movie seems too "played" and "calculated", not my taste
Rated 06 Jun 2013
1
6th
The ideas about fate aren't very original ("if you could go back in time to kill Hitler, would you?"), and are made less effective by the unbelievably cartoonish villainy of the antagonist. Some of the dialogue and acting is a little stilted, and I even think Christopher Walken might be miscast.
Rated 07 Oct 2013
87
91st
86.500
Rated 31 Jan 2014
62
44th
Neither Cronenberg nor Walken were able to save King's simple story.
Rated 08 Mar 2014
40
44th
A pretty straightforward Stephen King filmatization, with the usual rubber-stamped King characters and the all-too-familiar plot progression. I liked the little homage to Manchurian Candidate in the end but overall there's just too much of King and not much of Cronenberg.
Rated 23 Apr 2014
90
61st
One of my first Cronenberg films. Not too out of whack and I really liked it.
Rated 12 Aug 2014
90
81st
Cronenberg's feeling for the story and the moods he projects upon it are defined by Michael Kamen's music. I want to talk about Christopher Walken in one of his most serious and contemplative early roles, I want to talk about Martin Sheen hamming it up as a scary reflection of right-wing American politicizing, I want to talk about the influence the movie has on genre conventions. But when it's a Cronenberg film, I keep coming back to music and atmosphere.
Rated 29 Sep 2014
74
46th
Dry, but somewhat nice in parts. Could have used some expansion, I mean, this hella cool concept takes forever to develop.
Rated 09 Dec 2014
60
45th
I wanted to like this so much but the story feels choppy and acting clumsy. Great atmosphere can't save the film.

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