Product: The Dead Zone [VHS] (1983)
Rating: 5.0
How Martin Sheen got his role
For those who are not aware - not only of how great but how canny Sheen is, here's the scoop on how he got the role of sleazy megalomaniac Greg Stillson: he played it soft. Cronenberg auditioned actors for this role using the "bombs are flying scene", and they all went with a loud, declamatory crazy-man style. All, that is, except for Sheen, who whispered the words in an awed, joyful way. It creeped Cronenberg out so much that Sheen got the part hands down.As to the film, this is one of the top five King adaptations, for my money. It's lyrical and introspective, and that isn't necessarily something you'd expect from either King or Cronenberg. I'd categorize it more as a psychic/political thriller than as a horror film. Beautiful work all areound.