Product: The Dead Zone [VHS] (1983)
Rating: 5.0
One of the best thrillers of all time
Christopher Walken has never been better, and for those of you who might have only seen him playing his now stock-in-trade creepy weirdoes, check this out. He should have won an academy award for this brilliant performance (all the performances are good, including Martin Sheen who plays blustery and phony because the character he's playing is a deeply-disturbed, dishonest man). Michael Kamen also should have won an Oscar for his brilliant score. In contrast to many of today's horror films (and films in general) in which emotion is replaced with aloof irony, this film -- in addition to making the hairs stand up on the back of your neck -- bravely explores emotional and moral dilemmas encountered by decent people. The story takes you by surprise despite a premise you've seen before (a psychic debating whether or not to alter the future). One of the best things about this movie is the filmmakers' courage in sticking to the book's tough, heart-wrenching ending. Here, David Cronenberg is in his prime as a director, and Jeffrey Boam deserves kudos for his fantastic screenplay. A must-own DVD for people who like eerie and sophisticated thrillers.