Product: The Dead Zone [VHS] (1983)
Rating: 4.0
Stephen King for those who don't like Stephen King.
Christopher Walken plays John Smith, a teacher in a small town who wakes up from a five-year coma to discover his life has passed him by. He also finds that he has somehow aquired the power to see horrifying events in the past or future of people's lives through simply a touch. For John, and us, the effect of his discovery of both his new life and his new power (blessing or curse?) is soul-shattering.There's lots of good acting here. Brooke Adams, Tom Skerrit, Colleen Dewhurst, Herbert Lom, Anthony Zerbe and Martin Sheen is a maniacal presidential candidate (Greg Stillson). Ok, so maybe Sheen's performance seems a bit over the top, but I kinda see what they were going for. Stillson's in complete command of his abillity to manipulate events, to gain recognition for his own accomplishments (to be believed), and by doing so, garners more votes, to gain the highest office of the most powerful country in the world...unlike ego- and soul-crushed Smith who must wrestle with his moral dilemma. I don't want to give away too much, but the ending is well done and even makes you think.Some people, in these pages, have said they've been a little reluctant to use words like "haunting" to discribe this movie, since the words are so over-used. I agree. All the superlatives I can think of, fail to underline how unusually affecting this film is. I hope more people will see it.