RipDelight This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

Glimmerubro It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

Gurlyndrobb While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Logan By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

preppy-3 Johnny Smith (Christopher Walken) slips into a coma. He's like that for five years. Then he snaps out of it with a "gift"--every time he touches someone's hand he can see events from their past and a probable future. With this he saves a little girl from being burnt, discovers a killer and saves a boy from drowning. Then he shakes the hand of Greg Stillson (Martin Sheen) who's running for the Senate. He sees Stillson becoming president and starting a nuclear war. He can stop him...but should he? And how. To make matters worse is ex-girlfriend (Brooke Adams) supports Stillson 100%.GREAT movie. It's based on a Stephen King novel and is directed by David Cronenberg. Despite their reputations this is very restrained in terms of violence. There's a couple of bloody shootings and a shocking suicide but that's it. The story is interesting and well-done. It was beautifully shot in Canada (but takes place in Maine). The acting is great across the board. I usually can't stand Walken but he's great here. Adams is wonderful but hardly in this. Herbert Lom, Colleen Dewhust and Tom Skerritt are great in small roles. And Sheen is downright terrifying as Stillson. This was lost in a sea of really bad Stephen King adaptations in the early 1980s but deserves rediscovery. Recommended.

avik-basu1889 There are a number of similarities between David Cronenberg and Stephen King. They both created fictional scientific phenomenons out of thin air for their respective stories. Their respective stories tend to be suspended in the area where they certainly flirt with the supernatural elements, but for the most part remain planted in reality. 'The Dead Zone' involves these two creative heads coming together. Christopher Walken plays the character of Johnny Smith who meets with an accident that forces him to slip into a state of coma for five years. When he wakes up, his life has changed, but he also discovers he has superpowers. The character of Johnny, certainly has a Christ figure vibe to it. This certainly is a morality tale to a great extent. Johnny constantly gets faced with dilemmas regarding how to use the power that he has been 'blessed' with. He becomes the rage of the town when people become familiar with his powers. Although initially he feels bitter about having his life destroyed, he decides to help others with his powers. To a great extent this decision has its roots in his sorrow of having his life altered by an act of fate which makes him want to change other's lives for the better. The film is episodic in nature. The film is divided into sections which might seem unrelated, but clearly the structure is intentional as subtle elements in every episode leads to the next one. I had some problems with the way the character of Sarah gets used. Other than the opening of the film, she just appears here and there in the film, but to be honest, she remains more of a symbol than a real character. Now an argument can be made that this was the intention in the first place, but there is a crucial moment in the film where Sarah makes a big life decision, but Cronenberg to a great extent brushes over it. He should have devoted a little more time to that moment. The character of Greg Stillson also gets a bit of a rushed treatment(unlike Stephen King's book), which is a weakness too, but I guess one has to consider the time constraints in terms of making a film narrative too.When it comes to acting, Walken pretty much carries the film on his own with a very emotive performance. We feel his frustration, his anger and his dilemmas. He brilliantly portrays the character of an introvert who feels frustrated and slowly distances himself from the world due to circumstances beyond his control.Cronenberg's direction if compared to the films with his own screenplays is actually very understated. Apart from one or two moments of brutal violence, the quintessential Cronenbergian moments of body horror are in short supply. The film is shot brilliantly. There is a scene in a tunnel and the shot reminded me very of a similar shot in 'The Third Man'. Apart from some rushed treatment of Sarah and Greg, Cronenberg does well to deal with hardcore character moments which can't really be said about some of his films prior to 'The Dead Zone'. I don't think 'The Dead Zone' is a perfect film, neither is it Cronenberg's best film. However it is a solid, grounded film with elements of sci-fi and horror. It has the Christ figure of Johnny Smith at the center of it whose character is compelling and layered enough to make the film itself compelling.

jowl-38766 Although marketed as a "horror film", it is more a character study about loss, avoidance of life and the emotional turmoil that arises from a broken heart. (Plot Spoilers) The main character Johnny Smith, a young man who is employed as a school teacher with a girl friend he loves and is planning to have a family with, has a horrible accident that, after a long period in a coma, awakes; broken of body, without the work he enjoyed and the girl to whom he loved having moved on to marry and be family with someone else.(Plot Spoilers)In addition he is able to see events of the past, of current events and of a future that may be by touching another person. Yet each time this occurs, part of his "life energy" is drained away so he comes closer to dying as a result. And he is aware of this. in order to avoid this condition he moves away yet he is forced by circumstances to face life and his impending death.The major question: If you knew that you were dying, would you do nothing and live a long time Or would you be willing to die in order to save the lives of those you care about (a definition of love). In summary: a gem that is the most human of the films of David Chronenberg and the film adaptations of the works of Stephan King. The actors are believable, the soundtrack haunting. This film would be good for repeated viewing.

John Brooks As mentioned a little bit everywhere, it's seldom you find a good film adaptation of a Stephen King story. I have not read the book, but this certainly is a very good film. King + Cronenberg seems a strong combo.Christopher Walken plays a romantic lead character, one with ultimately the burden of truth and everything that tragically comes with that. Overall there is a romantic, atmospheric feel to this piece and the horror elements are very subtle, if not faintly incorporated into the mix.It's a powerful film, visually memorable for its romantic purity, and its message is quite clear really when one thinks about it: the gift or curse of foresight comes as just a metaphor in that we all really possess that gift and can all act upon what we know will occur. It is the burden of responsibility that we all carry, and attempting to fight evil, the powers that be of a present time, will always result in an erupting violence.8.5/10.