DOUBLEFEATUREPREACHERS
  • Home
    • David's Reviews
    • Shannon's Reviews
    • DFP Reviews
  • Browse
  • About
  • Contact

The Dead Zone - C+

8/2/2017

1 Comment

 
​Quick Hit: Never something I think could be called the best Stephen King movie, but a fun one that embraces its star and a bit of camp with it.
Picture
Stories of psychics just abound throughout the movies. It’s just an easy way to develop a story – “Oh, someone has the ability to see the future”, how novel. However, when handled correctly (as Mr. King tends to handle things – maybe not all the time, but an awful lot of them), you can see why. It’s an exciting and fun story to tell. And when you tie in the intrigue of a man who uses his gifts for good, what better story could you have?
​
The Dead Zone tells the story of Johnny, a young man who is so good he won’t come into his girlfriend’s house until they are married. After a run in with a runaway tanker, he ends up in a coma for five years. Upon waking, he discovers he has (you guessed it) psychic powers. Johnny is played by Christopher Walken, and man is his acting superb. Even his reactions, which were eventually spoofed by himself on SNL, are still pretty good. But Walken does his best acting in the quiet moments of the movie – when he shares scenes with his former girlfriend Sarah (played by Brooke Adams). 
Picture
Like I said, these moments are fun too.
It’s because the script allows Johnny to focus on himself so much. We are frequently presented with Johnny alone or Johnny surrounded by children, and that’s no accident. When you consider the stunted maturation that would take place had you frozen someone’s time clock for five years, I think there is a solid comparison to be made there. Furthermore, Johnny is consistently weakened in this movie. Part of it is the residual effects of the coma, but other times he is just shown to be emotionally weak. It makes his characters arc that much more satisfying.
​
The bit actors are really good in this, but I can’t help but love Martin Sheen as a slimy politician. He is so good at all parts of it – first, he is extremely charismatic. In today’s political climate, there is an interesting parallel (one I’m not brave enough to write about in depth). Not only is he charismatic, he is dangerous and will do anything to win. The film has no problem painting Johnny’s reasoning for doing what he eventually does. 
Picture
The direction, by Cronenberg, is very different than his previous film, Videodrome. While there are still some shots of extreme violence (like the terrifying death by scissors), the film on the whole shows a remarkable amount of restraint for a man that is known for his body horror. It allows him to focus on the character development, and the movie is better for it. I think that this film directly led to one of his most excellent: A History of Violence.

Overall, watch the movie, and watch the SNL spoof. They’re enjoyable movies with an easy plot to follow for being what they are. I’m giving The Dead Zone a “C+”.
​
For more on this movie check out IMDB. 
1 Comment
best assignment writing services uk link
12/18/2018 10:34:12 pm

This movie is nice. I guess that it really has deep moral lesson depending on the viewer's perception. Teenagers must watch more realistic movies like this. I guess that this would help them mold the things they really wanted in life. In fact, they have bigger imaginations which are helpful to the society which would be a big help. I hope more movies with similar to this will be released. Some of my students really like law drama nowadays and I see that it helps them to think wisely.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    David

    ​"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" 
                      -Jack Torrance                         (Shining)

    Categories

    All
    Action
    Animated
    Based On A True Story
    Comedy
    Crime
    Drama
    Family
    Fantasy
    Horror/Thriller
    Musical
    Mystery
    Romance
    Science Fiction
    Superhero
    Western

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    October 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
    • David's Reviews
    • Shannon's Reviews
    • DFP Reviews
  • Browse
  • About
  • Contact