The Dead Zone (1983)

Director: David Cronenberg
Starring: Christopher Walken, Brooke Adams, Tom Skerritt, Herbert Lom, Martin Sheen

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Here's an odd movie that blends themes found in Cronenberg's other work--recovery from a traffic accident that results in certain "changes" in the victim (Rabid), a form of telepathy (Scanners)--with a plot that's like The Manchurian Candidate in nature. And, because it's an adaptation from a Stephan King work, it's got a strong moral center, clear rights and wrongs. Walken is impressive (as always) as the school teacher turned clairvoyant, but the entire film is just well cast. While The Dead Zone is rated "R", you don't see the kind of nasty shit you see in The Fly, Scanners or other of Cronenberg's more graphic work. It's also a blast to see Martin Sheen let loose as the absurdly insane as Senate hopeful Greg Stillson. Over the top? In the most glorious way possible.

July 4
apartment TV, early afternoon

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