Search - The Dead Zone on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Violence, Brief Nudity, Not For Children, Adult Language, Profanity Movie Release: 1983 DVD Release: 09/19/2000 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Special Collection Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 43 mins Studio: Paramount Members Wishing: 8 Genres: Science Fiction, Supernatural Thriller See Also: The Dead Zone [Special Collector's Edition], The Dead Zone

Christopher Walken plays a schoolteacher, Johnny Smith, who awakens from a five-year coma. He discovers that he has acquired the ability to foretell a person's future simply by touching his or her hand. After seeing several examples, Smith's doctor (Herbert Lom) becomes convinced that Smith can not only predict the future, but also has the power to change it. This ability is given its severest test when Smith shakes the hand of ruthless political candidate Greg Stillson (Martin Sheen) -- and suddenly has a flash-forward to a nuclear holocaust. The Dead Zone is not only one of the best-ever Stephen King adaptations, but also one of the most consistently successful (and least gory) efforts of director David Cronenberg. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Christopher Walken - Johnny Smith
Brooke Adams - Sarah Bracknell
Tom Skerritt - Sheriff Bannerman
Herbert Lom - Dr. Sam Weizak
Anthony Zerbe - Roger Stuart

The DVD of David Cronenberg's taut and strangely moving 1983 adaptation of Stephen King's -The Dead Zone is a merely adequate presentation of one of that year's best thrillers. The anamorphic, widescreen transfer and Dolby Digital audio capture Christopher Walken and Brooke Adams' understated yet compelling performances with clarity, and the theatrical trailer is a nice historical touch, but the lack of extra features -- which are becoming increasingly standard -- is something of a letdown. A precursor to the supernatural/psychological thrillers that gained popularity in the '90s, The Dead Zone deserves an equally forward-thinking DVD release; perhaps a deluxe version of the film could include commentaries, filmographies, and other insights into its enduring success. ~ Heather Phares, All Movie Guide