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Late to the Party: ‘The Dead Zone’ (1983)

Published

6 years ago

May 30, 2018

The Dead Zone Stephen King David Cronenberg

Welcome back to another weekly edition of Late to the Party, the review series that pits iHorror writers against the cult classics and fan favorites we somehow haven’t seen. This week is all about David Cronenberg’s take on Stephen King’s novel, The Dead Zone. This 1983 classic features Christopher Walken, Tom Skerritt, Martin Sheen, and a lot of chewed scenery.

I really wanted to review The Dead Zone because it was filmed in a town in which I spend an obnoxious amount of time, Niagara-on-the-Lake (in Ontario, Canada).

So that being said, let’s start with a fun fact. The gazebo (featured in the film as a location where a young woman was brutally murdered by the Castle Rock Killer) was built specifically for the film and donated to the town. It is now a wildly popular location for wedding photos and a tourist favorite for quaint-as-hell picnic lunches.

via Getty Images

The Dead Zone also features a scene in the notorious Screaming Tunnel! Local landmarks – creepier than you think!

As previously mentioned, The Dead Zone is a film adaptation of Stephen King’s fifth novel published under his own name (his seventh novel when including the two published under Richard Bachman). It’s also the first novel that focuses on the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine (which has inspired an upcoming anthology series).

A TV series adaptation followed in 2002 that ran for six seasons, ending in 2007. Six seasons! That’s insane.

Anyways, on to the film.

via Getty Images

The plot concerns Johnny Smith (Christopher Walken), a school teacher who is involved in an automobile accident that leaves him in a coma for five years. When Johnny wakes up, he discovers that he has some psychic abilities that allow him to see tragic events in the lives of those he touches.

Johnny is able to use his newfound skill to save the lives of those around him and shed some light on past secrets. This weighs on him greatly, and after he is enlisted to help track down a serial murderer (which ends in a delightfully gruesome way, as we would expect from David Cronenberg), Johnny chooses to live in seclusion to avoid future trauma.

via Getty Images

The titular “dead zone” refers to an area of Johnny’s brain that suffered damage as a result of the accident. This “dead zone” curses Johnny with these violent visions, but it also grants him the possibility of altering the outcome of what he sees.

That’s, essentially, the crux and climax of the film. Johnny sees a future in which a volatile politician, Greg Stillson, (played by Martin Sheen) wins the presidency. In this vision, Stillson orders a nuclear strike against the Soviet Union that results in a nuclear holocaust. Johnny struggles with the pressure of knowing this possible outcome and decides that he must do something to prevent this global tragedy.

The film does a wonderful job of wrapping up the story in a satisfying (if not, perhaps, abrupt) way.

via Getty Images

The Dead Zone weaves the spectacular world of the psychic and occult with the reality of everyday life seamlessly. The scenes of Johnny’s visions feel deeply rooted in reality, which makes them even more shocking and unnerving.

Normally, you would think this gift would be desirable, but it’s easy to see the affect the traumatic images have on Johnny. It’s no surprise he would want to distance himself from that.

via IMDb

Christopher Walken’s performance as Johnny Smith evokes sympathy and understanding from the audience. Martin Sheen as Greg Stillson, on the other hand, is so perfectly unhinged. Stillson is a smarmy crowd-pleasing politician with a hair-trigger for emotional outbursts. It’s… eerily familiar these days (good thing this was pre-twitter).

During the scenes with Stillson on the campaign trail, the crowd reverberates with chants of “Stillson! Stillson! Stillson!”. Because of the strong emphasis on the first syllable, these cries sound a lot more like “Kill! Kill! Kill!”, which is actually perfect.

via Getty Images

Overall, it’s an impressive film from a legendary director with a spectacular cast, based on a novel by the most prolific genre writer of our time.

You really can’t go wrong there.

Stay tuned next week for more Late to the Party, or check out our past reviews here!

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

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Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

10 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

12 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

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A post shared by Spirit Halloween (@spirithalloween)

Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

Movies

’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

Published

13 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

**Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes**

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.