David Cronenberg’s The Dead Zone is one of those Stephen King films that remains a classic.
Light relief?
But if youre used toVideodrome,Dead Zoneis not.
At that point I needed to do something based on somebody elses work, as a relief.
Then again, the inch-thick snow and tangible breath-on-the-air coldness added to the movies oppressive atmosphere.
Stephen Kings own script was terrible, Cronenberg later said.
Jeffrey Boam concurred, later stating that King had Missed the point of his own book.
In the process of adaptation, Cronenberg and Boam greatly streamlined Kings long and complex novel.
The narrative switches between Johnny and Greg Stillson were removed.
The story was told entirely from the protagonists point of view.
Greg Stillson no longer kicks a dog to death, and Johnnys deterioration is suggested rather than patent.
This is Cronenberg at the height of his creative restraint.
Herbert Lom is equally good as Johnnys doctor and confidante, as is Brooke Adams as Johnnys unobtainable love.
Its Christopher Walken, of course, who dominates the movie.
Before filming began onThe Dead Zone,various names were bandied around for the lead role.
Curiously, Stephen King wanted Bill Murray.
Its Chris Walkens face, Cronenberg later said.
Thats the subject of the movie; thats what the movie was about.
All the things that are in his face.
After finishing the movie, Cronenbergs career briefly entered a sort of dead zone of its own.
Having spent around a year working onTotal Recall, the production ground to a halt.
The Dead Zone,meanwhile, remains one of Cronenbergs fascinating creative experiments.
Movies that are dramatic, ominous, and full of coiled restraint.
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