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From: ecl@ahuta.UUCP (ecl)
Newsgroups: net.movies
Subject: THE DEAD ZONE
Message-ID: <121@ahuta.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 27-Nov-84 20:26:43 EST
Article-I.D.: ahuta.121
Posted: Tue Nov 27 20:26:43 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 28-Nov-84 04:59:32 EST
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Labs, Holmdel NJ
Lines: 34


                                 DEAD ZONE
                   A film retrospective by Mark R. Leeper

     I saw THE DEAD ZONE when it first came out, and at that time I did not
like it very much.  My main recollection of the film was that it was a cold
emotionless, very episodic, that just did not capture my interest.  I saw it
as a bland film based on a bland book by Stephen King.

     [Then a friend whose opinion I respect said she really like it.]  Based
on her recommendation I gave the film a second viewing.  What can I say?
Maybe the film hit me in a bad mood last time.  Seeing it now, I see a lot
in the film that I must have missed the first time.

     THE DEAD ZONE is a very well acted film that delves into the various
aspects of what it means to have psychic powers.  Christopher Walken wakes
up from a five year coma with the power to see important scenes from a
person's life -- past, present or future -- just by touching that person's
hand.  The film _i_s episodic.  It seems to move ahead as a series of short
stories not very closely related.  Walken tries not to use his powers, to
lead a normal or even dismal life.  But time and again chance visions force
him to act on knowledge that he has rather than let people be hurt.  Finally
he has a vision so devastating that he must commit murder to literally save
humanity.  It is a cold film, but rather than emotionless, it really is an
effective and moving film.  The ending is ironically jubilant and sad at the
same time.  Somehow I think the film works better on the small video screen
than it did in the theater.  Television enhances the claustrophobic feel of
the film in a way that the wide screen fought against.  THE DEAD ZONE is one
of the few films that should really be seen on TV.  On the -4 to +4 scale,
this one rates +2, up from a -1 on my last viewing.  Thanks, Terry.

					(Evelyn C. Leeper for)
					Mark R. Leeper
					...ihnp4!lznv!mrl