Book Review: 'Salem's Lot by Stephen King

A while back, I reviewed the 1897 classic, Dracula by Bram Stoker. Now, I'm taking on a modern vampire story by the master of written horror, Stephen King. This novel, 'Salem's Lot is a very straight-forward chiller but its main power is its engrossing, realistic setting.

Like the vast majority Stephen King's novels, this story takes place in the writer's home state of Maine. It's set in the fictional town of Jerusalem's Lot ('Salem's Lot for short) where nothing interesting happens…until a vampire slithers into the story and starts hunting human prey. Essentially, it's a grittier retelling of Stoker's novel, except it's set in 1970's rural America.

                 
Like the classic story, the plot centers around a team of average people dedicated to slaying a crafty, scheming vampire. Stephen King's cast is much richer than Stoker's, though. Ben Mears, the protagonist, is a novelist struggling to fight his inner demons. He's a man we can root for.
Some other likable characters are Matt Burke the wise schoolteacher, Susan Norton the lively romantic interest, and Mark Petrie, a twelve year old boy who gets caught in this horrific mess.

King has a real gift for crafting a realistic setting with lifelike characters. This story may contain blood-sucking, undead monsters, but we still feel like 'Salem's Lot could happen. King knows rural Maine like the back of his hand and he and paints a vivid picture of small town life -- just so he can tear it down with a barrage of supernatural terror.

The first half of the novel is just a calm ride through the town of Jerusalem's Lot. This is actually not boring. We get to understand town life and get to know its characters. Little touches like the scene where old men argue endlessly over weather give us a strong impression of what it would be like to live there.

Then, all Hell breaks lose when the vampire, Kurt Barlow begins his devilish work. Barlow is rarely seen in the novel (to build suspense) but we do get to encounter his human sidekick, Straker, quite often. They are both intimidating villains with sharp wits, always one step ahead of the protagonists.

'Salem's Lot may be similar to Dracula but it turns up the horror dial a couple notches. It's more graphic with its descriptions of violence and it features a more modern, streamlined writing approach. There are no long, winding passages, only King's sharp and precise style. He creates some genuinely scary scenes like a school bus full of undead children and a terrifying dissent into the vampire's lair.

          
Are there faults with this story? Well, it was only Stephen King's second novel and he hadn't fully flexed his literary wings yet. The first problem is that, in an effort to make the setting more realistic, he focused too much on minor characters and tiny details. For instance, why did we have to hear about Jerusalem's Lot's petty police force when we could have been reading about Ben Mears' vampire hunt?

Another problem I had was with the ending. The novel builds up to an astounding, gripping climax but then fizzles out. I don't want to reveal anything and spoil the story but the ending feels too vague. We get a pretty rushed, unclear resolution that leaves lots of answers. Still, it doesn't ruin the book. You can't really ruin something as entertaining as 'Salem's Lot.

Conclusion:
'Salem's Lot is a great tribute to Bram Stoker's Dracula and a thrilling modern story. It may not be my favorite Stephen King novel but its realistic setting and characters, excellent prose, and frightening atmosphere make this a great read.

Score:
4/5 Excellent

Album Review: American Capitalist

Five Finger Death Punch burst into the metal scene a few years ago with a sound that can best be described as groove metal meets radio rock. Though not particularly unique, their first two albums were solid efforts with tight musicianship and catchy vocal hooks. Their new CD, American Capitalist continues in that vein. It doesn't take many creative risks but it's a fun listen that will please the knuckleheads.

The first song, ‘American Capitalist’ blazes in with a fast paced riff and a polished groove. The song formula is very familiar: vocalist Ivan Moody growls on the verses then sings clean melodies over a throbbing double-bass beat on the chorus. The only downside is that it sounds just like ‘Under and Over It’, the first single from the CD.

There are many unimpressive songs like this on the album: ‘The Pride’ is the same formula but with cheesy rapped verses, ‘Generation Dead’ is a run of the mill thrasher in mid-tempo, and ‘If I Fall’ is a forgettable filler track.

But there are several shining moments on the album that counter the bland stretches. ‘Coming Down’, for instance, is a jarring change of pace after hearing three lukewarm songs. It sweeps in with flowing power ballad guitars and a strong melodic performance by Moody with haunting, introspective lyrics. This reminded me how good Death Punch is when they aim for sincerity.

The lead singer, Ivan Moody.

                  
‘Menace’ is another intriguing song. The band takes their first shot at a swing time signature with this one. It's a heavy grinder of a song with a tight triplet feel and dextrous solo work by Zoltan Bathory. Other album highlights include ‘Wicked Ways’ and ‘100 Ways to Hate’, gritty modern metal songs with catchy vocal lines that draw in the listener.

Each member in the band serves their role well. The drummer, Jeremy Spencer lays down tight beats, Hook and Bathory provide precise riffs, and bassist Chris Kael -- well, he plays his own very subtle role. The most distinctive member is the singer, Ivan Moody. His growls are fiery and his clean vocals have a great emotive power. Sadly, he sometimes gets tied down by shallow, childish lyrics. Even if you don't care and just want a a fun time, some lines like, "You've got to fight 'til you break, talk a lot of trash and step up the plate," are distractingly corny.


Pros:
-Ivan Moody's growls are aggressive and his clean vocals shine with emotion when he's serious.
-The band's rhythm is tight throughout the whole album
-The production quality is excellent with crystal clear drums.
-We can see a lot of potential on the serious moments like ‘Coming Down’.


Cons:
-The lyrics are mostly poor, even if you're in the mood for simplicity.
-Some tracks like ‘Back For More’ and ‘If I Fall’ are uncreative and bland.
-The guitar riffs, though precise, aren't very memorable.
-The drum work could use more variation.


Key Tracks: ‘Coming Down’, ‘Menace’, ‘Wicked Ways’.

Conclusion:

A good chunk of the tracks are duds but there are still moments of brilliance here. Ivan Moody's soaring baritone shows a lot of power on tracks like ‘Coming Down’ and ‘Wicked Ways’ and the band's rhythm is satisfyingly tight and heavy. Though this is not a turning point in Five Finger Death Punch's career by any means, it's a solid modern metal album.

Score:
3/5 Good

Book Review: Bram Stoker's Dracula

 

Since it's October, the month of everything creepy and ghoulish, I've decided to review some horror stories. Our first book is the grandfather of all supernatural horror. Bram Stoker's Dracula was released all the way back in 1897, a time when milking the cows was considered a terrifying ordeal…so this kind of story was pretty hardcore. You'd expect a horror story like this to age poorly but it actually hasn't. It was brutally intense in its day and it's still a little creepy in 2011.

Here's the story. Jonathan Harker is a real estate agent traveling to Transylvania to do business with a man named Count Dracula. He discovers that The Count is really a bloodthirsty vampire. The reason Dracula needs Harker is for legal advice on how to move to London where human prey is more plentiful.
                                                       
Eventually, Harker escapes Dracula's castle and returns home to London where he assembles a team to hunt and kill The Count. His allies are an interesting crew from the light-hearted but courageous Texan, Quincy Morris, to the compassionate genius of a leader, Dr. Van Helsing. The female leads, Mina and Lucy are sadly not as interesting as the male heroes because they aren't active in the adventures.

The entire story is told through journal entries written by the characters. This gives it a very realistic quality that contrasts with the supernatural elements beautifully. The writing style, though long-winded by modern standards, is very elegant and atmospheric. The descriptions of the scenery and creatures are very haunting.

 

"But just then the moon, sailing through the black clouds, appeared behind the jagged crest of a beetling, pine-clad rock, and by its light I saw around us a ring of wolves, with white teeth and lolling red tongues…" (Stoker)

This book was a great influence for horror novels with its grotesque descriptions and constant tension. There are some genuinely scary moments in this book. In an early scene, when Jonathan Harker is still a prisoner in Dracula's castle, he witnesses The Count feeding a live child to his vampiress minions. Pretty brutal for 1897!

Mr. Cullen would wet himself if he met Stoker's vampires.

   

Still, it's not a perfect book in a modern viewer's eyes. The first major problem is that the females leads, Lucy and Mina, don't get a chance to shine. They have few defining character traits except "dutiful" and "compassionate". The men also prevent them from going on any missions…a little sexist.

Another problem is that the long-winded writing, though well crafted, seems a little ponderous in our times. Most young readers who grew up with Harry Potter will find this one a tough read. There's a lot of dialogue and description to wade through. But, with a little patience, it's an enjoyable read.

Conclusion:

Dracula is a richly written and sometimes scary book (especially for its time). The heroic characters, with the exception of the uninteresting women, are likable and courageous. The writing style may plod at times but it's still an intriguing story that shaped horror fiction as we know it. This is a book I'd definitely recommend you read.

     

Score: 3.5/5 Very Good

The Count compels you to read it!

Album Review: Metallica's Death Magnetic

Metallica was once the undisputed masters of thrash metal, an innovative and aggressive force in music. Sadly, many fans were disappointed when Metallica slid further and further away from their metal roots and became a hard rock band. Their 90's albums, Load and ReLoad were a far cry from the brutal aggression and passion of their earlier works. And then, in 2003, there was St. Anger…well, let's pretend that never happened.
 
Clearly, the fans were ready for a return to the good old days of Metallica so the band attempted to please them. Their most recent album: Death Magnetic juggles both their thrash era and their newer pop metal era. Does it succeed? Let's take a look track by track.


Track List:

1-That Was Just Your Life
We're greeted with a clean guitar tone weaving an ominous riff. Then, drummer Lars Ulrich enters the equation and it's not pretty. The recording quality on the drums makes them sound abrasive and fuzzy throughout the whole album…a bizarre mistake to exist in this advanced era of sound design.
But about the song-- it has a strong guitar riff that brings to mind "Blackened". Otherwise it's a forgettable opener.

2-The End of the Line
An admirable balance of thrash and pop metal eras of Metallica. The verses have the shout-then-sing feel of "Creeping Death" and the chorus has a catchy pop hook with their vocalist singing, "Hooked into this deceiver/Need more and more." Well, James Hetfield, I admit you hooked me with this one.

3-Broken, Beat & Scarred
This shows the weak side of Death Magnetic. It's meant to be a mid-tempo brute of a song but it feels shallow and unfocused. Not only is the scratchy drum quality distracting but the songwriting is weak. There are no memorable hooks or riffs.

4-The Day That Never Comes
One of the better tracks on the CD. The first half is a Fade to Black-esque power ballad and the second half features interesting twin guitar solos and a speedy rhythm reminiscent "One". Not very innovative, but a surprisingly solid song.

5-All Nightmare Long
After a tired, gloomy guitar intro, the band bursts into a breakneck speed and a refreshingly tight sound. The catchy chorus has a lot of potential but it is undermined by a thorn in modern Metallica's side: the new Hetfield. Their vocalist has tried to mature in sound by adding a southern rock flavor and an accent ("All nightmare long-ah!") but it lacks power and sincerity. It brings down an otherwise powerful track…and the whole album for that matter.

The new James Hetfield-ah!

6-Cyanide
This is a popular song but I don't understand the appeal. It's a hard rock song with a plodding tempo and an overdose of Wah Pedal effects. True, the bassist, Robert Trujillo lays down a solid bass track, but other than that this song is very dull and repetitive.

7-The Unforgiven III
A power ballad that doesn't have the beauty or passion it's reaching for. Hetfield's coarse, gritty delivery weakens the mood of the song. Then, at the song's climax lead guitarist Kirk Hammet plays a grinding, atonal array of notes instead of the soaring solo you hoped for. This song is emotionally misguided and weak.

8-The Judas Kiss
A straight-forward thrasher that spends too long meandering with uninspired guitar melodies. James Hetfield's melodies are also forgettable.

9-Suicide & Redemption
A bland instrumental without the memorable melodies of Metallica's old instrumentals like Orion and Call of Ktulu. The bass work is interesting but it gets lost in the noisy mix.

10-My Apocalypse
The introduction features fast, tight drums. The toms sync satisfyingly with the main riff. Then, the track inevitably sags under the weight of Hetfield's barking, one-pitch vocal delivery. Somehow this song earned a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance. How? That's a mystery to me.

Metallica in all their mid-life crisis splendor.

Key Tracks: The Day That Never Comes, All Nightmare Long, The End of the Line

Death Magnetic has very uneven songwriting. Some songs are actually pretty impressive like The Day That Never Comes and All Nightmare Long, but even they lose their luster because of a huge flaw: production quality. Rick Rubin, the genius behind Slayer's Reign in Blood and System of a Down's Toxicity produced this album. For some reason he forgot all his production wizardry on this project.

The guitars sound small and timid, the bass is weak, and the cymbals have an unpleasant hiss. Yes, the snare sound is an improvement over St. Anger's ringing gong but that's not saying much. The sound quality may not seem like a deal breaker but it definitely is to me. It's hard to enjoy the songs when they sound so poor.

Conclusion:

Death Magnetic is a noble attempt to balance Metallica's roots with their new sound but it is a misguided effort. James Hetfield's vocal style doesn't have a lot of emotional strength, half of the songs are forgettable, and the recording quality doesn't help matters at all. It has moments of inspired work on the key tracks but the album is overall quite flawed.

Score:
2/5 Fair

                                           Video clip of "All Nightmare Long".

            

Book Review: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

"One flew east, one flew west, one flew over the cuckoo's nest." This is a modern classic, a book that not only entertains, but touches the heart. The writer Ken Kesey, despite being an acid-fueled hippie, had vast talents in drawing the reader into his characters' world. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest has a knack for humor, drama, sorrow, and triumph -- and somehow fitting it all seamlessly into one book.

The story, written in 1963, is about Randall McMurphy, a petty criminal who feigns insanity in hopes of serving an easier sentence in a mental institute than a prison. Quickly, he discovers that the institute is much worse than he could have dreamed due to the iron fisted rule of Nurse Ratched, a sadistic leader who controls the patients with a cold, passive-aggressive power.

Surprisingly, the story is not told through the eyes of Randall McMurphy, but through the towering Native American, "Chief" Bromden. Chief is a timid soul who seems to be deaf and mute. His character serves as an unorthodox narrator who sees life through an exaggerated filter, exposing the other characters' true colors. For example, he sees Nurse Ratched as a frightening, hulking figure and sees the patients as small, cowardly people rendered powerless by her intimidation.


The lead characters are rich and fantastically developed. McMurphy is a brash but charismatic protagonist who leads the patients in defiance against Nurse Ratched. Though he does this in humorous ways (like threatening to disrobe himself in front of her), he inspires hope in the other patients. He may have a crude, rough exterior, but he is actually a heroic and warm hearted man.

Randall McMurphy played by Jack Nicholson.

 The supporting cast of mental patients is also well fleshed out. From the intelligent but insecure Harding to the stuttering, cowardly Billy Bibbit, they are all intriguing characters. With the help of McMurphy, these timid souls realize that the controlling Ratched has stripped them of dignity with both subtle tactics (guilt and shame) and horrifying threats like Electro-Shock therapy.

Nurse Ratched is one of modern literature's greatest villains. Her emotionless, mechanical precision is disturbing and her intelligence is formidable. A great example of her subtle power is the group discussion scenes in which she implies nasty things about each patient (like incest and crime) and gets them to turn on each other. Only when McMurphy calls the session a "pecking party" do they all realize what's she's been doing.

Nurse Ratched with her classic Medusa-like glare.

The major difference between the novel and the film adaptation is the point of view. In the movie, we see a clear and unobstructed view into an Oregon mental ward. The book, instead, is narrated by the hazy minded Chief Bromden who often hallucinates. Some of the events in the novel, (like Ratched freezing the clock so time won't go by), are not really happening; they just serve as metaphors.

Ultimately, which is better: the book or the 1975 film? That's a matter of opinion and I honestly can't decide. Both Jack Nicholson as McMurphy and Louise Fletcher as Ratched won respective Academy Awards for their chilling performances, but the book is equally stunning. Kesey's writing style is vibrant and full of life, unveiling the horrifying reality of mental asylums to the world.

Conclusion:
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a phenomenal book full of fascinating characters and sincere emotion. The writing style is innovative and refreshing, telling the story through the eyes of a silent bystander, Bromden. Give this book a try and you'll be in for an unforgettable experience.

Score:
5/5 Phenomenal

Album Review: Rammstein's Mutter

You've probably heard of Rammstein. They're the crazy Germans everyone knows for "Du Hast". They're also known for their wild live shows that feature roaring pyrotechnics and insane stage props like guns, crossbows, burning angel wings, and exploding babies. (Not real ones … I hope).

  Many people dismiss this bizarre Industrial Metal act as pure gimmickry, a fad that will fizzle out after a few years. This has proven false. Rammstein is popular as ever in all their shock-rock glory. They have shaped a unique blend of heavy metal and electronics that is staggeringly powerful and yet melodic.

For me, Rammstein's crowning achievement was their third studio album: Mutter. Meaning "Mother" in German, this album carved a new niche for Rammstein. The songs now used orchestral and choral sounds as well as an excellent production quality. Let's dive in and analyze the CD track by track.


1-Mein Herz Brennt (My Heart Burns)

The album opens with the sweep of a dark string section and the threatening whisper of lead vocalist, Till Lindemann.  Then, the song erupts into a mid-tempo stomp of guitars with a keyboard-strings melody. A strong album opener which features Lindemann's signature style: first menace, then attack.

2-Link 2 3 4 (Left 2-3-4)

An Anti-Nazi song with a militaristic beat and war machine sound effects. A very straight-forward but satisfying march of destruction.

3-Sonne (Sun)

One of Rammstein's all-time greatest tracks. The memorable guitar riff plows in with a bassy chug that defined Rammstein from this point on. The lyrics are a dire countdown to extinction and the instruments echo that same power with a simple yet brutal attack. The keyboard part uses vocal samples that sound eerily like Snow White singing: an entrancing effect.

4-Ich Will (I Want)

A change of pace from the other songs. Till chants over a relatively calm synth part in the verses and then a crowd joins him in a call and response for the chorus: "Do you hear me?" "We hear you!"

5-Feuer Frei! (Fire at Will)

Possibly Rammstein's heaviest song. With nearly thrash metal speed, grinding industrial keyboards and Till shouting "Bang! Bang!" this is a bombastic thrill ride made for a live setting. A disarmingly beautiful part of the song, however, is when it briefly slows down and Till sings a vulnerable, soft melody about the meaning of pain.

Live performance of Feuer Frei.

                                                        

6-Mutter (Mother)

A fascinating song. With acoustic guitars, strings, and a mournful melody, this is another change of pace. The lyrics are about a man made from science with no mother. It's very theatrical and exaggerated but that's what Rammstein has always been about. A great song with an extremely catchy guitar hook to boot.

7-Speiluhr (Music-box)

A pretty standard hard rock song that rises above average by having an interesting chorus. The lead guitarist's daughter, Khira Lindemann, sings through a sci-fi vocal filter. The lyrics tell an interesting fable about a lost child.

8-Zwitter (Look it up…this is a family-friendly blog.)

A strange sounding song with a punk rock feel. My least favorite of the tracks because the guitar riffs and vocal lines are forgettable. Otherwise a solid song because of the firm rhythm.

9-Rein, Raus (In, Out)

A song with obvious, crude innuendos. If you can get past the tongue in cheek meaning and focus on the sound, it's a very solid track. The chugging guitar line is powerful and the keyboard strings add extra color to the mix.

10-Adios (Goodbye)

After a weird, squealing intro, the song launches into a fast-paced, upbeat song. There are a lot more major chords in this one, giving it a less ominous feel than most of Mutter. The fast pace and catchy vamping solo make this track pure fun.

11-Nebel (Fog)

A surprise twist ending: Rammstein shows its versatility by ending with a sincere ballad. Lindemann spreads his melodic wings with his trademark clean bass voice. It's a powerfully sentimental song and an ambitious way to close the album.


Pros:
-Till Lindemann's voice is powerful and versatile from the mournful croon of Mutter and Nebel to the roar of Feuer Frei.
-The guitars have a simple yet very powerful sound.
-The synths and strings add an intriguing touch to the theatrical mood.
-Some songs have insightful lyrics like Mutter and Sonne.
-There are no bad or forgettable tracks

Cons:
-Some of the riffs later on the album are a bit monotonous. Spieluhr and Zwitter come to mind.
-The lyrics are hit and miss. I don't speak German but even I can tell that Rein, Raus is childish.

Key tracks: Sonne, Mutter, Feuer Frei

Conclusion:
Mutter is an underrated album and a high watermark in Rammstein's career. It has the strongest track list of any of their albums with no true duds. Yes, the lyrics aren't perfect and the last half of the album has a few uninspired riffs, but these are minor complaints. The sound is explosive and emotional in Rammstein's huge, theatrical way.

4.5/5 Excellent

 

Strange but creative video for Sonne, a highlight track.

Album Review: Disturbed's Asylum

Insanity is the big theme of the hard rock band, Disturbed's most recent album: Asylum. Surprisingly, the songwriting is far from insane. It feels calculated and reserved. I expected a thrilling experience when I saw the album cover of Disturbed's mascot breaking free…but the music takes few chances. Let's take a listen track by track.



Track List:

1-Remnants
An ominous instrumental to open the album. After a minute of gritty synth pads, we hear a proficient yet short guitar solo. Builds up tension for the next song nicely.

2-Asylum
A very strong track which fits the savage mood of the album cover. The guitars and drums quickly lock in sync with the trademark Disturbed staccato effect. The lead vocalist, David Draiman, delivers a gritty, animal-like vocal performance and a catchy chorus hook: "Feel you die! In Asylum! I live a lie."

3-The Infection
This next song seems to drag. David Draiman's vocal melodies sound emotionally distant, completely devoid of pain or anger like the title track. The chorus plods with a forgettable hook and a lagging drum pattern.

4-Warrior
A more solid piece in the vein of the title track. Though it doesn't pull any surprises, it's a catchy, radio-ready song. The chorus lyrics: "I'm one with the warrior inside/My dominance can't be denied" emote a feeling of raw invincibility reminiscent of their song, Indestructible.

5-Another Way to Die
A plodding song that doesn't speed up until sixty seconds in. The slow part's guitar work sounds muddy and gloomy.  When it speeds up, it seems energetic at first but the chorus quickly anchors it down with the same tired plod of the "The Infection". I wanted to like this one but the hooks couldn't draw me in.

6-Never Again
A generic track that tries to add intrigue with its lyrics about "A generation that was persecuted endlessly/Exterminated by the Nazi war machine." The rhymes try to tackle the vast issue of genocide…but they just don't succeed. They give little insight into the matter beyond the typical high school student's opinion.

7-The Animal
The last great tune on the album. David Draiman is electrifying with his blend of crooning and growling styles. This is a perfect example of Disturbed's blend between radio rock and metal. The instruments are also unified and powerful.

8-Crucified
The most obvious filler song. The gloomy, melodramatic verses and chorus are forgettable and dull.

9-Serpentine
This is a decent track but it doesn't reach its potential. The guitar work is strangely discordant and clashes with Draiman, especially in the verses. The lyrics about vampiric beings are not particularly enthralling, either.

10-My Child
Another song that doesn't reach its possibilities. The lyrics are actually very intriguing: It's about a baby that Draiman's girlfriend lost in miscarriage. Sadly, this personal and deep song doesn't have enough melody or power to carry its message. It is instantly forgettable.

11-Sacrifice
Hm…did I say Crucified was the most obvious filler song? This one is a contender. It's bogged down by a slow tempo and monotonic guitars.

12-Innocence
Another unremarkable song. Like many of the filler tracks on Asylum, it has little appeal in its hooks or instrumental parts.

13-ISHFWILF (Hidden Track)
Disturbed has made a few great cover songs, (Land of Confusion and Shout 2000 come to mind), but this one was a big misstep. It takes U2's I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For and tries to Disturbify it, resulting in a discordant, unpleasant sound. Minor scale guitars don't mix with Bono's melodies. . .

Pros:
-David Draiman delivers a strong and mature performance on many songs like Asylum and The Animal.
-Some of the hooks are catchy and fit the crossover sound of Disturbed.
-The guitar work has a tight, staccato sound.
-The production quality is usually clear and satisfying with full bass resonance.

Cons:
-Many of the songs are filler with forgettable choruses
-Disturbed tries few new ideas. Nothing is surprising about the album.
-The energy gets bogged down and moody too often.


Key Tracks: The Animal, Asylum, The Warrior




Conclusion:
Though Asylum has several engaging tracks, it also has a lot of filler. Too many of the songs fail to be emotionally resonant or memorable. Draiman's voice and the guitars are very good, true, but they can't always save the songs. Despite its glimmers of greatness on the key tracks, the negatives bring this album down to an average effort.

Score:
2.5/5 Decent

                                                              Asylum by Disturbed.

Book Review: The Dead Zone by Stephen King

     

Welcome! Here's my first post on Patrick's Grand Blog. Today, I'll be discussing The Dead Zone by the infamous horror master, Stephen King. I've been a big fan of Mr. King ever since I read two of his works, On Writing and Misery. But, before I frighten away anti-Kings, let me impress upon you that I don't have a blind bias for his work. Even I can spot the embarrassing lapses in his career (Tommyknockers, cough, cough).    

Though King is viewed as a horror writer, he also has a strong feel for thrillers and drama. That is obvious in The Dead Zone which is no cheap spine-tingler. It's a deep and emotional look into a normal man going through extraordinary, dark circumstances.
    

Our protagonist, Johnny Smith, is a lovable high school teacher who lives in (gasp!) Maine. One day, he gets in a horrific car accident that results in a coma. He wakes up four years later with new-found psychic powers; whenever he touches a person, he can predict their future. This supernatural gift turns into a curse when Johhny foresees a nuclear holocaust caused by the corrupt politician: Greg Stillson. Now, Johnny must decide between two choices: Become a political assassin and kill Stillson, or let the world go up in flames.
    

The basic plot is an old-school supernatural storyline that isn't anything new or astonishing. However, the execution is brilliant. King focuses on the people involved, not the supernatural elements. It's easy to forget that the book even has that fantasy element.    

Johnny Smith, despite his typical name, is no cookie-cutter hero. He's a warm-hearted, lovable man who is placed in a terrible situation. He's not a jesus-like savior, but a realistic person. He has weaknesses, doubts, and fears (such as his dread of confronting Stillson). This makes him one of King's most engrossing characters because he is a man we can believe and relate to; we can put ourselves in his shoes through all the horror.
    

Most of the supporting cast is likable and realistic. Some characters, however, like Johnny's mother and Greg Stillson, end up feeling too exaggerated. The evil Stillson has little subtlety and just seems to be evil for the sake of being evil…Who really believes that this guy could be elected president? Other than these two, the characters are actually really strong like Sam Weizak, the compassionate foreign doctor.

   

King's prose is another strong point. His writing style is always clear and precise, never sacrificing story for foggy poeticism. When he does use metaphors, they are simple and don't get in the way. His storytelling and pacing is well crafted in this novel, too. The reader gets a good balance between downtime (getting to know the characters) and action. The scenes where Johnny uses his power are colorfully written and exciting, especially the finale that just builds and builds until the explosive final conflict.   
    

     This novel was also made into a surprisingly faithful 1983 movie starring Chrisopher Walken. 

                                     (Insert obligatory "I need more cowbell!" imitation here)

This movie was pretty well received by audiences and critics. The consensus is that it's a good adaptation. I'd go a step forward: it's even better than the book. Walken presents a less carefree, innocent depiction of Johnny Smith than the novel but he plays the role well. He has a lot of intensity and screen presence.     

The other actors are equally strong. Johnny's mother and Greg Stillson (two very exaggerated characters in the book) are more subtle here. Stillson, for example, is obviously a dangerous man in the film but never does he beat up teenagers or kick dogs to death like in the novel version. I found this take on the villain more believable and even easier to hate because he was so vivid.

Conclusion:
The Dead Zone is an excellent novel: a gripping supernatural thriller that is carried by its strong characters and excellent prose. I also would recommend the movie that fixes some of the minor errors in the book.

Final Score:
4.5/5 Excellent