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.
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
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