Stephen King movies are a tricky lot – There have been over 40 movie and TV adaptations of his work, and for every Misery(1990) there is more than the odd The Dark Half.
Luckily, this thriller starring Christopher Walken as a teacher rebuilding his life after a five-year coma is one of the better ones, and has a terrific hypothetical at its heart: If you knew what you knew now, would you kill Hitler if you suddenly found yourself in 1930’s Germany?
One fateful night, Johnny Smith (Walken) smashes head-on into an enormous truck. For five years Johnny is plunged into a deep coma. When he awakens he discovers that his youth, his career and his fiancee, Sara (Brooke Adams) have all been lost.
But Johnny has gained something – extraordinary psychic powers allowing him to see visions of the past, present and future.
As Johnny’s value to society increases, his life crumbles and the gift becomes a curse, especially when he envisions the horrifying truth of mankind’s destiny under the possible control of evil politician Martin Sheen (a long way from his character on The West Wing).
Filmed with a gentle yet unnerving style by David Cronenberg, this is a truly chilling film, with a satisfactorily twisty ending.
Johnny Smith Christopher Walken
Sarah Bracknell Brooke Adams
Sheriff George Bannerman Tom Skerritt
Dr Sam Weizak Herbert Lom Roger Stuart Anthony Zerbe
Henrietta Dodd Colleen Dewhurst
Greg Stillson Martin Sheen
Frank Dodd Nicholas Campbell
Herb Smith Sean Sullivan
Vera Smith Jackie Burroughs
Sonny Elliman Geza Kovacs
Director David Cronenberg
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One fateful night, Johnny Smith (Walken) smashes head-on into an enormous truck. For five years Johnny is plunged into a deep coma. When he awakens he discovers that his youth, his career and his fiancee, Sara (Brooke Adams) have all been lost.
Johnny Smith
Roger Stuart
