Stephen King Journey
@stephenkingjourney.bsky.social
Reading every book, watching every movie, binging every TV show, listening to every podcast related to Stephen King and his vast output.
A lot of time (perhaps too much time?) was humorously spent on the possible romantic relationship between Stillson and his bodyguard, Sonny.
November 10, 2025 at 2:44 PM
A lot of time (perhaps too much time?) was humorously spent on the possible romantic relationship between Stillson and his bodyguard, Sonny.
However, in thinking back upon the opening credits scene as the movie logo slowly came into view, black shapes blocked out the scenery which very closely matched the brain’s “Dead Zones” that Johnny described in the books.
I have better appreciation for the opening credits now.
I have better appreciation for the opening credits now.
The Dead Zone 430 01
YouTube video by Stephen King Journey
youtu.be
November 10, 2025 at 2:44 PM
However, in thinking back upon the opening credits scene as the movie logo slowly came into view, black shapes blocked out the scenery which very closely matched the brain’s “Dead Zones” that Johnny described in the books.
I have better appreciation for the opening credits now.
I have better appreciation for the opening credits now.
According to IMDB trivia, the term “Dead Zone” was mentioned briefly in the film but its meaning was never quite explained like it was in the book.
November 10, 2025 at 2:44 PM
According to IMDB trivia, the term “Dead Zone” was mentioned briefly in the film but its meaning was never quite explained like it was in the book.
I have to concur: Christopher Walken and Brooke Adams (Sarah) had such little chemistry, it indeed was like watching “two brothers kissing”.
November 10, 2025 at 2:44 PM
I have to concur: Christopher Walken and Brooke Adams (Sarah) had such little chemistry, it indeed was like watching “two brothers kissing”.
But I too came into this film with great anticipation because of Cronenberg’s name attached to it and walked away feeling this was just an average movie at best.
November 10, 2025 at 2:44 PM
But I too came into this film with great anticipation because of Cronenberg’s name attached to it and walked away feeling this was just an average movie at best.
C.M. mentioned her disappointment in the movie having expected something more outrageous from David Cronenberg. It’s tough to keep in mind that this was an early Cronenberg film, before The Fly and Dead Ringers and everything else that came after.
November 10, 2025 at 2:44 PM
C.M. mentioned her disappointment in the movie having expected something more outrageous from David Cronenberg. It’s tough to keep in mind that this was an early Cronenberg film, before The Fly and Dead Ringers and everything else that came after.
Another classic! This time, it’s Jay Mohr impersonating Walken with precision.
“Christopher Walken’s Celebrity Psychic Friends Network” youtu.be/Pg4aOWCNqcc
“Christopher Walken’s Celebrity Psychic Friends Network” youtu.be/Pg4aOWCNqcc
Christopher Walken's Celebrity Psychic Friends Network - Saturday Night Live
YouTube video by Saturday Night Live
youtu.be
November 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Another classic! This time, it’s Jay Mohr impersonating Walken with precision.
“Christopher Walken’s Celebrity Psychic Friends Network” youtu.be/Pg4aOWCNqcc
“Christopher Walken’s Celebrity Psychic Friends Network” youtu.be/Pg4aOWCNqcc
The Losers’ Club also turned me on to a couple of Saturday Night Live skits with Christopher Walken riffing on his Johnny Smith character. Here’s the first one:
Ed Glosser, Trivial Psychic: Limited Usefulness - Saturday Night Live
YouTube video by Saturday Night Live
youtu.be
November 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM
The Losers’ Club also turned me on to a couple of Saturday Night Live skits with Christopher Walken riffing on his Johnny Smith character. Here’s the first one:
I had forgotten about the South Park spoof of The Dead Zone movie! Cartman was perfect as a psychic detective!
November 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM
I had forgotten about the South Park spoof of The Dead Zone movie! Cartman was perfect as a psychic detective!
I’m finishing off that epic episode from The Loser’s Club about The Dead Zone. After 2.5 hours of talking about the book, they started to cover the movie and I had hit pause.
Let’s do this and see if they had any of the same observations that I did.
Let’s do this and see if they had any of the same observations that I did.
The Losers' Club: A Stephen King Podcast - The Dead Zone
Listen to The Losers' Club: A Stephen King Podcast - The Dead Zone by Bloody FM on Podcast Addict. The Losers head to Castle Rock and discuss Stephen King’s The Dead Zone.Chapters include: Intro, The ...
podcastaddict.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM
I’m finishing off that epic episode from The Loser’s Club about The Dead Zone. After 2.5 hours of talking about the book, they started to cover the movie and I had hit pause.
Let’s do this and see if they had any of the same observations that I did.
Let’s do this and see if they had any of the same observations that I did.
My final grade? A B-. It had decent acting from Walken and Sheen. A few scenes were memorable. But for the most part, it was a made-for-TV movie that’s close to ‘Salem’s Lot in its hokeyness than it is to Carrie as a classic.
November 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM
My final grade? A B-. It had decent acting from Walken and Sheen. A few scenes were memorable. But for the most part, it was a made-for-TV movie that’s close to ‘Salem’s Lot in its hokeyness than it is to Carrie as a classic.
And the movie ends right after the assassination attempt. No postscript. No federal inquiry.
I thought the book had ended abruptly, but the movie took it to another level.
I thought the book had ended abruptly, but the movie took it to another level.
November 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM
And the movie ends right after the assassination attempt. No postscript. No federal inquiry.
I thought the book had ended abruptly, but the movie took it to another level.
I thought the book had ended abruptly, but the movie took it to another level.
Time to play tug-of-baby.
November 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Time to play tug-of-baby.
When the director gives the cue for all the extras to duck, don’t be like the short guy in the middle.
November 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM
When the director gives the cue for all the extras to duck, don’t be like the short guy in the middle.
The flash forward scene when Johnny does finally shake Stillson’s hand was… underwhelming.
Is that a Simon game “President” Stillson is using to launch nukes?
Is that a Simon game “President” Stillson is using to launch nukes?
November 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM
The flash forward scene when Johnny does finally shake Stillson’s hand was… underwhelming.
Is that a Simon game “President” Stillson is using to launch nukes?
Is that a Simon game “President” Stillson is using to launch nukes?
Are those the Khaleesi’s dragon eggs on the coffee table???
November 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Are those the Khaleesi’s dragon eggs on the coffee table???
Well, at least the most famous line from the movie was NOT a disappointment! Great scene!
The Dead Zone 429 06
YouTube video by Stephen King Journey
www.youtube.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Well, at least the most famous line from the movie was NOT a disappointment! Great scene!
Instead of a teen party at a restaurant that will catch on fire, we have a young boy and his ice hockey team falling through the ice.
Is this an improvement over the book? I don’t think so and it’s just distracting.
Is this an improvement over the book? I don’t think so and it’s just distracting.
November 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Instead of a teen party at a restaurant that will catch on fire, we have a young boy and his ice hockey team falling through the ice.
Is this an improvement over the book? I don’t think so and it’s just distracting.
Is this an improvement over the book? I don’t think so and it’s just distracting.
Here’s a good example of a change that didn’t bother me: Combining the banker with the newspaper editor into a single character that Stillson can blackmail: Two birds with one stone.
November 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Here’s a good example of a change that didn’t bother me: Combining the banker with the newspaper editor into a single character that Stillson can blackmail: Two birds with one stone.
I get it when characters are combined or entire segments are left out. But why a boy in this case? I liked the bond that Johnny had with the teenage son in the book.
November 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM
I get it when characters are combined or entire segments are left out. But why a boy in this case? I liked the bond that Johnny had with the teenage son in the book.
So it’s a kid, not a teenager, who Johnny is given to tutor.
Maybe it’s not healthy for me to see the movie so close to having read the book. It always throws me when a change is made that seems arbitrary.
Maybe it’s not healthy for me to see the movie so close to having read the book. It always throws me when a change is made that seems arbitrary.
November 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM
So it’s a kid, not a teenager, who Johnny is given to tutor.
Maybe it’s not healthy for me to see the movie so close to having read the book. It always throws me when a change is made that seems arbitrary.
Maybe it’s not healthy for me to see the movie so close to having read the book. It always throws me when a change is made that seems arbitrary.
This was a fun fake-out. You fully expect this is the moment when Johnny gets his full vision of Greg Stillson’s future.
But no…
But no…
The Dead Zone 429 02
YouTube video by Stephen King Journey
youtu.be
November 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM
This was a fun fake-out. You fully expect this is the moment when Johnny gets his full vision of Greg Stillson’s future.
But no…
But no…
After the serial murder segment – the story has come to a crawl.
But 1:04 into the movie, we finally get to meet Senator (a change from the book) Greg Stillson.
But 1:04 into the movie, we finally get to meet Senator (a change from the book) Greg Stillson.
November 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM
After the serial murder segment – the story has come to a crawl.
But 1:04 into the movie, we finally get to meet Senator (a change from the book) Greg Stillson.
But 1:04 into the movie, we finally get to meet Senator (a change from the book) Greg Stillson.
The serial murder segment was fairly faithful to the book, with a bit of Cronenberg uncomfortable body gore. They cut out Sheriff Bannerman’s initial disbelief in Johnny’s ID of who the murderer was. But that was the strongest part of that section in the book – having to convince him of the truth!
November 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM
The serial murder segment was fairly faithful to the book, with a bit of Cronenberg uncomfortable body gore. They cut out Sheriff Bannerman’s initial disbelief in Johnny’s ID of who the murderer was. But that was the strongest part of that section in the book – having to convince him of the truth!