Film Review: The Dead Zone (15) (U.S.A. 1983) (Director: David Cronenberg) Friday 06.07.2012 23:00, The Cameo Cinema Screen One, Edinburgh 

I had hopes for this one, as understood it to be a particularly odd film, with one of Christopher Walken's better performances. When I first saw the Cronenberg season advertised, this is the one that held most interest for me. Although I enjoyed the film, I was disappointed.

The story is based upon the writing of Steven King.

The central character has an accident which leads to their developing telepathic powers, which are triggered in regard to being able to see people's pasts and futures upon touching them. This leads to his helping people and a level of community interest he finds hard to bear. Then upon shaking the hand of a politician while they are electioneering causes him to see the damage the person will go on to cause, so he takes action to curtail the politician's life. Although this is interesting, I felt it was also dealt with in a simplistic manner.

My reasoning to say that it is simplistic is this. To hypothetically suggest, upon what is known of someone today, it is possible to project forward and see that they will commit a damaging crime in say a years time. This ignores the fact that it cannot be known what may occur in their life between now and then and something may occur that alters the persons actions and prevents the crime from happening, without having to take any action to prevent it.

Having said this it is good to see films tackle the matter of life's self control balanced against/with chaos (actions from within the environment around). How there is no such thing as fate, just an ever changing trajectory, who's changes depend upon the influence of chaos upon control and control upon chaos.

Rating: 06/10.