Story: Mild mannered teacher Johnny loves Sarah. Johnny gets in a car crash that puts him in a coma for years. He wakes up, only to find that he’s lost Sarah…but gained the ability to see the past, present or future of those he touches.

Scares: This film is directed by David Cronenberg & based on a Stephen King novel, but this is a slow burn meditation on life and the horror of our inner lives, not a blow-your-pants-off scarefest.

Splat Factor: See above.

Shock Ending?: This film keeps you at the edge of your seat at the end, but there’s no sudden surprises. The story doesn’t need ’em.

Remake, Sequel or OG (Original Ghoul)?: Based on Steve-o’s bestselling book, this is the movie version. A TV series came after.

Trick or Treat?: A horror movie that isn’t full of terror. Am I nuts? Well yeah, but there are other reasons for that. But The Dead Zone is one of the greats, a film that looks at what lurks behind the surface of day-to-day life and finds the ugly truth behind the eyes of people you’re supposed to trust. And there’s a believable, but bittersweet, love story too.

Brilliant performances by Christopher Walken, Brooke Adams as Johnny & Sarah, and Martin Sheen (playing against type as a smooth operator running for president who is really a nutjob), this is a thinking person’s horror movie. David Cronenberg surprised the hell out of folks by delivering a masterpiece of understated horror, back when Rabid, Scanners The Brood and Videodrome were his calling cards.

That this film holds up after almost 30 years is a testament to the work of all involved…and it’s also a different kind of terror with today’s climate of political extremism.

Fit this one in for Halloween, or watch this November 6th. Either way you’ll get chills.

Score: out of 5 pumpkins.