Another film in the more pulpy vein is David Cronenberg's 1983 movie based on King's novel The Dead Zone. The same book was later turned into a far less inspired TV series; Cronenberg's film, meanwhile, got Christopher Walken in the lead role as a man who awakens from a coma to psychic powers. Which is a better deal than most people who wake from comas get. Unfortunately, Walken's character is burdened with the knowledge that a US Senatorial candidate played by Martin Sheen is destined to become the president who initiates a full-blown war against the Russian, bringing about a nuclear holocaust. Cronenberg brings his typical flair for making even the most out-there scenario seem like a nightmarish reality that could very well happen in the near future, just far enough removed from our reality to be entertaining, but close enough to leave a lasting impression.