Stephen King: Ranking His Films From Worst To Best

8. The Dead Zone

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.