The Dead Zone (1983)

 

 

A man awakens from a coma to discover he has a psychic ability. 

David Cronenberg tones down his trademark gore excellent Stephen King adaptation in favor of a more subdued and atmospheric interpretation of the story - enhanced by Walken's sensitive performance.

Halliwell*: "Glum thriller with a fairly predictable outcome but some well-staged episodes."

Maltin***: "Absorbing Stephen King story...Walken's moving, heartfelt performance is the core of evolving, if sometimes meandering movie where (despite reputations of King and Cronenberg) the emphasis is not on blood-and-guts horror."  

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

When seeds drift to earth from space, mysterious pods begin to grow and invade a small town, replicating the residents one body at a time. 

Strangely, I keep reading that this quite efficient horror thriller is a remake of the old classic, but it actually is a straight continuation which even includes the ending of that movie re-staged with the same actor.

On rewatching: excellent sci-fi horror, one of the best of the 1970s.

Halliwell: "Flashy updating of the 1956 classic, mistakenly set in a big city and confusingly unravelled, with nobody for the audience to empathize with. Its nicest effect is to have Kevin McCarthy appear in a cameo."

Maltin***: "Chilling remake of 1956 classic with many new twists and turns; unfortunately, it runs out of steam and offers one climax too many."

Days of Heaven (1978)

A hot-tempered farm laborer convinces the woman he loves to marry their rich but dying boss so that they can have a claim to his fortune.

From memory: The strikingly beautiful cinematography of this period movie is almost a character of its own as it underscores its achingly romantic story.

Halliwell****: "Visually a superb slice of period life, it has an emotional force that emerges slowly from the conjunction of the vast landscape and its reticent intruders, who have fled from the dark of the city to find no peace in the country."

Maltin***1/2: "Exquisite mood piece...its visual beauty almost overwhelms the story - which is second priority here."

Shock Waves (1977)

Visitors to a remote island discover that a reclusive Nazi commandant has been breeding a group of Zombie soldiers.