Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Why I Am Catholic

Home
Scariest Political Movie I Ever Saw…

Scariest Political Movie I Ever Saw…

Last updated on: May 23, 2016 at 8:34 pm by Frank Weathers

Scariest Political Movie I Ever Saw… 2016-05-23T20:34:10-05:00 Frank Weathers

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

You may have seen it too. No, it wasn’t Bob Roberts, nor was it The Manchurian Candidate.

The one I’m thinking about even starred Martin Sheen, long before he even knew he would be President in the television series The West Wing. Everybody loved President Josiah “Jed” Bartlet back in the day, didn’t we? Jed was even a Noble laureate, as I recall.

Anyway, I said “scariest” so in this movie, see, Sheen was a supporting actor. The star was Christopher Walken, and he was definitely suited for the role of Johnny Smith, in the Stephen King derived thriller, The Dead Zone.

Long story short (spoilers, though the film came out in 1983 so who gives a rip?) Johnny, a teacher, got into a car accident that left him in a coma. It being 1983, and all, they actually let him live that way, you know, in the hospital, long enough so that he eventually wakes up.

When he awakens, he discovers he has psychic powers which lets him see into the future. Pretty cool, huh? Except sometimes the future looks awful. Johnny being Walken, guess which way this rolled?

Like here, right before one of his students (Johnny’s a tutor nowadays) goes ice skating on the frozen lake in the back yard of the creepy actor (Anthony Zerbe) who always plays creepy bad guys house. Roll tape.

It’s gonna be hard to pay the mortgage with an attitude like that, you know. Unless your predictions are spot on, which in this case, it was.

FYI, Johnny was comatose for so long that his girlfriend (Brooke Adams) had given him up to being a vegetable forever, so she married another guy. It happens. And the guy is like into politics and knocks on Johnny’s door one day on a Get Out The Vote campaign drive for some stiff (Martin Sheen) running for Senate.

Wait. That may sound like the scary part but it isn’t.

Johnny re-meets girl, meets hubby, learns of Senator Sheen, and somehow winds up going to a political rally where he shakes hands with Joe Biden er, I mean Greg Stillson. Here’s the vision he saw,

Rut-ro Raggy! Moral of the story? Don’t go to political rallies when you’re a psychic, umkay? I better share the trailer with you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmC5oPc7L3M

Yep. Tom Skirret is in it. And Herbert Lom ( kill Clouseau!) too. And yes, you saw Colleen Dewhurst in there too. Too bad this isn’t streaming on Netflix, though it looks like it is available on YouTube for $2.99.

Paying for movies on YouTube? Now that is scary.

Speaking of psychics, have you gotten the impression that I’m not going to post anything on the election today? Then you too may be psychic! I might change my mind later though, so keep an eye on your feed reader. Or check the other Patheos Catholic Portal folks in the sidebar over yonder. ==>>

Or, you can head over to New Advent.

Speaking of Christopher Walken creepy movies, did you ever see the one where he played a mercenary (Dogs of War)? Trust me, it gives a whole ‘nother meaning to the importance of the phrase “synchronize your watches.” Don’t be late.

And when Chris sneaks into a country, he can play Trivial Pursuit with the bad guys like it’s nobody’s business. I mean one minute he’s planning a coup d’état, and the next, he’s schmoozing with the bad guys and getting his bluff called. Bad lip reading seen here,

See there? No additional cowbell required. 🙂

Previous Post

November 4, 2012

Help Homeless Youth in Alaska

Next Post

November 7, 2012 After the Election, What Really Matters...UPDATED

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Blog News Conversion Story Culture Learning Living Nature Prayer Uncategorized Working

Select a Month June 2016 May 2016 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did Jesus wear on His head during the crucifixion?

Select your answer to see how you score.

A helmet Nothing A crown of thorns A cloth