Directed By:George A. Romero
Written By:Stephen King, George A. Romero
The Dark Half
Metascore
Mixed or Average
53
User score
Generally Favorable
6.3
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
53
35% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
53% Mixed
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
12% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
90
The Dark Half is an exceptionally entertaining film of its kind. Only Stanley Kubrick has ever adapted a King novel (The Shining) in such a way that the ending remains as satisfyingly spooky as the beginning.
75
The Dark Half is another retelling of the Jekyll and Hyde story, but King and Romero fail to work out the premise of the story. [23 Apr 1993, p.C3]
User score
Generally Favorable
6.3
42% Positive
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
42% Mixed
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
16% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
Oct 7, 2017
7
The late George A. Romero (RIP) and writer Stephen King are horror legends. So seeing the former adapt a work from the latter should have been something for the history books. A movie that would keep you up for days on end. It's not quite clear what prevented that from happening, but at least we weren't left with something bad. While the pacing is quite slow, Romero showed his creative ability for creating an eerie atmosphere. There are few good jolts and some of that classic Romero gore. The source material's interesting concept keeps things compelling throughout, even when what's happening onscreen isn't all that interesting. The performances here are mostly strong. Timothy Hutton in particular is quite impressive in the leading role. I love the way scenes capture little details such as physical ticks and cues that really express how the characters are feeling. It makes things feel more real. It's just a shame that the actual characters themselves are far from the most interesting bunch out there. In fact they are quite bland. There is some noticeable camp to be found here as well. Particularly early on with a few intentionally goofy characters being present. It's not too bad, but these moments do serve as a way to lessen the potency of the overall movie. I enjoyed how Romero really took the time to flesh out the plot and let it grow. The movie's running time is around two hours. That may seems like a lot for a horror film, especially given the era, but it was practically a necessity in order to allow the story to breath. Ironically one of the movie's biggest flaws is that it drags it's feet a bit. However, the fact that it takes the time to do that is most likely what saved it as well. The Dark Half stands as a solid entry in both King and Romero's film catalog. It may not stand alongside the best of either's work, but it's got good performances, a neat tale to tell, and a few chills along the way. All in all, that makes for a good horror movie. Whether I wanted more from a pairing ffrom these two or not, I can't deny I found what's here to be worth watching.
63
You'll see worse, but The Dark Half could have been darker. [23 Apr 1993, p.45]
50
It's fun to wonder what Romero's realistic, no-frills cinematic style and jolting shocks would have brought to good King novels like Pet Sematary or The Stand. With The Dark Half, he tries hard -- it's his best directorial work in years -- but his reverence for the mediocre novel produces merely a serviceable thriller. [23 Apr 1993, p.G5]
42
The most frightening thing about this movie is that King and Romero actually thought it was scary.
40
Romero's film starts out well and clearly benefits from some higher-on-the-line elements, ranging from the cast to the cinematography of Tony Pierce-Roberts (A Room With a View, Mr. & Mrs. Bridge). But like too many King transfers to the screen, it falls apart in the last reel.
25
George A. Romero, less Living Dead here than dying artistically, adapts Stephen King in a movie without a good half. [23 Apr 1993, p.4D]
Oct 27, 2024
6
None other than George Romero himself took on the adaptation of this story! However, those approaching the film with high expectations may end up disappointed. The Dark Half is by no means a bad King adaptation, but it’s not quite a horror cinema masterpiece either. Instead, it delves into processing personal experiences as a star author with a sinister pseudonym. ️ The result feels like a blend of Misery and In the Mouth of Madness, with a dash of Giallo à la Tenebre. Timothy Hutton is excellent, as is Michael Rooker; the practical effects are impressive, and Christopher Young's score sets an atmospheric tone. Yet, horror—or even suspense—never fully takes hold. In the end, I got a moody mystery-slasher that’s leagues better than, say, Thinner. And it was nice to be back in Castle Rock again. But exactly how the evil twin thing works is best left unquestioned.
Production Company:
- Orion Pictures
- George A. Romero Productions
Release Date:Apr 23, 1993
Duration:2 h 2 m
Rating:R
Tagline:Iconic terror from the No 1 bestselling writer.
Awards
Fangoria Chainsaw Awards
• 1 Win & 8 Nominations
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
• 4 Nominations
Fantafestival
• 3 Wins & 3 Nominations
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