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Timothy Hutton, Amy Madigan, Michael Rooker, Julie Harris, Robert Joy ... see more see more... , Chelsea Field , Kent Broadhurst , Beth Grant , Rutanya Alda , Tom Mardirosian , Glenn Colerider , Royal Dano , Lamont Arnold , David W. Butler , William Cameron , David Earle , Christine Forrest , Lee Hayes , Jeff Howell , J. Michael Hunter , Larry John Meyers , Jeff Monahan , Zachary Mott , Christina Romero , Rohn Thomas , Elizabeth Parker , Bruce Kirkpatrick , Curt Debor , Drinda La Lumia , Nardi Novak , Erik Jensen

Marking the first collaboration between horror legends George A. Romero and Stephen King since 1982's Creepshow, this moody, atmospheric adaptation of King's novel was actually completed in 1991, but ... read more read more...the highly-publicized bankruptcy of its distributor Orion Pictures in that same year nearly doomed The Dark Half to distribution limbo. King's story revolves around successful author Thad Beaumont (Timothy Hutton), whose popularity on the college circuit owes a great deal to the financial success of a series of violent pulp thrillers written under the pseudonym of "George Stark." When he decides to cast aside his disreputable alter-ego by "killing" Stark off in a mock ceremony, it precipitates a string of sadistic murders matching those in his pulp novels, which are discovered to be the work of Stark himself (also played by Hutton). Looking like a maniacal white-trash version of his counterpart, Stark is not so willing to quit the writing game -- even if it means coming after Thad's wife (Amy Madigan) and their baby. It's only a matter of time before suspicions turn to Thad, who is the only one who knows the real origins of his hideous twin. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

Flixster Users

43% liked it

8,519 ratings

Critics

61% liked it

18 critics

R, 2 hr. 2 min.

Directed by: George A. Romero

Release Date: April 23, 1993

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DVD Release Date: August 14, 2001

Stats: 340 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (340)

  • ajv2688
    May 23, 2011
    ajv2688
    I loved this horror movie based on a King novel, the story is sort of like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde or one of those classics, but in a modern setting. Like many of King's stories, it's about a writer too. I loved it.
  • ythelastman89
    June 4, 2010
    ythelastman89
    I really loved this, it was a great mystery. It's a really good Stephen King adaption that gets down the creep factor of the novel. While it doesn't have the best cast, it does have a great overall plot and characters. George A. Romero's style is not as present as usual, which I ... read morethink is a real testament to his talent. It is more Stephen King's style and way of storytelling, which is really respectful. Sometimes being true to the story is more beneficial for the overall movie, rather than getting that directorial stamp in.
  • BEACHBUNNI
    March 28, 2010
    BEACHBUNNI
    a dark thriller with very strong performances!!!
  • deano
    August 21, 2009
    deano
    Great, very scary and unique!! One of the finest Stephen King adaptations. It's also one of George Romero's most under-appreciated works. The two of them have collaborated on many occasions to produce nothing but good things, but this takes it to a new level. Romero is known for ... read morecasting unknowns for his leads. This time he went against the grain. He used the amazing Timothy Hutton. Hutton, in a dual role, plays both mild-mannered Thad Beaumont and mean bastard George Stark. But when he's Stark, he really comes to life. He's both cool and creepy. The sparrows are also a crucial part of the overall eeriness of the movie.
  • matertenebraum
    July 17, 2009
    matertenebraum
    The Dark Half starts in '1968' where a young boy named Thadeus Beaumont (Patrick Brannan) has recently begun writing novels but is also suffering from some strange side-effects, he collapses outside his home & is taken to Hospital where Doctors discover that he has a deformed emb... read moreryo growing inside of him... Jump '23 Years Later' & things are going great for Thadeus (Timothy Hutton), he has a wife Elizabeth (Amy Madigan) & two young babies plus a prestigious teaching job at a university. However, one day a man named Fred Clawson (Robert Joy) attempts to blackmail Thadeus when he discovers that Thadeus writes trashy novels under the pen-name George Stark. Instead of giving into Freds demands Thadeus decides to kill off George by going public, but not everyone his happy about the untimely demise of George Stark least of all George himself who will go to murderous lengths to make sure he stays alive, even if it means other's don't...

    Executive produced, written & directed by George A. Romero I can't say that The Dark Half is a bad film because it clearly isn't but at the same time I can't but say I was disappointed. The script by Romero was based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King & is a fairly absorbing & engaging tale but didn't totally satisfy. For a start things are never explained, what is George Stark? How was he created? There are some vague suggestions such as the opening scenes of the brain tumour which is never mentioned or touched upon again throughout the remainder of the film to more supernatural reasoning such as Thad's alter-ego & literal dark half coming to life. Some may like this vagueness but personally I didn't think it did the film any favours & what's with the Sparrows? The character's are decent & it's well written for what it is but when I consider that Romero wrote the mighty Dead films which all included fantastic subtle social commentary superbly mixed together with wonderful horror & gore I couldn't help but feel something was missing in The Dark Half by comparison.

    The Dark Half was made in 1991 but sat on the shelf for a couple of years because of the collapse of Orion Pictures & when it did finally see the inside of theatres it did nothing at the box-office. Somewhat surprisingly The Dark Half was one of only two film Romero directed in the 90's with the other being Two Evil eyes (1990) & he only directed half of that, it wasn't for another 9 years before he made another film with Bruiser (2000) which seemed a long time... He does an OK job here but the film drags in places & there isn't a great deal of style or gore, there's an exposed brain, a few splashes of blood & a fairly gory scene at the end in which someone has the flesh picked off their bones by Sparrows.

    I was absolutely astonished to discover that The Dark Half had a supposed budget of $15,000,000, where on earth did the money go? There are no big name actors, no big action scenes, no explosions, no car chases, no big special effect scenes apart from some computer generated Sparrows, no exotic locations & nothing that would suggest that 15 big ones had been spent on it. Was this film part of the reason why Orion went bankrupt? Was this the reason why Romero didn't work again in the horror genre for 9 long years? Romero's latest film Land of the Dead (2005) only had a budget of $15,000,000 & The Dark Half was made 15 years prior, this is not a 15 million film that's for sure. The acting was OK but no one stands out, it's all rather bland & forgettable. $15,000,000? I just can't believe it, maybe I'm wrong, maybe all the money ended up on screen but I simply didn't see it. We give films a certain amount of slack for being low budget so there's no reason we can't criticise a big budget film when it fails to deliver.

    The Dark Half is a decent horror film of that there is no doubt but with $15,000,000 in his back pocket & a string of absolute horror classics behind him I can't help but feel disappointed by The Dark Half, a real wasted opportunity. Worth a watch but nothing spectacular.
  • FilmFanatik
    September 23, 2008
    FilmFanatik
    A very decent King adaptation, Romero does some interesting work here.
  • 76Majikat
    September 10, 2008
    76Majikat
    A very typical Stephen King storyline, in that it was original and totally bizarre.

    A watchable film, but not one of his best.
  • cancercapricorn2002
    May 21, 2008
    cancercapricorn2002
    As a young boy (Patrick Brannan), Thad Beaumont is been hiring or smelling things are not supposed to be there. One day before he goes to school, Thad falls down and it seems like he had a panic attack. Doctors discover on the back on Thad's skull, he has a still living fetus in ... read morethe back of his head. The fetus have a eye, nostril's and a small cavity. The Doctors have destroyed the living fetus. Years later... Thad (Oscar-Winner:Timothy Hutton) has become a writer but not as successful as he should have been. Thad has a wife (Amy Madigan) and two baby twins (Sarah & Elizabeth Parker). One day going to work, a sleazy con-man (Robert Joy) discovers his alter ego in writing trash novels by the name of George Stark. When the con-man wants money, Thad decides to kill off his alter ego. When Thad kills his alter ego, it was a success. But one dark night, his alter ego George Stark turns to life and killing the ones, who helped Thad to kill Stark. Stark is slowly stalking Thad and his family until Thad will write another novel for Stark to stay alive.

    Directed by George A. Romero (Bruiser, Land of the Dead, Two Evil Eyes) has made an effected supernatural thriller. This is one of Romero's best work as a filmmaker. Hutton is extraordinary good in his dual roles. Micheal Rooker as the dedicated cop-Alan Pangborn gives a solid performance. The film was filmed in 1991 and released in 1993, due of Orion Pictures is now a deceased distributor. This film is based on a novel by Stephen King. King did write in another name for several years as Richard Bachman. This is a very good film that is sadly underrated. Don't miss this one.
  • newvogueravyn
    June 7, 2007
    newvogueravyn
    I can't believe George A. Romero directed this, save for the effects at the end.
  • guttersnipe28
    December 3, 2006
    guttersnipe28
    Romero's second adaptation of a Stephen King novel (Creepshow was the first), and soon to be followed with From A Buick 8, The Dark Half explores a theme very close to King's heart: the writing rocess and the effect it has on readers, and consequently oneself.
    Hutton plays a wri... read moreter normally proud of his integrity, writing novels that receive critical appeal but little revenue, so he ghost-writes some action trash in order to make a fast buck. This is, of course, a Faustian pact, as Hutton soon finds himself cornerned by a guy onto his case. When a series of murders occur, he seems a likely candidate.
    However, as with most King, the misdeeds are actually supernatural, carried out by an alter ego borne of said ghost-writing, and the assumed anger of the material. The theme is dealt with well to begin with, but hastily enters typical slasher territory, and even borrows a great deal from other, superior works, such as:
    Tenebrae: writer influences/creates straight razor-wielding nutjob;
    The Birds: avians as portents of doom, gathering gradually with Hutton's breakdown;
    Misery/The Shining: writer's work seals own fate;
    the work of David Lynch: killer is in fact a 50s bad-ass, his approach signified by inoffensive pop/rock & roll.
    Not perfect by any means, but entertaining if one is willing to suspend sufficient disbelief. Hutton's Stark make-up is sensational.

View All The Dark Half Reviews

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
April 7, 2011
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Romero's adapation of King's novella is not a great horror flick but a decent genre item. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
October 29, 2008
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Should satisfy mostly hardcore fans of the horror genre. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
June 23, 2007
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

Legendary horror director George A. Romero takes this material seriously and lends a real intimacy -- and real dread -- to it. Full Review

Rob Gonsalves
April 9, 2007
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com

The film is sleek and enjoyable, with a highly amusing Timothy Hutton in the dual role of nice-guy Thad and vicious George. Full Review

Clint Morris
March 11, 2006
Clint Morris, Moviehole

A wicked good time

Brian Mckay
March 19, 2003
Brian Mckay, eFilmCritic.com

Effective thriller from Romero and King. Hutton gives a solid dual performance.

Scott Weinberg
July 26, 2002
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

Certainly nothing brilliant, but King fans may find something to enjoy.

Todd McCarthy
March 26, 2009
Todd McCarthy, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Vincent Canby
August 30, 2004
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Peter Travers
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

No review available.

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The Dark Half Trivia

  • Which cult classic contains the following line? "It's a 106 miles to Chicago. We've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses"  Answer »
  • In what movie does Dan Akroyd say: "We've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses." ?  Answer »
  • Which movie did this line come from: "There's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a packet of cigarettes, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses."  Answer »
  • Which 2 movies based on stories by Stephen King, strongly resemble each other plotwise?  Answer »
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