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 completed in 1991, but 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. King and Romero's fat-free script is intelligent and tightly paced, but much of the novel's essential back story -- explaining Stark's supernatural origins -- is strangely absent. The convincing performances and Romero's atmospheric direction lend credibility to the story's balance of subtle suspense and visceral horror, though the movie skews slightly off-track during an overblown apocalyptic climax in which the actors are assaulted by thousands of birds.
Directed by: George A. Romero Written by: George A. Romero Produced by: Declan Baldwin, Christine Forrest, George A. Romero Original music by: Christopher Young
Cast: Patrick Brannan .... Young Thad Beaumont Larry John Meyers .... Doc Pritchard Beth Grant .... Shayla Beaumont Rohn Thomas .... Dr. Albertson Molly Renfroe .... Hilary Judy Grafe .... Head Nurse John Machione .... Male Nurse Amy Madigan .... Liz Beaumont Timothy Hutton .... Thad Beaumont/George Stark Erik Jensen .... Male Student Robert Joy .... Fred Clawson Tom Mardirosian .... Rick Cowley Rutanya Alda .... Miriam Cowley Kent Broadhurst .... Mike Donaldson Glenn Colerider .... Homer Gamache Christine Forrest .... Trudy Wiggins Royal Dano .... Digger Holt Michael Rooker .... Sheriff Alan Pangborn Nardi Novak .... Pangborn's Receptionist Zachary Mott .... Norris Ridgewick William Cameron .... Officer Hamilton David W. Butler .... Trooper #1 Curt De Bor .... Trooper #2 Drinda Lalumia .... Dodie Lamont Arnold .... NYC Cop #1 Lee Hayes .... NYC Cop #2 Julie Harris .... Reggie DeLesseps John Ponzio .... Todd Pangborn Chelsea Field .... Annie Pangborn Jack Skelly .... Man in the Hallway Marc Field .... Donaldson Cop #1 Rik Billock .... Donaldson #2 Bruce Kirkpatrick .... Officer #1 David Early .... Officer #2 Jeff Monahan .... Wes Jeff Howell .... Dave Melissa Papp .... Rosalie J. Michael Hunter .... Garrison Therese Courtney .... Receptionist Marty Roppelt .... Young Officer Sarah Parker .... Wendy Beaumont Elizabeth Parker .... William Beaumont
