The Dark Half

1993 · Movie · 135 min. · United States

Horror Mystery

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 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: All Movie Guide)

Direction George A. Romero

Cast Timothy Hutton · Michael Rooker · Amy Madigan · Julie Harris · Robert Joy · Kent Broadhurst · Beth Grant · Rutanya Alda · Tom Mardirosian · Larry John Meyers · Patrick Brannan · Royal Dano · Glenn Colerider · Sarah Parker · John Ponzio · Chelsea Field · William Cameron · Rohn Thomas · Judy Grafe · Erik Jensen · Christine Forrest · Zachary Mott · Lamont Arnold · Rik Billock · Bruce Kirkpatrick · David Early · Jeff Monahan · Jeff Howell · J. Michael Hunter