‘The Dark Half’ Blu-ray Review
Stars: Timothy Hutton, Amy Madigan, Larry John Meyers, Beth Grant, Rohn Thomas, Molly Renfroe, Judy Grafe, Robert Joy | Written and Directed by George A. Romero
There are few authors as prolific – or as consistently adapted – as Stephen King. His novels and short stories have found their way onto the big screen time and time again. Then you have George A. Romero, widely regarded as the godfather of the modern zombie movie, whose career is packed with bona fide horror classics.
In 1993, Romero brought those two horror heavyweights together, adapting King’s novel The Dark Half for the screen and directing the film himself. Now, 33 years after its original theatrical release, MGM Home Entertainment has finally given the film a Blu-ray release, offering horror fans the chance to revisit this underrated slice of King/Romero collaboration in high definition.
Horror writer Thad Beaumont (Timothy Hutton) hopes to distance himself from his murder novels and from George Stark, the name he has used to anonymously author them. To achieve this, he cooks up a murder of his own: a publicity stunt that should lay Stark to rest forever. But when the people around him are found gruesomely slain and his own fingerprints dot the crime scenes, Beaumont is dumbfounded until he learns that Stark has taken on a life of his own and begun a gruesome quest for vengeance!
When people talk about the best Stephen King adaptations, the same titles tend to dominate the conversation: The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, Carrie, Pet Sematary, Misery, The Shining, and Stand by Me. Rarely does The Dark Half get mentioned in the same breath, and that’s a real shame.
This is a remarkably faithful adaptation of King’s novel, with a script that captures the unsettling psychological edge of the source material. Timothy Hutton delivers a genuinely chilling dual performance, anchoring the film with a quiet intensity that lingers long after the credits roll. More than three decades on, The Dark Half remains an underrated gem and a film that still holds up surprisingly well for modern audiences.
MGM has transferred The Dark Half to Blu-ray in 1080p and is presented in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The audio track is an English Dolby Digital 2.0. There is also the option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.
The Blu-ray transfer itself is solid. The image is crisp and clean, with no noticeable digital artefacts, and the overall presentation does justice to the film’s moody aesthetic. Audio quality is equally dependable, with clear dialogue and no obvious distortions or anomalies. Where this release falters, however, is in the extras department. MGM’s offering is disappointingly slim, limited to a theatrical trailer and a behind-the-scenes gallery. Previous editions of The Dark Half have featured a far more substantial slate of bonus material, making this particular release feel a little barebones by comparison.
OK, so The Dark Half is not the greatest Stephen King adaptation ever., Yes this Blu-ray could have been a whole lot better. But this is still a nice way to add this film to your Romero or King collection – if you don’t mind the lack of bonus features that is!
**** 4/5
Head over to Amazon to order your copy of The Dark Half now.
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