53
Metascore
17 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 90The New York TimesVincent CanbyThe New York TimesVincent CanbyThe 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.
- 75San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalleSan Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalleThe 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]
- 70VarietyVarietyThe writer's desk intriguingly becomes a gladitorial arena for warring manifestations of the same personality in The Dark Half, George A. Romero's adaptation of Stephen King's 1989 bestseller, a classic Jekyll-and-Hyde story.
- 60TV Guide MagazineTV Guide MagazineIt's an uncommonly mature and intelligent chiller, particularly in a period when the genre has devolved into wisecracking fiends and empty special effects showcases.
- 50Chicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertChicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertNow this is a terrific premise for a thriller, and director George Romero (The Night of the Living Dead) sets it up with skill and style. Unfortunately, the film's biggest disappointment is that it doesn't develop its preternatural opening theme.
- 50Rolling StonePeter TraversRolling StonePeter TraversFor a while, The Dark Half is a compelling study, in chiller guise, of an artist wrestling with his creative demons. But Stark is a real terror only in the shadows. When he emerges, all we see is Hutton — in a showy makeup job — struggling to change his wimp image.
- 42Entertainment WeeklyOwen GleibermanEntertainment WeeklyOwen GleibermanThe most frightening thing about this movie is that King and Romero actually thought it was scary.
- 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.
- 40Austin ChronicleMarc SavlovAustin ChronicleMarc SavlovThe Dark Half never really comes to life, even in Romero's capable hands, this seemingly surefire story ends up stillborn.