The Dead Zone - what was the reporter's background?

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Robbiezen

New Member
Oct 8, 2019
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Hi

I am new here, and a huge Stephen King fan! Thanks for having me here on the forum!

So I have a question that has really been bugging me for a long time, and especially everytime I see this masterpiece of a movie with Christopher Walken.
Remember the scene where John Smith and his doctor hold a pressconference, and are the subject of scrutiny and dispute by a very obistnate reporter who wishes to test John? So, John takes the reporters hand and asks him, "do you want to know why your sister killed herself"?
Now, I have for many a year been wondering what the story was with the reporter and his sister - their background … what happened??
Anyone know? Does it say in the book??!

Thanks
Rob
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Hi

I am new here, and a huge Stephen King fan! Thanks for having me here on the forum!

So I have a question that has really been bugging me for a long time, and especially everytime I see this masterpiece of a movie with Christopher Walken.
Remember the scene where John Smith and his doctor hold a pressconference, and are the subject of scrutiny and dispute by a very obistnate reporter who wishes to test John? So, John takes the reporters hand and asks him, "do you want to know why your sister killed herself"?
Now, I have for many a year been wondering what the story was with the reporter and his sister - their background … what happened??
Anyone know? Does it say in the book??!

Thanks
Rob

"Anyone know? Does it say in the book??!"


Pull out the book if you have it and read it!

11-22-63 Welcome.JPG
 

Doc Creed

Well-Known Member
Nov 18, 2015
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In the novel Johnny attends a press conference and one of the pushy reporters hands him a medallion for a "reading". Johnny begins to tell the reporter about his sister who was a drug addict who died of a heart attack. Johnny even speaks in the reporter's adolescent voice, like a ventriloquist. The reporter is horrified and calls Johnny a fake and a liar.
 

Robbiezen

New Member
Oct 8, 2019
4
11
23
In the novel Johnny attends a press conference and one of the pushy reporters hands him a medallion for a "reading". Johnny begins to tell the reporter about his sister who was a drug addict who died of a heart attack. Johnny even speaks in the reporter's adolescent voice, like a ventriloquist. The reporter is horrified and calls Johnny a fake and a liar.

Thanks for the reply! So, thats how it is in the book... but what was your interpretation of it in the movie? Do you think the sister killed herself because of the brother, and why?
 

Doc Creed

Well-Known Member
Nov 18, 2015
17,221
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Thanks for the reply! So, thats how it is in the book... but what was your interpretation of it in the movie? Do you think the sister killed herself because of the brother, and why?
You're welcome. Yeah, I'm not sure why the sister killed herself but I do think, in the film and the book, the point is the reporter learns the hard way that Johnny's power is real; he'd initially been a skeptic and was having a bit of fun poking the tiger in the cage. That glint in his eye quickly turned to fear. :cool:
 

Robbiezen

New Member
Oct 8, 2019
4
11
23
Guys, I have a theory on the reporter mess at the press conference in the movie... I and my wife sat and watched it together couple of nights ago, and we came to this conclusion (I just wanna feel you guys out on this one) : Our theory is that, in the movie, the reason that the reporters sister killed herself is because he had sexually molested her probably during their time growing up at their parents house. It seems very plausible. What do you guys think?
 
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