The Dark Half (film)

Did You Know?

• The film was not released for two years after completion because of Orion Pictures' financial troubles.
• Scream Factory released The Dark Half on Blu-ray on November 18, 2014.
• Vinegar Syndrome released a 4K UHD Blu-ray edition on June 5, 2025.

Plot

Thad Beaumont, an author of literary novels, is better known for the bestselling murder mysteries he writes under the pen name George Stark. Wanting to retire the name, he stages a mock burial for Stark. Stark then materializes as a physical entity and begins terrorizing Beaumont's family and friends. He kills photographer Homer Gamache and steals his truck, then murders Thad's editor, agent, the agent's ex-wife, and a blackmailer named Fred Clawson. Stark also kills a hotel desk clerk, several police officers, and a young woman who provided information about the Beaumont/Stark connection; her death is so brutal that the characters do not describe how she died. The police suspect Thad of Gamache's murder, and Sheriff Alan Pangborn of Castle Rock, Maine investigates. Thad begins to suspect a psychic connection to the killer. Stark makes threatening phone calls to Thad's family. Pangborn initially thinks Thad is pranking, but becomes disturbed when Stark describes how he will kill Thad's family. Thad's fingerprints are found on Gamache's truck. Thad realizes that Stark is his parasitic twin brother who died at childbirth.

Production

Filming ran from late 1990 into early 1991, with locations including Washington & Jefferson College near Pittsburgh. The Old Main chapel doubled as Beaumont’s classroom, while the chaplain’s office became his office. Local faculty and students appeared as extras. The character’s home was a house on Maple Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Edgewood neighborhood. This movie marked Romero’s third project backed by a major studio, following Creepshow and Monkey Shines, a shift that posed difficulties for the famously frugal filmmaker.

Reception

The Dark Half opened at number 6 at the box office, earning $3,250,883 from 1,563 theaters. Critics gave mixed reviews, though Hutton's performance and the screenplay were praised. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 55% approval rating from 40 reviews, with the consensus: "The Dark Half is a highly serious psychological study that can be faulted for being more curious than actually scary." Roger Ebert gave two out of four stars, praising Hutton's against-type performance as Stark but faulting the film for not developing its opening theme or explaining Stark's existence. The Chicago Tribune praised the special effects and called the film entertaining, but criticized Amy Madigan's performance. Michael Wilmington of the Los Angeles Times praised the ensemble and wrote that the film captures the best parts of the book. Vincent Canby of The New York Times called the screenplay intelligent and the film exceptionally entertaining, comparing it favorably to Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of The Shining. Kristi Turnquist of The Oregonian gave two and a half out of four stars, praising the nightmarish tone and calling it the best evil-twin horror movie of the year.