Way better than it is given credit for

To begin Timothy Hutton is excellent playing both roles, though it differs from how it was presented in the book. I don't remember that George Stark looked anything like Thad Beaumont, but whatever. It was an opportunity for an actor to shine and he does here.

All the supporting characters are good, minus Rutanya Alda, as they are all good actors & actresses.

There is a good script here and an interesting premise that utilizes effects to tell a story instead of the other way around.

Great film score by Christopher Young.

Moody atmosphere and well paced story within that frame.

I loved the writers battle. It reminded me in a more serious way of the Wizard battle between Vincent Price and Boris Karloff in "The Raven."

Sad that it wasn't released until several years after it was made. I think it hurt the film.