Ep 4. He's Alive

In the fourth season of The Twilight Zone, the episode He's Alive is a captivating and thought-provoking installment. The episode is a psychological thriller that explores the nature of power, evil, and propaganda.

The story centers around a young man named Peter Vollmer, played by Dennis Hopper, who is a struggling neo-Nazi leader in 1960s America. With his small group of followers, Vollmer has been unsuccessfully trying to spread his hateful ideology and gain more power. However, one night, he meets a mysterious figure named Mr. Ernst (Curt Conway). Mr. Ernst quickly becomes Vollmer's mentor and helps him transform into a more charismatic and effective leader.

Under Mr. Ernst's influence, Vollmer rises to prominence within the neo-Nazi movement and gains a large following. However, as he becomes more successful, his moral compass begins to falter. He begins to rely on violence and intimidation to maintain his power, and his followers become more fanatic and violent as well.

As Vollmer becomes more powerful, he begins to question whether he truly believes in the ideology he is promoting or if he is just using it as a means to gain power and control. Mr. Ernst tries to persuade Vollmer to stick to his beliefs and continue to use propaganda to spread his message, but Vollmer's conscience begins to weigh heavily on him.

The episode's exploration of the corrupting influence of power is deftly handled. The slow unraveling of Vollmer's moral compass is a chilling and thought-provoking reminder of the dangers of extremism. Hopper's performance as the conflicted Vollmer is powerful, and he portrays the character's inner turmoil with impressive nuance.

The episode's climax is intense and unsettling, as Vollmer realizes the true extent of the evil he has unleashed. The final scene is a haunting reminder of the terrible consequences that can result when individuals are blinded by their own ambitions.

Overall, He's Alive is a standout episode in The Twilight Zone's fourth season. Its exploration of the corrupting nature of power and extremism is both timely and timeless, and the episode's powerful performances and chilling finale will stay with viewers long after the credits have rolled.