The Dead Zone - The Complete Fourth Season (2002)

The fourth season may fall a little short of the three that preceded it, but The Dead Zone remains one of the smartest, most intriguing series on television. As its adherents well know by now, the show, based on Stephen King's 1979 novel of the same name, was adapted for TV by Michael and Shawn Piller, with actor Anthony Michael Hall (who's also one of the producers) starring as Johnny Smith, who recovered from a horrific car accident and resulting six-year coma to find that his fiancee (Nicole deBoer) is now married to the town sheriff (Chris Bruno), who's helping raise her and Johnny's son. What's more, Johnny is now possessed of some remarkable and unsettling powers: simply by touching another person, or objects touched by others, Smith experiences visions that illuminate events that have happened, will happen, or are simultaneously taking place elsewhere. It must be handy to know which elevator button to push when you're looking for someone who's in trouble, or to realize that it's okay to jump off a hundred-foot bridge because you've seen yourself surviving the fall, but Smith's visions are rarely comforting and not always reliable, leading to moments of genuine suspense and intrigue.

With eleven episodes (plus a "bonus episode" from December, 2005) spread out over three discs, The Dead Zone is at its best when dealing with the series' one ongoing storyline: i.e., the machinations of Congressman Greg Stillson (Sean Patrick Flanery), the dumb, arrogant puppet of sinister forces who aim to put him in the White House, where, by accident or design, he may preside over Armageddon, according to Smith's visions. Unfortunately, only three Season Four episodes address that story, and they fail to advance it much further; indeed, Episode 11, "Saved," serves mainly as a cliffhanger for subsequent seasons. The remaining stories, in which Johnny helps the cops pursue various psychopaths, perverts, missing persons (including a Lennon-esque rock star presumed dead many years before), and such, are good but considerably more pedestrian. Still, while other shows may have cooler special effects, more action, and larger doses of tension-relieving humor, The Dead Zone stands out for its overall smarts and classy production values. Bonus features include deleted scenes, audio commentary on a few episodes, and a featurette focusing on production design. --Sam Graham Amazon.com

Great series!

Not much more to say. We just really like the series. Wish it would continue. October 5, 2008

Episodes are good - but DVD has manufacturing flaw...

I bought this series soon after it came out, but am just watching it now. It seems whoever manufactured this season's DVD set goofed. When you go to Select Episode (which is what I always do, since I watch one here and there). The list of available episodes is only TWO (although there are FOUR on the DVD). I can see absolutely no way to access the other two episodes unless I go to PLAY ALL and then fast forward (which might not work on all DVD players) to the episode I wish to view. It's really inconvenient. I just thought I'd warn you. But yes - I'd still buy it - I enjoy The Dead Zone episodes, although I like the "threads" to surface in the stories more frequently. July 1, 2008

Dead Zone gets better

OK not everybody is a dead zone fan. I am. I don't like the relationship between Johnny and Sarah. I grow weary of the Stilson storyline and especially the X-Files treatment of it. I guess the writers can go there whenever their creativity takes a break. That said I really liked season 4. Johnny meets a girl psychic, a good episode, and it closes with a bonus Christmas Episode that is my ALL TIME favorite episode of Dead Zone. This season is worth it for any Dead Zone fan, and is a MUST for a serious fan. May 5, 2008

PLEASED

DEAD ZONE SEASON 4 I AM VERY HAPPY WITH ALL MY DVDS I HAVE RECIVED FROM AMAZON IT HAS BEEN THE BEST MOVIE SITE I HAVE FOUND March 31, 2008

Dead Zone addict

The Dead Zone won me over as a fan from it's premier. I loved the book, and the movie, and didn't think I'd enjoy anyone taking over after Christopher Walken's performance, but I gave it a shot, and now own all five seasons.

Geary Jones February 29, 2008

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