Yes, it DOES have tons of that classic Thriller spookiness and gloom and, in fact, has ALL of the ingredients ready to roll to make this another in the incredible end-of-1st-season run of episodes. But, I can just imagine another phone call from the producer to composer Goldsmith: "Jerry?...this is Bill Frye. Look, do you think you can perform your musical magic again? We've got a real TURKEY on our hands....."
I'm sorry, but I think this episode is one of the dumbest around, a real blot on the amazing wind-up to the first season. I've been a champion of Harry Townes's work (despite his tendency to chew things around him on stage) and I'd say he does quite a good job of restraining himself in this role (check him in Outer Limit's "OBIT", where he delivers a remarkably solid performance that easily could have gone wrong). But, believe me, his "Harry channels Larry (Fine)" routine in the prologue bears distinct resemblance to some of his other less successful TV outings that I've seen.
This is "Thriller's" longest prologue (a full 10 minutes) and, having set us up for something big, totally fails to deliver, in my opinion.
There's absolutely nothing in the playing-out of this plot that rises above the merely adequate, despite the overall look and feel of the show; it seems like a great opportunity wasted. At least Ned Glass (as the theater owner) livened up the proceedings in his brief role. Otherwise, a total snoozer for me.
Goldsmith, in his wailing french horns/exotic flute mode (and there were only 3 or 4 basic "modes" in which he could have composed for these episodes) ALMOST saves the day with his brilliant score. In fact, the highlight of the entire show for me is that incredibly creepy, morbid, moldy ORGAN that was used as Harry (Larry "Porcupine" Fine) climbs into his coffin at the end of the prologue; I would be fascinated to know how that sound was produced; recorded in a cathedral and tracked in? Wow!
Deduct a full rating-star for gratuitous dispatching of Pete the Pooch. LR