Kolchak: The Night Stalker

Kolchak: The Night Stalker 226nk

1974
Kolchak: The Night Stalker
Kolchak: The Night Stalker

Kolchak: The Night Stalker 226nk

8.4 | TV-PG | en | Drama

Kolchak: The Night Stalker is an American television series that aired on ABC during the 1974–1975 season. It featured a fictional Chicago newspaper reporter who investigated mysterious crimes with unlikely causes, particularly those that law enforcement authorities would not follow up. These often involved the supernatural or even science fiction, including fantastic creatures.

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EP1  The Ripper
Sep. 13,1974
The Ripper

A serial killer who preys on women haunts Chicago, and Kolchak comes to believe that the killer is in fact the original Jack the Ripper, a seemingly immortal killer who has killed women in many cities over the last century. The reporter must track the killer to the old house where he has taken up residence and put an end to his existence once and for all.

EP2  The Zombie
Sep. 20,1974
The Zombie

A voodoo priestess animates her dead son to take revenge on the gangsters that killed him.

EP3  They Have Been, They Are, They Will Be...
Sep. 27,1974
They Have Been, They Are, They Will Be...

A bizarre alien presence invisibly sweeps through Chicago, killing a petty thief and a UFO nut. The alien or aliens have the strength of a hurricane, generate a massive electromagnetic field, steal lead and electronic equipment, and suck the bone marrow out of humans and animals alike. Kolchak must track the alien(s) from an electronics warehouse to an observatory to Lincoln Park and drive them off before they kill again. His camera seems to hold the key to the creatures' weakness, although initially Carl is wrong in guessing what the weakness is. Carl follows the aliens and manages to keep them from feeding on him before they depart once and for all.

EP4  The Vampire
Oct. 04,1974
The Vampire

Catherine Rawlins, a female victim of Janos Skorzeny (the vampire from the original Night Stalker TV movie) is accidentally resurrected outside Las Vegas, and makes her way to Los Angeles. She takes up her old profession of call girl and Carl wrangles an assignment there to investigate.

EP5  The Werewolf
Nov. 01,1974
The Werewolf

Bernhardt Stieglitz, a NATO soldier bitten by a wolf, leaves a string of murder victims behind him. When Vincenzo is forced to abort his long-awaited vacation and report on the last cruise of an ocean liner, the USS Hanover, Carl takes his place, only to find that Stieglitz is one of the engers on board...and the full moon is rising. Trapped aboard the liner, Kolchak must use a shotgun and silver buckshot to kill the creature once and for all.

EP6  Firefall
Nov. 08,1974
Firefall

A series of mysterious deaths plague the life of conductor Ryder Bond. In each case, the victim is incinerated by supernaturally hot flames. As Kolchak investigates, he finds out that an arsonist, Frankie Markoff, was a fan of Bond's, and was killed in a penny arcade. His funeral procession crossed Bond's car, allowing the spirit to become a ""doppelganger"" and try to take over Bond's life. Each victim was burned to death when they fell asleep, and if Bond goes to sleep the doppelganger will take him over for good. Fighting sleep himself, Kolchak must exhume Markoff's body and reunite it with his restless spirit before he too bursts into flame.

EP7  The Devil's Platform
Nov. 15,1974
The Devil's Platform

Kolchak discovers a young rising politician, has made a deal with the Devil to murder off his competition through incidents made to look like accidents.

EP8  Bad Medicine
Nov. 29,1974
Bad Medicine

A series of suicides among high-society matrons coincides with a bizarre jewel theft by a towering Indian who mysteriously disappears when cornered. Kolchak investigates and finds that the Indian is a ""diablero,"" a cursed cliff-dwelling Indian medicine man condemned to walk the earth gathering an eternal horde of jewels. The diablero can change shape into the form of a coyote or crow, and hypnotize anyone with its eyes. Carl must seek the diablero in the highest place he can find, and turn the power of its eyes against it.

EP9  The Spanish Moss Murders
Dec. 06,1974
The Spanish Moss Murders

A series of apparently unrelated deaths involve each victim being crushed to death, and covered in wet, slimy Spanish Moss. Upon investigation, Kolchak discovers that each victim was related to Paul Langois, a hot-tempered Cajun. However, Langois has an iron-clad alibi: he's been the subject of a sleep experiment and been kept asleep for several weeks. Eventual, Carl realizes that somehow Langois' sleep state has caused him to manifest a subconscious ""boogey-man"" from the Cajun bayou: Peremalfait, a huge creature covered in Spanish Moss that crushes the life right out of you. Peremalfait ""kills"" Langois to prevent him from being woken up, and Kolchak must travel into the sewers of Chicago to kill Peremalfait with the only thing that can destroy it: a spear made out of bayou gum wood.

EP10  The Energy Eater
Dec. 13,1974
The Energy Eater

Several Indian construction workers are killed during high-rise work on a new hospital. They leave the job, and the hospital is completed. However, a series of strange electrocutions continue to plague the hospital after its grand opening. Kolchak investigates and finds that a ""bear-god"" spirit, Matchemonedo, was resurrected from its burial spot beneath Lake Michigan by the hospital construction. Now the creature, which feeds on energy, is beginning to awaken. Kolchak must convince the hospital officials to re-refrigerate the ""bear-god"" and drive it back into hibernation before it awakens once and for all.

EP11  Horror in the Heights
Dec. 20,1974
Horror in the Heights

Kolchak’s investigation of a series of grisly deaths in a once-plush neighborhood, leads him to a creature who lures its victims by making itself appear to them as someone they know and trust.

EP12  Mr. R.I.N.G.
Jan. 10,1975
Mr. R.I.N.G.

Kolchak writes an obituary for a deceased scientist, but soon becomes involved in further investigation when no one can give him a straight answer on how the scientist died. Meanwhile, a mysterious figure goes on a rampage throughout Chicago, stealing morticians' wax and Halloween masks. Kolchak eventually finds out that the scientist was working on Project R.I.N.G.: the development of an artificially intelligent robot. R.I.N.G. killed his creator rather than be shut down, and now the government is hunting it. Kolchak must find where the robot is hiding and reveal the story before the government catch up to R.I.N.G.

EP13  Primal Scream
Jan. 17,1975
Primal Scream

In a oil company's laboratory, the air conditioning fails, and a primate creature attacks a scientist. The creature, and others like it, begin going on a rampage throughout Chicago. The oil company was experimenting with cell samples brought back from the Antarctic, which began growing when exposed to heat. Now these bizarre missing links are wrecking havoc. Despite the government cover-up, Kolchak investigates, and must track the creatures down to their lair beneath the old nuclear-research labs of the 50's.

EP14  The Trevi Collection
Jan. 24,1975
The Trevi Collection

A fashion industry spy is thrown to his death from a room filled with nothing but mannequins as Carl looks on from the street below. This is but the first in a series of strange murders that point to a supernatural origin: apparently Madame Trevi, a leading designer in the fashion industry, is using witchcraft to stop those who oppose her. With the aid of a witches' coven, Carl is pointed to the source of Trevi's power and destroys it, only to find who the witch truly is. Armed with a mojo bag, Carl must confront the witch and publicly accuse her to strip her of her powers.

EP15  Chopper
Jan. 31,1975
Chopper

The strange disappearance of an antique motorcycle is the first indication of trouble. What follows are a rash of murders where each victim is decapitated with superhuman force by what witnesses report is a headless motorcyclist. As Kolchak investigates, he discovers that the victims were all of a cycle gang back in the 50's. A prank they played on a rival gang member, Harold ""Swordsman"" Baker, resulted in his unintentional decapitation. Baker's ghost killed several of their gang back in the 50's until his head was reunited with the rest of his corpse. However, the cemetary where Baker was interred was dug up and his head and body separated once more. Now, Kolchak must reunite the head and body once more before the headless cyclist finishes off the gang.

EP16  Demon in Lace
Feb. 07,1975
Demon in Lace

On a college campus, young men are dying of heart attacks. According to witnesses, they are last seen with young women who apparently died shortly before meeting the men. When Kolchak investigates, he finds that the men were associated with Professor Spate, who is researching an ancient Middle East tablet, and that a series of similar deaths plagued his expedition to recover the tablet. The tablet is tied to a supernatural creature known as a succubus, who possesses young women at the moment of their death and then reveals her true visage to men, frightening them to death and feeding upon their energies. Kolchak must destroy the tablet to destroy the succubus once and for all.

EP17  Legacy of Terror
Feb. 14,1975
Legacy of Terror

Physically fit specimens (an Air Force pilot, a football player, a cop) are all being targeted for a grisly death: their hearts are being cut from their chests while they're still alive, with a dull blade, on higher and higher flights of steps. Kolchak investigates and spots a strange feathered creature near the scene of one of the murders. He finds out that an ancient Aztec cult is trying to resurrect their ancient god, Nanautzin, the Lord of the Smoking Mirror. Since his destruction at the hands of the Conquistadores 520 years ago (the Aztec millennia), his worshippers must sacrifice the hearts of five worthy victims every 52 years. Upon the completion of the final cycle, Nanautzin will be restored to life. However, the final death must be a ""perfect sacrifice"": a willing victim who is given his every wish for a year before his final death. Pepe, a box boy, is the ""perfect sacrifice"" and Carl must track him to the highest staircase in Chicago and convince him to back out of the sacrifice.

EP18  The Knightly Murders
Mar. 07,1975
The Knightly Murders

Various Chicago citizenry are being killed with medieval weaponry. Upon investigating, Kolchak finds that they were all tied to the conversion of a small museum into a disco. It turns out that the museum houses the armor of Guy de Metancourt, a misanthrope who swore upon his death that his final resting place would never know gaiety and laughter. Now, his ghostly armor animates and kills those who would disrupt his resting place. The only way for Kolchak to stop the unchivalrous knight is to destroy it with a holy axe blessed by the pope.

EP19  The Youth Killer
Mar. 14,1975
The Youth Killer

Young swinging patrons of an exclusive dating service are turning up, dead of old age. The police don't believe they are the same persons, but Kolchak investigates and discovers that the head of the dating service is actually Helen of Troy, who sacrifices perfect young victims to Hecate, her patron goddess, in return for eternal youth and beauty. The fact that Helen is unaware one of the victims had a glass eye and lied about it on their form proves vital to Kolchak when he accidentally dons one of the rings that lets Helen sacrifice her victims in the appropriate manner.

EP20  The Sentry
Mar. 28,1975
The Sentry

The government is keen to hush up a series of mysterious deaths at the Merrymount Institute, an underground archival facility. When Carl investigates, he determines that the victims were ripped apart as if attacked by a crocodile or other large lizard. He eventually discovers that the workers excavated a series of strange egg-like objects, and that the eggs' mother, a large prehistoric lizard, is attempting to retrieve them. Fleeing for his life, Carl must return the eggs to the mother and fend her off.

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8.4 | TV-PG | en | Sci-Fi | More Info
Released: 1974-09-13 | Released Producted By: ABC Circle Films , Dan Curtis Productions Country: United States of America Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website:
info

Kolchak: The Night Stalker is an American television series that aired on ABC during the 1974–1975 season. It featured a fictional Chicago newspaper reporter who investigated mysterious crimes with unlikely causes, particularly those that law enforcement authorities would not follow up. These often involved the supernatural or even science fiction, including fantastic creatures.

Genre

Sci-Fi

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Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974) is currently not available on any services.

Cast

Jack Grinnage

Director

Raymond Beal

Producted By

ABC Circle Films , Dan Curtis Productions

Kolchak: The Night Stalker Videos and Images 1o5c5p

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  • Top Credited Cast
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  • Crew
Raymond Beal
Raymond Beal

Art Direction

Ronald W. Browne
Ronald W. Browne

Cinematography

Darren McGavin
Darren McGavin

Producer

Cy Chermak
Cy Chermak

Producer

Ralph Sariego
Ralph Sariego

Production Manager

Kolchak: The Night Stalker Audience Reviews 5si39

Stoutor It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.
SparkMore n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.
Voxitype Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.
Gurlyndrobb While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.
bkoganbing Although it only ran for 1 season and 20 episodes, Kolchak the Night Stalker has retained a cult following ever since. I've never understood why shows like Kolchak that have such devoted followers were never able to translate that into ratings power.Carl Kolchak with light linen suit, panama hat, and ever present camera works for a wire service and keeps getting these assignments that somehow involve the supernatural. Darren McGavin plays Kolchak with a great amount of irreverence and cynicism that all newspaper people on the big and small screen are supposed to have since The Front Page made its debut.All kinds of creatures that go bump in the night find there way to Kolchak and he defeats them. Sad though the evidence of their existence always seems to disappear. One thing that remains constant is his ever feuding battles with his editor Simon Oakland who was working on one big ulcer. Sob sister columnist Ruth McDevitt always had an inane word or two to calm the proceedings.A show I wish had a longer run.
calvinnme Kolchak was vastly under-appreciated in its day. In fact, I don't think I knew anyone else that watched the show in its first run - or at least would it to watching it. Canceled after only twenty episodes in a Friday night time slot, it was pretty much forgotten until twenty years later when its basic format became the inspiration for the X-Files. Kolchak was a reporter on the trail of the supernatural. Like murders following Jessica Fletcher in "Murder She Wrote", the stories would sometimes find Kolchak rather than Kolchak always chasing the story. What made this series different from TV shows prior to it was that the government was shown to be suppressing attempts by Kolchak to get at the truth in just about every instance. This was a first in TV shows, and is possibly attributable to the fact that this show premiered about a month after Watergate blew wide open and the president was forced to resign. Although there are many similarities between this show and The X-Files, Carl Kolchak was no Fox Mulder in appearance or style. Like Peter Falk's Columbo, Kolchak wore crumpled attire and had an annoying way about him, but he did get results. Also, each episode of Kolchak was pretty much self-contained. There was no long-running story arc, such as Mulder's search for the truth in what he believed to be the alien abduction of his sister driving him to look for proof of alien existence. If you like shows about the supernatural and you can handle a little 1970's nostalgia and some cheesy special effects, I advise you give this series a try if you ever run across it.
beachaml19 I'd love to give Kolchak a higher rating but the show quickly went from scary/suspenseful to silly. ABC's fault. They moved the show to Friday nights at 8:00 p.m., then known as the "family hour". Never should have been on Fridays in the first place. I was a sophomore in high school and loved the early episodes! It was first up against Police Woman on NBC. ABC had huge problems with Friday nights. Bad season for them overall until Barney Miller, Baretta, and SWAT debuted in January of '75. Kolchak should have been a hit. Darren McGavin begged to get out of his contract to end the show. Too bad the writing wasn't up to Richard Matheson's in the original TV movies. Still, McGavin made Kolchak his own, as actors can do. Jackie Gleason as Ralph Kramden and Caroll O'Connor as Archie Bunker come to mind. That INS set with the manual typewriters and clacking teletypes seems quaint and ancient today, yet that was part of the appeal. They were very lucky to have Simon Oakland reprise "Vincenzo" from the TV films.
tostinati The favorite adjective to describe this quirky little gem seems to have settled down to "cheesy", and I am here take pointed exception with that over-burdened descriptor. The effects aren't expensive, it's true. But the atmosphere much more than manages to make up for what the budget lacked. --That, and McGavin's superb screen persona. He's a hoot here. A Columbo in a painfully shabby seersucker suit and silly hat. He's the original cheap investigator. The running narration is TV film noir, which is to say maybe not as deeply expressive or incisive in it's coining of figures of speech as Raymond Chandler, but we definitely get what they're trying to do. Maybe that's the point with most series TV: You have to work with it. You have to suspend your adulation of production values long enough to roll with the occasionally spied zipper in the back of the monster suit. Taking budget limitations as a comment-unnecessary given that comes with the territory, I think this series is one of the medium's gifts to horror fans, deserving of a place alongside Thriller, Twilight Zone, and Outer Limits. It's influence on X- Files alone make it worthy of inclusion in the pantheon.9 stars. Not perfect, but then what is?