November 1, 1974
Written by: David Chase & Paul Playdon
Directed by: Allen Baron
Guest Stars: Dick Gautier, Nita Talbot, Henry Jones, and Eric Breaden.
In this episode, Carl is sent on a vacation (as a replacement for Tony) on a cruise ship. Naturally, there is a werewolf aboard slaughtering passengers. Kolchak must investigate the crimes while being thwarted by the ship’s captain.
This one was one of my favorites as a 9 year-old kid. The idea of having a werewolf aboard an ocean liner at full moon, where there is nowhere for the passengers to escape to, makes for a great story. How could one possibly fashion a silver bullet with the resources available on a ship?! Well, Kolchak manages. And if that sounds absurd, you should see the werewolf. They really blew this one. Michael Landon’s teen-age werewolf looked more convincing in 1957. They should have kept him in the dark (easy to do) for more effectiveness. The chase scenes are fairly well done, but the ending is too abrupt. Overall, the flaws outweigh the positives. This isn't the worst of the run, but I give it....
Grade: D
6. Fire Fall (aka The Doppelganger)
November 8, 1974
Written by: Bill Ballinger
Directed by: Don Weis
Guest Stars: Fred Beir, Philip Carey, Madlyn Rue, and David Doyle.
Two years earlier, writer Bill Ballinger wrote an episode for the TV show Circle Of Fear about a Doppelganger. A low budget and Tab Hunter’s performance blew it. The script wasn’t bad. Here, Ballinger revisits the idea with a new script. There are some holes in the story that leave the viewer wondering how or why certain things happen, but it didn’t distract me all that much. I like this episode more than most Night Stalker fans.
In this episode, the spirit of a dead man is terrorizing a famous symphony conductor. This spirit, or ghost, materializes as a doppelganger (or double) of the famous conductor, whom he admired in life. This restless spirit is killing those close to the conductor and working toward ultimately taking over of his body and soul. This takeover cannot occur while the body it is trying to possess is awake. As Kolchak and the conductor fight the need for sleep, they head for the refuge of sacred ground for the final confrontation.
The effects in this episode are good enough to get by. No need for makeup or costumes is a big plus in this regard. If you are bothered by the lack of explanations, keep in mind that this is 45 minutes of fun fiction. You should just enjoy the facts, as they play upon one another quite well. There is some great dialogue, good acting, and a nice share of creepy scenes in this one. Underrated.
Grade: A
7. The Devil’s Platform
November 15, 1974
Written by: Don Mullally
Directed by: Allen Baron
Guest Stars: Tom Skerritt, Julie Gregg, and Ellen Weston.
This episode deals with a young, rising politician that has sold his soul to the devil. This episode started strong. It has lots of great dialogue, effective early scenes, and even some good satire, but it weakens as it progresses. The final confrontation in this one completely fizzles. It’s a shame the writers missed the boat on this one. They had a decent story but didn’t seem to know where to go with it.
Grade: D+
8. Bad Medicine (aka The Diablero)
November 29, 1974
Written by: L. Ford Neale & John Huff
Directed by: Alex Grasshoff
Guest Stars: Richard Kiel, Ramon Bieri, Alice Ghostley, and Victor Jory.
The monster in this episode is a Diablero, a Native American spirit, that is stealing the gems and jewels of Chicago's wealthy. The Diablero was an Indian sorcerer that used his powers for evil purposes and as punishment was cursed to travel time as a spirit on a quest. His purpose was to regain the treasure that had been stolen from his tribe. The Diablero has hypnotic eyes and the ability to take the form of other animals. The setup and details sound promising, but the episide comes across as silly. The ending is well-constructed, but the story is just too unbelievable to save it.
Grade: D-
