This satisfying 'Kolchak: The Night Stalker' episode doesn't really have that much horror until its final sequence, but it's got an effective and entertaining story, and its roster of guest stars definitely bring it to life. Darren McGavin once again knocks it out of the park with his quirky portrayal of hard-nosed, inquisitive reporter Carl Kolchak, who has no interest in editor Tony Vincenzo's decision to focus on more uplifting stories.
He's gotten wind of the deaths of young men on a college campus. These are supposedly very healthy young men, yet something is literally scaring them to death. The culprit turns out to be an ancient female demon, or succubus, that possesses the bodies of recently deceased young lovelies and uses these bodies to seduce the young men before killing them. Her presence has been created due to the unearthing and deciphering of a stone tablet brought back from Iraq, and now in the possession of eminent archaeologist C. Evan Spate (Andrew Prine, in a fantastic turn). As usual, Kolchak's the only one who figures out what's really going on, and takes it upon himself to save the day. A pesky campus reporter, Rosalind Winters (Kristina Holland), tries to tag along with him, but as we all know, Kolchak prefers to work alone.
Highlight sequences include Kolchaks' interactions with the people who are the most irritated by his intrusive presence, such as Vincenzo (Simon Oakland is wonderful as always as the stressed-out Vincenzo), Professor Spate, and, in a delightful turn of events, Captain Joe "Mad Dog" Siska, with Keenan Wynn being the first actor in this series to reprise a police nemesis. As can be expected, he gets his chance to just bellow at the stubborn Kolchak. Also appearing are Jackie Vernon as the coach, Ben Masters as nice guy student Mike Thompson, Davis Roberts as the coroner, Don Mantooth (who'd done two previous 'Kolchak' episodes) as Tim Brennan, Hunter von Leer as ill-fated jock Don Rhiner, and Margie Impert as Betty Walker, but Wynn is far and away the most fun. Carolyn Jones is kind of wasted in a too brief role as an officious registrar. Teddy Blue plays our demonic antagonist, who sports what is actually a pretty good makeup job, and this demon figures in what is a pretty powerful finale enhanced by the lighting schemes and the atmospheric effects.
Unfortunately, this is another of those episodes where we don't get to see much of Updyke (Jack Grinnage) or Miss Emily (Ruth McDevitt), but the rest of the characters more than make up for that. Overall, an enjoyable tale, well told.
Eight out of 10.
He's gotten wind of the deaths of young men on a college campus. These are supposedly very healthy young men, yet something is literally scaring them to death. The culprit turns out to be an ancient female demon, or succubus, that possesses the bodies of recently deceased young lovelies and uses these bodies to seduce the young men before killing them. Her presence has been created due to the unearthing and deciphering of a stone tablet brought back from Iraq, and now in the possession of eminent archaeologist C. Evan Spate (Andrew Prine, in a fantastic turn). As usual, Kolchak's the only one who figures out what's really going on, and takes it upon himself to save the day. A pesky campus reporter, Rosalind Winters (Kristina Holland), tries to tag along with him, but as we all know, Kolchak prefers to work alone.
Highlight sequences include Kolchaks' interactions with the people who are the most irritated by his intrusive presence, such as Vincenzo (Simon Oakland is wonderful as always as the stressed-out Vincenzo), Professor Spate, and, in a delightful turn of events, Captain Joe "Mad Dog" Siska, with Keenan Wynn being the first actor in this series to reprise a police nemesis. As can be expected, he gets his chance to just bellow at the stubborn Kolchak. Also appearing are Jackie Vernon as the coach, Ben Masters as nice guy student Mike Thompson, Davis Roberts as the coroner, Don Mantooth (who'd done two previous 'Kolchak' episodes) as Tim Brennan, Hunter von Leer as ill-fated jock Don Rhiner, and Margie Impert as Betty Walker, but Wynn is far and away the most fun. Carolyn Jones is kind of wasted in a too brief role as an officious registrar. Teddy Blue plays our demonic antagonist, who sports what is actually a pretty good makeup job, and this demon figures in what is a pretty powerful finale enhanced by the lighting schemes and the atmospheric effects.
Unfortunately, this is another of those episodes where we don't get to see much of Updyke (Jack Grinnage) or Miss Emily (Ruth McDevitt), but the rest of the characters more than make up for that. Overall, an enjoyable tale, well told.
Eight out of 10.