Originally an ABC Movie of the Week, The Night Stalker was a crime drama turned vampire story featuring investigative reporter Carl Kolchak (ubiquitous character actor Darren McGavin) as the guy with all the answers. Despite his not being in law enforcement, the character is clearly the template used for Fox Mulder in The X-Files, and the government conspiracy angle fits that later show as well. It also has quite the H. P. Lovecraft angle. Kolchak is not a fighter, does not carry a gun, and when trouble arises if he can run, he does so. Like Lovecraft's heroes though, when the chips are down these supernal threats need to be dealt with...
When I was just a lad, long before I discovered DOCTOR WHO, this show, this one season wonder made me into the horror geek I am today.
And this episode The Spanish Moss Murders stuck in my head for years after KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER had been canceled in favor of more boring shows.
And here is the electrifying ending...
