IMDb RATING
7.9/10
108
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In this first of two Kolchak compilation TV films, reporter Carl Kolchak investigates a ghostly arsonist and an evil Native American spirit haunting a hospital.In this first of two Kolchak compilation TV films, reporter Carl Kolchak investigates a ghostly arsonist and an evil Native American spirit haunting a hospital.In this first of two Kolchak compilation TV films, reporter Carl Kolchak investigates a ghostly arsonist and an evil Native American spirit haunting a hospital.
Photos
Darren McGavin
- Carl Kolchak
- (archive footage)
Simon Oakland
- Tony Vincenzo
- (archive footage)
William Smith
- Shaman Jim Elkhorn (segment: "The Energy Eater")
- (archive footage)
Elaine Giftos
- Nurse Janis Eisen (segment: "The Energy Eater")
- (archive footage)
Fred Beir
- Ryder Marshall Bond (segment: "Firefall")
- (archive footage)
Philip Carey
- Sergeant Mayer (segment: "Firefall")
- (archive footage)
David Doyle
- Mr. Cardinale (segment: "Firefall")
- (archive footage)
Tom Drake
- Don Kibbey (segment: "The Energy Eater")
- (archive footage)
Michael Strong
- Walter Green (segment: "The Energy Eater")
- (archive footage)
Robert Yuro
- Detective Captain Webster (segment: "The Energy Eater")
- (archive footage)
Joyce Jillson
- Diana Lanier (segment: "The Energy Eater" )
- (archive footage)
Madlyn Rhue
- Maria Hargrove (segment: "Firefall")
- (archive footage)
Jack Grinnage
- Ron Updyke
- (archive footage)
Virginia Vincent
- Mrs. Markoff (segment: "Firefall")
- (archive footage)
Ruth McDevitt
- Emily Cowles (segment: "The Energy Eater")
- (archive footage)
John Alvin
- Dr. Ralph Carrie (segment: "The Energy Eater")
- (archive footage)
Robert Cornthwaite
- Dr. Hartfield (segment: "The Energy Eater")
- (archive footage)
Michael Fox
- Frank Wesley (segment: "The Energy Eater")
- (archive footage)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDue to licensing on this film, Firefall (1974) and The Energy Eater (1974), were not included in syndication packages until the series was released on Home Media.
- ConnectionsEdited from Kolchak: The Night Stalker: Firefall (1974)
Featured review
"Crackle of Death" (retitled for IMDB "Kolchak: Crackle of Death") was the first of two compilation features culled from the regrettably short lived yet beloved cult series KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER, in which Darren McGavin repeated his role on a weekly basis as intrepid reporter Carl Kolchak from the TV movies "The Night Stalker" and "The Night Strangler." While those previous titles boasted such 19th century menaces as a vampire and a 144 year old alchemist, both in search of human blood to survive, this third volume touches upon more obscure horrors, the deadly poltergeist of "Firefall" and the Native American 'bear god' identified as Matchemanedo of "The Energy Eater." The entirety of the superior "Firefall" comes first, only interrupted at the 18 minute mark by a short sequence establishing a troubled lakefront hospital, occasional new voiceovers by McGavin smoothing over any rough patches. It must be said that the terrifying ordeal of spontaneous combustion caused by supernatural forces is far more gripping than a series of unexplainable deaths by electrical means, and the invisible god Matchemonedo cannot produce a finale worth waiting for, definitely one of the show's weakest episodes. The second telefilm that emerged, "Demon and the Mummy," was comprised of later entries "Demon in Lace" and "Legacy of Terror," an interesting match considering the youthful victims involved (the new material was completed in two days, March 27-28, 1976).
- kevinolzak
- Jul 18, 2024
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Crackle of Death
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 32 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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Top Gap
By what name was Kolchak: Crackle of Death (1974) officially released in Canada in English?
Answer