Kolchak:  The Night Stalker lasted a mere twenty episodes.  Yet, the Cult of Kolchak lives on!   The show, which originally aired during the 1974-1975 tv season, remains highly regarded.  What makes Kolchak so memorable?  In short, it’s monsters and Darren McGavin.

Let’s take the monsters first.  Like The X-Files (a show that it inspired), Kolchak:  The Night Stalker could be deemed a “monster of the week” series.  In fact, it’s a much purer version of the form.  You’ll find few nods to real paranormal phenomenon.  Instead, we’re looking at good, old-fashioned Universal Studios horror stuff:  This week it’s a vampire, next week it’s a werewolf, then it’s a zombie, etc.   At times, it does seem as if all the major monsters are standing in line, patiently waiting their turn.  When the show gets down to Aztec cultists and “crocodile men,” then you know that it’s starting to hit the bottom of the monster barrel.

There’s something inherently cool about monsters.  They were cool in 1974, and they’re cool today.  The question, though, is whether a tv show about monsters would prove as cool over thirty years later.

Certainly, there have been successful “monster shows” in recent memory.  X-Files, Supernatural and Buffy, the Vampire Slayer provide three examples.  On the other hand,  these examples also show that television monsters have become more commonplace.  With improved specials effects and production values, today’s monsters look better, as well.

Modern viewers may thus have to maintain some perspective to appreciate Kolchak:  The Night Stalker.  In some ways, the show has begun to look a little creaky.  Watching all twenty episodes on DVD - rather than on a weekly basis, as originally intended - brings its flaws more glaringly to light.

Foremost among these is the repetition of the formula.  Every episode - and I every episode - follows the same basic path:  A murder occurs.  Kolchak investigates. Kolchak discovers that a monster is involved.  Kolchak confronts the monster alone - and at night (always at night!) - in the monster’s lair.  Kolchak then uses the monster’s weakness to destroy the monster.  In between these events, he finds time to clash with police and his editor.  Rinse and repeat for the next episode.

Fortunately, Darren McGavin livens the formula.  McGavin reprises the Kolchak role from the Night Stalker and Night Strangler tv movies (neither of which is included on this DVD set.).   As every classic tv junkie knows, Carl Kolchak is an investigative reporter for the Independent News Service of Chicago.  His investigations often turn up monsters, and if it bothers you that that keeps happening to the same guy, then…well, this show probably isn’t for you. 

Kolchak is a true eccentric.  He drives a beat-up convertible, wears a beat-up straw hat and while a great reporter, he’s also a lousy photographer (Thus, he never obtains proof of his supernatural encounters.).  Like his direct descendent, Fox Mulder, Kolchak gleefully antagonizes both his superiors and the local constabulary.  There’s something liberating about a character who never seems to care if he gets fired.  If only we had that courage!    

McGavin plays the part so well that you can’t imagine anyone else in the role.  I especially liked how he even gave Kolchak a distinctive gait.  He must have spent hours practicing that walk! 

McGavin also plays well off the other actors.  The relationship between Kolchak and his boss, Tony Vincenzo (played by Simon Oakland) provides some of the best scenes.  The two are on a first-name basis, and Vincenzo clearly has some affection for Kolchak - even though Kolchak frequently drives him nuts!  Jack Grinnage plays Ron Updike, whom Kolchak accurately nicknames “Up Tight.”  Ruth McDevitt plays Miss Emily, an elderly advice columnist.   

Unfortunately, the supporting cast often gets short shifted on screen time.  That’s a pity, for a couple of reasons.  First, they make Kolchak funnier.  Secondly, Kolchak’s relationship with regular characters enhances the show’s human element.  One of the best episodes - “Horror in the Heights” - proves memorable precisely because the monster gives us insight into Kolchak’s character and his view of his co-workers.  Unfortunately, such moments are few and far between. 

As with most television shows, Kolchak:  The Night Stalker provides some good episodes, along with a few turkeys.  I enjoyed “The Zombie,” “The Vampire,” and “The Werewolf.”  The aforementioned “Horror in the Heights” is a standout, and “Chopper” (co-written by Robert Zemeckis) is a fondly-remembered kitsch piece about a headless biker.  My personal favorite episode is probably “The Devil’s Platform,” in which Tom Skerrit plays a politician who has sold his soul to the Devil!  Most of the worst episodes occur toward the end of the season and include “The Trevi Collection,” “The Youth Killer” and “The Sentry.”  “The Sentry” - the show’s final episode - is particularly bad, as Kolchak tangles with a laugh-inducing “crocodile man.”  The crocodile man is supposed to be scary but looks like a possible cousin to Barney, the purple dinosaur!

Aficionados of 1970’s television will enjoy playing “spot the guest star.”  Scatman Crothers, Cathy Lee Crosy, Phil Silvers, Erik Estrada and MASH’s Jamie Farr and Larry Linville provide just a few of the recognizable faces.  Richard Kiel, who played the villain Jaws in two James Bond films, appears as two different monsters!   

Overall, Kolchak:  The Night Stalker doesn’t hold up as well as one might hope, especially when the episodes are viewed in rapid succession.  It’s still reasonably entertaining, however, and an historic show that’s well worth a look.


Presentation

Kolchak:  The Night Stalker is presented in 1.33:1 full screen format.  The episodes appear in English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono. Viewers can also select subtitles in either English SDH (i.e., “subtitled for the deaf and hearing impaired”) or Spanish. 

The disks are double sided, with four episodes appearing on each side.  Some amazon.com reviews note that double sided DVD’s are more prone to failure.  I experienced no problems myself, although I’ve only watched the episodes once.

Extras

This DVD set contains no extras.  You’d think that they could put something together, but…nope.  Nada. 

The Bottom Line

The episodes become repetitive, and every one isn’t a gem.  The monsters are fun, though, and so is Darren McGavin.  Unfortunately, this set includes no extras, and the sound and picture quality are merely okay.  The episodes themselves remain the only selling point.