IMDb RATING
7.9/10
108
YOUR RATING
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
Hail Carl Kolchak! You are truly one of the most affable, interesting, fun characters from television. I salute you. And although I love the character of Kolchak and all the Night Stalker characters, that does not mean that everything they appear in is good. Such, unfortunately, is the case with Crackle of Death. Crackle of Death was the result of the fusing of two Night Stalker episodes together and then having Darren McGavin, Simon Oakland, and Jack Grinnage add additional dialogue vis-a-vis voice-over. The result is a film that looks choppy, sounds choppy, and is choppy. What do I mean? Well, the stories are obviously not told in a manner of continuity nor was any real attempt at continuity tried. The whole film looks like it was pieced together in a slapdash method. The stories come from the episodes "The Energy Eater" about a hospital built over an Indian burial ground and haunted by an evil bear spirit and "Fire Fall" about a gangster that becomes a doppleganger for an orchestra conductor. Originally each episode was shot by a different director. Don Weis directed "The Energy Eater" and Alex Grasshoff directed the other. This lack of consistency in directorial vision is one reason for the ultimate uneveness of the project. McGavin, however, is very good as always. I watched him with the keenest of interest. He truly has captured a marvelous characterization in Kolchak. Oakland and the gang are fine too. I wish I could see the two episodes NOT as a unit of one but separately. They are available by Columbia House. This film, and another one which fused two other episodes called The Demon and the Mummy, can be seen at times on the sci-fi channel. If you are a fan of Kolchak the character this film is a must see, but if you are looking more for a good horror story...better look elswhere. I like both and found a compromise with Crackle of Death.
- BaronBl00d
- Aug 11, 2001
- 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