November 29, 1974 Season 1 Episode 8
If you want to see where we are…HERE is a list of the episodes.
I am over halfway through this series, and I still haven’t run across a clunker. I see why IMDB has this series rated so high. This episode opens with a string of bizarre robberies where victims are found drained of life and valuables by what appears to be a high-society gentleman. The gentleman turns out to be something a lot less human and a lot more supernatural. The police think it’s a slick thief. Kolchak knows better; it’s a Manitou, a shape-shifting Native American spirit.
The newsroom scenes are pure entertainment, Kolchak clashing with Tony Vincenzo (Simon Oakland) as he tries to explain that an ancient spirit is behind the heists. This episode captures what made the show great: the contrast between Carl’s curiosity and everyone else’s refusal to believe anything beyond the police blotter. Kolchak is always two steps ahead of the next headline.
The evil spirit is played by Richard Kiel, yes, the same actor who would later be “Jaws” in the James Bond films, and the spirit is both eerie and tragic. He’s not your typical TV creature feature villain; there’s a sense of melancholy to his transformation, as he is trapped by his curse.
There is a chase through the hotel at the end, filled with dim lights and flickering shadows, that feels straight out of an old Universal horror flick. That’s not the first time I’ve said that about this series. Although it’s a seventies network series, they manage to keep an eerie feel to the show.
For those who want to get ahead to next week.…The Spanish Moss Murders… Click here!
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I loved seeing Richard Kiel in the Twilight Zone episode “To Serve Man.” Look forward to seeing him in this role, thanks, Max!
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Oh yes! I should have listed that as well.
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I too would be interested to see Richard Kiel in one of his earlier roles. Now this episode does sound familiar but again it was a long time ago I saw this show.
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I’m really impressed with this show…how I know it’s the seventies and the effects are no where near now…but it works really well. In fact…it makes them a little more eerie
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might make one reluctant to visit Manitoulin Island after seeing this one….
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LOL… I rermember Stephen King using that in IT…because Pennywise is basically a Manitou.
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Yeah, just watched it now. It’s very good, very 70s of course. You get more and more of the INS personalities the deeper you go with this series.
How did the cops ever solve anything in the Kolchak Universe though? They are unimaginative, plodding, strictly by-the-book and hidebound beyond belief!
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It really is good…and so far I have yet to see a dropoff.
You got me on that! They won’t veer from the book at all…I mean I can see them being wary of a spirit turning into a crow or whatever…but think outside the box a little!
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I watched it yesterday. There is a lot to like about it. The use of shapeshifting, and pulling in the experts to share the myth of Diablero (or is it a myth?) and how to defeat it were my favorite parts. I like that new Chief of Police. I like how Kolchak colluded with the old lady in the newsroom and how aggravating Kolchak can be for his co-workers. I liked the auction house part also. The ending was pretty creative as to where he was using as his base.
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Lisa…I’m getting more impressed the more I watch these. They don’t get old or stale. The Diablero or Manitou…that was the main storyline of IT by King…so it was cool to see this.
I love the interactions in the office…some good comedy relief in that.
I’m about to head out to my allergy appointment…I’ll be right back.
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I hope they killed IT in the book/movie. Watched that so many moons ago and never again! I started reading The Shining to possibly write a spinoff short story for possible publication in anthology. Got about 15% in and decided nope, not worth it. I don’t need that stuff in my head.
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Yes they did…it took them 27 years but they killed Pennywise.
Yea the book and the movie of the Shining is so different…personally I like the movie better after reading the book…but that is not a put down on the book…it’s scary.
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GOOD.
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LOL…
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p.s. Everything go ok at allergy appt?
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OH yes! I hardly ever have to use nose spray now…I used to go through one every 3 weeks or so…so it’s working…I still get welps on the grass test but it’s getting better.
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