Writer: Zekial Marko, David Chase
Director: Alexander Grasshoff
Story: Zekial Marko
Actors:
Charles Aidman as Captain Leo Winwood / Val Bisoglio as Victor Friese / Scatman Crothers as Uncle Filemon / Antonio Fargas as Bernard 'Sweetstick' Weldon / J. Pat O'Malley as Cemetery Caretaker / Joseph Sirola as Benjamin Sposato / Gary Baxley as Willie Pike / Hank Calia as Albert Berg / Ben Frommer as The Monk / Roland Bob Harris as Poppy / Paulene Myers as Mamalois "Marie Juliette" Edmonds / Chuck Waters as Jerry / Earl Faison as Francois Edmonds (The Zombie) / John Fiedler as Gordy "The Ghoul" Spangler / Carol Ann Susi as Monique Marmelstein
Memorable Line:
Kolchak: "Captain Leo Winwood and I had a relationship that was long and bloody, like the Crusades, only without the chivalry"
Story:
A voodoo priestess brings her son back to life so that he might seek revenge against his killers.
As a 5 time all-pro defensive lineman for the San Diego Chargers, Earl Faison was a fearsome giant (6-5, 250) and he brings all this terrifying power to his role as the Zombie. Faison, like Richard Kiel, would be imposing just standing still. His presence (even in shadow) is just one of many reasons why this episode remains one of the series finest.
I'm not sure what problems Darren McGavin had with producer Paul Playdon (who would leave after this episode), because the show was working. In Zombie especially, all the elements are in place. An eerie mystery, nail-biting suspense, superb dialog, and interplay between the characters, as well as a keen sense of humor. The only weakness in this episode that I can find is with the 'blank stare' acting of Carol Ann Susi - heck, Tor Johnson was more expressive than Susi (who is best known as the voice of Howard's mother in the Big Bang Theory). But even then the writers were able to draw some chuckles from the character (Carl stuffing her into the trunk to get her out of his hair was perfect)
Big laughs amid the terror became a trademark of the series, and Zombie has a bundle of side splitters. The scene between Vincenzo and Kolchak on the phone is one of the funniest things I've ever seen on TV - Prime, 'who's on first' style material. And when a slipper-wearing Tony enters the Captain's office to bail out his reporter... lots of laughs indeed.
The character dynamic was also very tight. Carl is his own man, but there is this spirit of 'belonging' that was lost a little at the end of the series run. Kolchak was a reporter, odd, but respected for his talent I believe. In The Ripper, he hangs out with Jane Plumm, and here at a press conference they rally around info he has and unite in taking the Captain to task. (Of course, when the Capt. leaves and they converge on him for the answers; Carl's no fool, every man for himself - "Get your own story" he hilariously grouses)
And what about the fear factor? Zombie doesn't miss out on that either. The blending of mobsters and voodoo lore was an ingenious mix. Both sides squeeze in on Carl and the pressure keeps the atmosphere tense throughout. One scene to the next is a delight and draws us to a brilliant ending. The living dead takes the bus (lol) to his resting place (an old Herse in a junkyard) and I tell you, my heart pounded as Carl attempted to sew together the lips of the zombie. Easily one of my top 3 episodes.
Grade: A+
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