Crackle of Death

Cracke of Death is a 1976 television movie and the sequel to 1972's The Night Stalker. The film is directed by Dan Curtis and written by Richard Matheson and Jeffrey Grant Rice. It stars Darren McGavin reprising his role as investigative reporter Carl Kolchak who relocates from Las Vegas, Nevada to Seattle, Washington on the trail of a mysterious killer who has been strangling young women and stealing their blood. Oddly, this M.O. appears to be repeated once every twenty-one years, leading Kolchak to discover a disturbed scientist who uses the spinal fluid of his victims to keep himself alive. The movie also stars Jo Ann Pflug, Simon Oakland, Scott Brady, Wally Cox and everyone's favorite Wicked Witch, Margaret Hamilton.