The Evil Touch

1973
The Evil Touch

Seasons & Episodes

  • 1

EP1 The Lake Sep 16, 1973

Arthur Randall's marriage has become a sham (and he is in love with his secretary), but his wife doesn't wish to give him a divorce. It is suggested to him that he and his wife go away for a while in an attempt to work things out. She reluctantly agrees, and they go to their cabin by the lake. While they are boating, Arthur's wife falls overboard and drowns. Before she drowns Arthur pulls a ring from her finger- a ring he intends to give to his secretary. Arthur returns home for a while, but is eventually drawn to return to the scene of his crime.

EP2 Heart to Heart Sep 23, 1973

A wealthy woman who's raised a nephew in luxury has tolerated the insolent young man long enough. She informs the ingrate that she's changing her will to remove him as sole heir to her estate. Before she can act, he intends to exploit her heart condition and pin the murder on "the monster", a crazed killer roaming the countryside. Richard doesn't realize that the aunt is already anticipating his scheme.

EP3 Dr. McDermitt's New Patients Sep 30, 1973

Plot of this episode is not specified yet.
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EP4 The Obituary Oct 07, 1973

Former pilot Willie Tremaine, the sole survivor of the airliner he was flying, is visited by the reporter who alleged Willie was drunk at the controls. Pettit brings with him an obituary of Willie and his wife's death dated for that day. Tremaine becomes frantic, fearing the reporter is there to harm him and his family.

EP5 Happy New Year, Aunt Carrie Oct 14, 1973

Wheelchair-bound Aunt Carrie is celebrating New Years Eve with her young niece and nephew when she hears gunshots. From her window, she witnesses a murder in an apartment across the courtyard. Carrie and the killer lock eyes, so she knows he's coming for her next. The murderer doesn't realize that, though unable to walk, Aunt Carrie is smarter than he is.

EP6 A Game of Hearts Oct 21, 1973

Thomas Sullivan is a very well-respected heart surgeon- but one who is clamoring for even more success and recognition. He has the chance to perform a heart transplant on a fellow man of science when Gabor Skorzeny, a laborer who was killed in an automobile accident, is brought into Sullivan's hospital. Skorzeny, however, isn't quite as dead as he would appear, so Sullivan kills him and takes the heart. Unfortunately for Sullivan, the murder wasn't quite a complete success either- as Skorzeny's body is missing and Sullivan gets several mysterious telephone calls.

EP7 Seeing Is Believing Oct 28, 1973

Plot of this episode is not specified yet.
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EP8 The Upper Hand Nov 04, 1973

Upon returning home Roger Carlyle insists his wife Louise go take a look at something in their basement. What he neglects to tell her is that there are currently no stairs leading to the basement. Louise opens the basement door and falls to her death. Jenny, the Carlyle's maid, begins to blackmail Roger. Eventually Jenny's extortion drives Roger to plan ""accidents"" for himself, hoping to pin them on Jenny.

EP9 Murder Is for the Birds Nov 11, 1973

Wealthy Lily Parkhurst has been living on borrowed time for years thanks to a bad heart. Her greedy cousin and companion Harold rushes her overdue demise with a well-planned poisoning, knowing there will be no autopsy. Harold hadn't planned on the old lady's cockatoo, Radcliffe, being such a blabbermouth about what he's witnessed.

EP10 Marcie Nov 18, 1973

After being a widower for four years, John remarries. He seems to be quite in love with his younger bride Elizabeth. His teenage daughter Marcie insists the marriage is only to boost John's image in his business. It becomes obvious to Elizabeth that Marcie wants to be the only female in her father's life. Marcie begins to terrorize Elizabeth, who can't get John to see the truth about his daughter. Eventually Elizabeth realizes that she must fight back- with surprising results.

EP11 George Nov 25, 1973

Plot of this episode is not specified yet.
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EP12 Scared to Death Dec 02, 1973

Constance knows that her much younger husband, Evan, is having an affair with her nurse, and that he's hastily stashed her in the closet. That why she demands that he immediately brick up it up. Not wanting to lose out on his rich wife's money, he does as she says. Constance thinks the nasty little problem is behind them until the supposedly dead nurse starts appearing around the house.

EP13 The Homecoming Dec 09, 1973

Plot of this episode is not specified yet.
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EP14 Dear Beloved Monster Dec 16, 1973

Professor Jonathan Slater's experiments with DNA go awry when he accidentally creates a hideous reptile-like creature. The monster escapes the lab and claims several victims as it takes refuge in a nearby lake. After the deaths, the professor resolves to kills the creature himself. The poison he pours into the water only briefly knocks the monster out. Once it reawakens, Professor Slater realizes he can't bear to destroy his creation.

EP15 Campaign 20 Jan 13, 1974

World-renown scientist David Zack is trailing his opponent in the 2020 presidential campaign. He schemes to use his latest invention, a time-travel machine, to make sure his competitor is never born. He sends a humanoid to the past to prevent the man's parents from ever meeting.

EP16 Faulkner's Choice Jan 20, 1974

Plot of this episode is not specified yet.
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EP17 Dear Cora, I'm Going to Kill You Jan 27, 1974

Popular advice columnist Cora Blake lives in fear knowing the car bomb that killed her husband was meant for her. She informs the police she's going into hiding, not even telling her close friend Harry where she's headed. Isolated at her brother's seaside home, she becomes terrorized by someone who inexplicably knows she's there.

EP18 The Trial Feb 03, 1974

A ruthless developer is put on trial by a group of sideshow freaks. By bulldozing the circus to make way for a condominium, he's destroying the place the "family" calls home--a family he was once part of.

EP19 The Fans Feb 10, 1974

For a publicity stunt, horror movie star Pervis Green visits his two biggest fans, "little old ladies" Lavenia and Elspith Pfeiffer. After being drugged, the actor awakes in a coffin, made up as a vampire. The elderly sisters, unable to distinguish between movies and reality, have locked Pervis in his own private chamber of horrors, demanding he repent for his evil ways.

EP20 Kaidaitcha Country Feb 24, 1974

Reverend Vincent arrives at a missionary outpost in remote Australian to find everyone missing. Following a series of unexplainable events, he's told that it's the work of a Kadaitcha, an Aboriginal "witch doctor," who's trying to take his soul. The reverend instead believes the hallucinations he once suffered have returned.Reverend Vincent arrives at a missionary outpost in remote Australian to find everyone missing. Following a series of unexplainable events, he's told that it's the work of a Kadaitcha, an Aboriginal "witch doctor," who's trying to take his soul. The reverend instead believes the hallucinations he once suffered have returned.

EP21 Gornak's Prism Mar 03, 1974

Alvin Hazeltine is a manbored with his life who visits the mystical Dr. Gornak who demonstrates an odd device: a glass prism that reveals the infinite possibilities of every woman. He trains the glass on his boring wife, Selma, and is surprised by what he learns.

EP22 The Voyage Mar 10, 1974

A rich couple buys the old sailing ship Endeavor after it spent 70 years in dry dock. Captain Palmer, who's aboard with his wife and another couple, puts everyone on edge with what he reads in the ship's logs. The Endeavor is a malevolent "death ship" that has killed most of the passengers on its previous voyages. The vessel inexplicably shudders, rattles its chains, and charts its own course.

EP23 Death by Dreaming Mar 24, 1974

A girl envisions disturbing premonitions: her sister's death was no accident.

EP24 Never Fool With a Gypsy Icon Mar 31, 1974

Escaped murderer Frank Draker and his accomplice dig up the coffin containing stolen jewels he'd buried years earlier. Racing for the border, the men encounter a group of gypsies in the forest. Frank refuses to heed their leader's warning that the golden icon he wants to steal will bring about vengeance. Draker learns the truth when he's forced to face all the souls he has killed.

EP25 They Jun 02, 1974

An eerie cult of children with plans for doing away with adults commit murders in a British seaside town. Dr. Fenton, a lecturer on over-population, and his son are visiting on vacation when they run afoul of the group. Their leader, Lydia, despises the doctor and his message and wants his son as a member of her group.

EP26 Wings of Death Jun 09, 1974

The Webbers' dream vacation in Central America becomes a nightmare when their son, Scott, disappears off of a rural roadside merry-go-round. The strange couple that runs the attraction is of no help, nor is Police Captain Ortega who soon disappears. Someone who doesn't want them to find their son runs the couple's car off the highway. On foot, they stumble upon a ghost town where they find their son. He's on an altar, about to be sacrificed by a strange bird-worshiping cult.
7.9| 0h30m| en| More Info
Released: 19 June 1973 Ended
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Country: Australia
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
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Synopsis

The Evil Touch is an Australian-produced television series, originally broadcast in Australia in 1973. It was an anthology series where each episode had a self-contained story and a new set of characters. Each episode feature a new cast of guest actors, although several guest stars appeared in more than one episode, playing different characters. Each story is a thriller or horror story of some variety, ranging from tales of the occult and the supernatural, science fiction horror stories, to more standard murder schemes and whodunits. Most stories feature a twist ending.

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Reviews

shango7200 This series debuted in the USA on channel 4 NBC in 1973 on Sunday nights. It was an odd programming choice indeed; an imported "thriller" series in prime time--and a half hour one at that. The episode that remains the most horrifying the the Ray Walston "freaks" episode! I was a huge fan of "Night Gallery" at the time so this series eluded me for decades up until last month when I purchased a "bootleg" DVDR set of what seems to be the entire series. Not too many of the episodes were as scary as I remembered, however the low budget and overall "tone" of the series is creepy. The best episode that I did NOT remember is the one with Mildred Dunnock as a rich old lady who's nephew was trying to do her in to get her riches. The plot was incredibly far fetched --however there was a DOUBLE shock ending to the story and it was pretty original ( a psycho-killer was lurking about and it seemed like the nephew was trying to put her in harm's way and have the killer take care of her). Most of the episodes seem rushed and sloppy, but they did always try to give a shock ending when they could. The other episode that was above average was one with Darren McGavin as a heart specialist who's dead patient was out for revenge. Overall, it was one of those series that time has not been kind to, but, I treasure it for scaring me as a 10 year old in 1973!!
Christopher Moore How I wish to see this show again. On DVD preferably. It has been years and years but I can still remember the theme, and Anthony Quayles haunting "there is a touch of evil in all of us". And didnt he always wish us pleasant dreams?The only complaint I had was that they were repeated over and over, but now my only complaint is that they are NOT repeated! IT'S TIME GUYS - DUST OFF THE TINS AND SHOW IT AGAIN.I can't get that music out of my head..........ps. then there was that parrot screaming "Murderer Murderer Murderer" It was like TwighlightZone+TalesOfTheUnexpected+NightGallery all rolled into one.*Sigh* If only I'd had a video.....
mcmacs I too have fond memories of this show though I recall its budgetary limitations being obvious even by then-contemporary standards.The lake monster in DEAR BELOVED MONSTER looked like a briefly-glimpsed head of cabbage. But then so did the 'revelatory' 1970s photos from the underwater camera at Loch Ness.One interesting episode was A GAME OF HEARTS. Darren McGavin plays a heart surgeon who takes a heart from a not-quite-dead donor. He then starts getting chilling phone calls from the dead man. The final scenes have him fleeing through a deserted house with his undead tormentor in pursuit. It was shot in very NIGHT STALKERish style.... substitute the donor, with a black and bloody hole in his chest, with Barry Atwater and you're pretty much there. And the character's name? Gabor Skorzeny. The vampire's name in the NIGHT STALKER TV movie? Janos Skorzeny! Hmmmm..... well imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I guess.I would certainly endorse another look at THE EVIL TOUCH.
Aussie Stud Not too many people remember this show. It was obviously canceled after one season for reasons unknown. Perhaps no one was watching the show, or perhaps all of America preferred to watch redundant Top-10-Ratings pap such as "ADAM'S RIB", "THE HELEN REDDY SHOW" or "KOJAK".Whatever the case may be, this show definitely set the format for half hour shows that present stories with "the evil touch". This was an Australian production with British actor Anthony Quayle hosting the show. The opening titles are timeless in their own right. Smoke wafts over the white letters that read "THE EVIL TOUCH" against a dark green background while the sound track provides a soft melody of bongos and pan flutes. This show is SO 70's, it's awesome!Some of the episodes would feature guest actors. I remember one episode featuring Carol Lynley and Leslie Nielson. Another episode featured Darren McGavin. The premise was very similar to shows of today's standards such as NIGHT VISIONS and TALES FROM THE CRYPT. It used the format of a story told in 30 minutes that had some unusual twist to it, usually resulting in either death or supernatural circumstances.Surprisingly, not too many television shows from the land Down Under have made it successfully abroad in the U.S. A few shows that have received cult following would be "PRISONER" and "SKIPPY". It's too bad that retro TV stations like TV-Land don't re-run this for old time's sake instead of repeating the same HOGAN'S HEROES episodes over and over.If anyone sees this show on their TV Guide - please let me know!