Nightfall
1980-1983
Known Episodes: 100 Circulating
Produced by The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), some of Nightfall’s episodes were so terrifying that the CBC registered numerous complaints and some affiliate stations dropped it. Despite this, the series went on to become one of the most popular shows in CBC Radio history, running 100 episodes that featured a mix of original tales and adaptations of both classic and obscure short stories.
Sources:
The Nightfall Project
Digital Deli
Wikipedia
After Sunset (1983)
Foreshadowing Stephen King’s It (1986), A town recalls how a thing that tore people apart wore a young man’s skin like a new suit. The thing has come back, and even if they can determine who’s skin its wearing now, what’s to stop it from coming back in future generations?Angel’s Kiss, The
A womanizer and homophobe meets a drop-dead gorgeous woman named Dolores and sells his immortal soul for one night with her. He becomes obsessed until she comes to collect… as a man.All-Nighter, The
Actresses are showing up dead at a laundromat… in the machines. Predictable ending, but fun. Soundtrack really overdone.Angel of Death
A young woman blames her father when her brother is killed in the war. Their family has known so much tragedy, she wonders if Death itself lives in their attic. When she hears a voice from the register, she goes up to look. There stands Jamie, her brother, in full regalia. A ghost? No! …But he is a little crazy now.Appetite of Mr. Lucraft, The
A starving actor finds a benefactor who purchases his appetite. The actor wastes away, falling over drunk each night while consuming nothing. Then fate bestows upon him… a choice. [Adapted from Walter Besant]Assassin Game
University students partake in a game of dossiers and tasers. When corporations get involved as sponsors, things turn deadly.Baby Doll
A woman’s maternal instinct is triggered when her husband brings home a doll as a gift. When it becomes evident she’s been possessed, the husband tries to make a deal with the lonely baby’s spirit from the doll. He fails. Creepy ending.Beauty’s Beast
A doctor who uses sound waves to re-structure bone makes his daughter beautiful after she is hit by a car. Then she wants to throw away her future by marrying a photographer! Dad kidnaps him and gives him aging treatments until he is physically 86! What will his daughter do when she discovers what he has done?Beyond the Law
A slum lord wants to sell, but people would be put out on the streets. There are protests, but one of four business partners is killed. Then another is found floating. Who’s next? Who is responsible? It’s kind of telegraphed, despite the red-herring journalist, but fun because the protagonist is such a jerk.Blood Countess, The (Parts I and II)
A fictional dramatization of Erzsebet Bathory’s story. She believed a witch could bring back her dead lover. Meanwhile, she tortured young serving girls, using their blood to maintain her youthful skin. How much will the townsfolk bear? Adults Only!Body Snatchers, The
An 1800s medical school student is raised to the position of lab Second and discovers the darker side of the healing profession. As he divvys out body parts for dissection, he notices the body of a woman he knows. Soon after, the lab’s First Assistant takes out another person from the local tavern and hands off the head to students to cover the murder. Creepy tension permeates this atmospheric thriller, and the ending is a shocker! [Adapted from Robert Louis Stevenson]Book of Hell, The
A manuscript from a dead author about Hell cannot be copied. Everyone who reads it also dies… and you just listened, too…Breaking Point
A carnival gymnast is fired for a younger model, but before she can go, the boss is killed. Was it her… or the monkey who goes crazy at the sight of a gun? Maybe it was her secret admirer! (But they kill the monkey.)Brides of Olivera, The
A fortune teller sets his sight on a woman and uses mind control to isolate her. She tracks him down with ESP… and ends up joining his harem of wives in the spirit realm! The sound of her choking is creepy.Buried Alive
This guy’s gonna stick it to the insurance company when his wife digs him up. Unless she runs off with his assistant and leaves him underground! She goes back to gloat when he mocks her from the grave… but he’s left a subliminal suggestion in her mind.But, Oh, What Happened to Hutchings
Doctor Hutchings introduces a friend to a new town. The landlady tells the newcomer that Hutchings is a grave-robber, but the surgeon describes his need of cadavers for research. After the friend witnesses a “procurement”, a mutual friend –once a missionary to headhunters– puts things in perspective. (Meatloaf, again.)Carmilla
A true to the original adaptation about a young lady who ingratiates herself into a family… until their daughter begins to grow ill (and anemic). [Adapted from Joseph Sheridan LeFanu]Cemetery Stop
A woman no one else but the driver can see starts getting off the bus at the cemetery every night. One night he follows her in… and they find him in the grave of his murdered wife!Child’s Play
Mary returns to live in her childhood home when her new husband insists. They hear the noises of children playing. Then a girl knocks at the door… except there are no kids for miles. They all moved after the woman’s parents were killed. She gets flaky, so her husband locks her in her old bedroom, where she witnessed the murder. Most interesting are the objectively present, yet unexplained ghosts to complement her insanity.Club of Dead Men, The
A young man is invited to join a secret society… but at what price? Great element of suspense.Contract, The
A gambler and gigolo in deep debt contrives to murder his sugar-mama for the cash to cover. But she’s offering more!Cruel Husband, The
A man suspects his wife’s infidelity. When he catches her cheating, she swears on th eBible it is not true… so he bricks over her closet wall! He takes his dinner there for days pretending not to hear the moans of her lover. She never confesses. This version is more true to the story, but more tragic, I think. [Adapted from De Balzac’s “La Grande Bretche”, also by The Hermit’s Cave and Theater 10:30]Daddy’s Girl
A salesman travels to Tahiti and finds himself surrounded by superstition. The local doctor and Obeah man warns him to respect the local culture, but when a fellow Canadian dies after bad-mouthing a little girl, he calls the father and the Obeah murderers. So the Obeah gives the girl another doll to stick pins into.Dark Side of the Mind
A college reunion goes sour when a surprise guest has worrying information about the the man of the alums just left alone with his wife. Derivative, but well delivered. Will leave your gut clenched for days!Deadly Developments
A photographer buys a collectible, antique camera and uses it before its rightful owner can reclaim it. He does a photo shoot for a paperback cover with three models who all die within hours. Is the Von Hensdorf cursed? Only one way to find out…Debt, The
Typical horror short story. It doesn’t matter, the delivery is awesome! Three frat boys haze a pledge by tying him to train tracks. There’s an accident. The boy who gets buried in the woods comes back to collect on a debt… his legs! Great zombie voice!Dentist, The
A new dental assistant feels like something weird is going on at her office… like secret experiments. So she sends her husband in undercover. You won’t believe what they’re really covering up!Devil’s Backbone, The
Underwater treasure hunters encounter black ink and a thing that scratches from within the dark cloud, driving them from a shipwreck. Turns out one diver likes the other’s wife, and it might be a setup to scare the husband away from both the girl and the gold. Imagine if it really was a giant squid!Eye of the Beholder
An ageing, sorry man finds a friend in a stranded traveler seeking shelter, and ends up confessing how he once beat his son. He is regretful, but it’s too late. He hasn’t seen or spoken to his boy in years. Luckily, he’s got his new companion to help him with eye drops when he starts having vision trouble.Fatal Eggs, The
Because of a weird refraction of light during a power outage, Soviet scientists discover a red “Ray of Life” that makes lab animals grow huge. A shipment of test snake eggs gets accidentally delivered to a chicken farm, resulting in a plague of Godzilla-sized serpents!
Footsteps
After a close shave with a truck in which he probably should have died, a man hallucinates invisible footsteps approaching. Eventually the sound catches up to him, trying to cause him to panic… to raise him into a an altered state… but who’s footsteps are they?From My Appointed Place Below
A Scottish lord dies before he can write a receipt for a man’s rent, so the man must go to Hell to get one! [Wandering Willie’s Tale, Adapted from Sir Walter Scott]Future Fear
A couple discovers their television can see into the future. While trying to get rich quick, they witness their estranged son become an evil despot. Will they kill their own son rather than let him become the next Hitler?…Then the TV is stolen!Gerald
A couple don’t realize their son is showing sociopathic tendencies when they find their dog murdered. It’s Gerald’s imaginary friend that asks him to continue pulling out his little friends’ souls through death and dismemberment. Great, but gruesome. (Unforgettable, but I had to dial it back a grade for the dog torture.)Guest of Honor
Lady Neville strikes the king and arch-bishop from the guest list of her annual gala. Instead, she invites Death herself! She RSVP’s! She so charms the crowd, that they ask her to stay. The price? Someone must take her place! [Adapted from Peter S. Beagle]Glaze of Perfect Beauty, A
A know-it-all porcelain master convinces another that beauty creates only beauty, and that he must take on his daughter as an apprentice. Since the potter has already thrown his last two apprentices into the kiln, (resulting in less than perfect work,) his ambition and jealousy drive him on. A decent story, but overly complex and yet still telegraphed.Glimpse of Eternity, A
The dog does NOT die in this one! But… he and his master become undead carnage machines. A scientist friend creates a youth formula that slows and cools the body’s processes– causing anemia… and a blood hunger! The mad doctor tries to find a cure, but his chemical vampire attacks!Hands Off
A scientist discovers a formula that will evoke instant rage, calling the scent “rose water”. He tests it by making a cat maul its kitten. (A little warning there.) It won’t wash off when he gets some on his hands! The only way to escape the angry hordes that descend upon him… an ax! But the ending is so unclear, if you forget the title, a character has to spell it out in epilogue. Very contrived, and hard to identify with a protagonist you hate.Harris and The Mare
Adapted to radio from a folk song by Stan Rogers. A conscientious observer and pacifist must protect his wife from an abusive drunk. A heart wrenching tale. Not horror, but damn well told.Hit, The
Two guys argue about doughnuts on the way to buy guns. We eavesdrop on the hit men’s conversation, learn about their values and aspirations. When they arrive at their hit, the mark isn’t who one of them was expecting.How Did You Get My Name? (1980)
This story brings identity theft to a thrilling new level! Recently released from a mental institution, a man receives mysterious phone calls, but no one could possibly know where he is! An ethics-challenged old-friend, coffee in the eyes, a struggle, two gunshots… Jim Brent wins his life back! …But only as a John Doe! A great twist onHypnotized
Past life regression leads to psychic phenomena… including mind transference! When a new doctor takes over the woman’s case, the psychiatrist she originally bonded with is lost in the wilderness… or is he? The woman’s haggard voice is supposed to be eerie, but it’s just annoying.In The Name of The Father
When a writer takes a holiday on the coast, she falls into a Lovecraftian nightmare. The local church is dedicated to the sea. What does it mean that sharks off-shore foretell a mass pregnancy within the town congregation?Jogger, The
An aging football jock decides to get fit again when he notices a jogger pacing him everywhere. Can he catch up?Last Visit
A couple going to visit their daughter pick up a hitchhiker who only rides for a short time. They get lost in a fog and end up at Eternity Cove. When their car disappears, they walk back to the road… but the fog always leads them back to the hotel!Late Special
After a car accident, a woman who has been blinded makes her way to an abandoned train depot to call for help while her boyfriend is trapped in the car. A train stops, and the conductor offers her eyesight back… for a price. (Adult.)Lazarus Rising
When a reporter investigates a man returned from the dead, he churns up the secrets of a country town. George Sannox was murdered, but isn’t looking for revenge. It was his daughter Sarey who resurrected him for vengeance, but it’ll take the whole town to send him back.Lifeline
A fortune teller does not recognize a man she gave a reading for. He believes his past was erased when his hands were burned in a fire… his life line destroyed by scar tissue! Can a plastic surgeon restore his personality? His future? His past?Love and the Lonely One
A couple of medical students decide to prank a sorority with a corpse. One student gets a call from a hot babe… but is she setting him up for his own date with a corpse? What if he falls for her? Once you call the dead back, they come to stay.M’kara
When a great white hunter kills a great white-eyed elephant, he incurs the curse of M’kara. His terminally ill army buddy tries to take the curse upon himself instead. Spin onMaid’s Bell, The
The new ladysmaid finds that her predecessor is a hard act to follow, since she’s not entirely gone. But her real problem is the abusive master of the house. [Adapted from Edith Wharton]Mindrift
A treasury man is programmed to go under cover. The catch is, he is hypnotized only remember what he is supposed to do when triggered by the previous step. That way his mind will stay clear. The “economic advisor” discovers himself purchasing a rifle… and given a pass to the U.N. General Assembly! He is helpless to stop himself! Narrated from his Point of View. Needlessly summarized in re-cap at the end.Mister Agostino
A woman receives a wrong number phone call from a guy looking for a job interview. He keeps calling, and each time the story changes until he finally admits he just wants a date. When he shows up at the door uninvited, the lady’s friend calls. They found the body of a Mr. Agostino…Monkey’s Paw, The
A true adaptation of the classic. A working class couple wish for money using an old talisman… and pay with their son’s life. [Adapted from W.W. Jacobs]Monkey’s Raincoat, The
In a dystopian future, a man is hypnotized to be part of an assassination attempt. Sound quality is atrocious. Reminiscent of Death Race 2000. Good story if you can put the sound issues aside.No Admittance, No Exit
A female mechanic is taken to the nearest hospital when her hand is mangled: The Future Clinic. She is scanned by an automated computer system who categorizes her social value and prescribes amputation over lengthy rehab. Her boss has a heart attack and is written off. Then the nurse, the only human on staff is replaced with a scan. Computerized medicine has no humanity.No Quarter
A man becomes addicted to ’80s arcade games and loses his job. His wife becomes a crusader against their evils. One day he receives a home delivery of a game that doesn’t need quarters… and like Enders Game, gets progressively realistic. Can he take it to the next level?Old Post Road, The
A ghost story where a man crashes his car and makes his way to the nearest house… where he encounters horror! The timeline gets confusing.On Christmas Day, In the Morning
A hit-and-run leaves the postman dead and the mayor’s son on trial. The police discover that mail was delivered a mile away from the corpus delecti. A nice old lady shows investigators her Christmas cards. This could prove the boy’s inocence or condemn him. What does the retired judge discover? [Adapted from Margery Allingham’s Campion mystery (1952)]Porch Light, The
A couple sees a man waving outside during a blizzard, but no one’s at the door when they get there. Then weird, poltergeist events begin, locking the man outside, a knife in the wall… Turns out there was a murder in the house long ago. Gripping tension.Private Collection
A police detective determines that the disappearances of young, unmarried women all coincide with a visit to the Medical Sciences Building. When he mentions breeding experiments, he is silenced with a promotion.Reflected Image
A chemist is tortured by a wife who says he’s not a real man. When he buys an antique mirror, he switches places with a more aggressive self, who gets revenge on his behalf. Now trapped, he tries to break out of the mirror glass… but he can’t do anything right!Repossession, The
They purposely telegraph the ending where a conjoined twin takes revenge. It’s great fun when it plays out. Reminiscent of the Lights Out episode, The Dark.Reunion at the Victory Cafe
A man brings his wife to a London bar where his father died during the World War II blitz. Strangely teleported back in time, he meets his father and they attempt to save the patrons when a plane is heard approaching.Ringing the Changes
A couple vacation in a seaside town. The bells will awake the dead. Very Lovecraftian. They wake up the next morning and the zombies are gone; with no explanation, unless I missed something. [Adapted from Robert Aickman]Now’s the time. Now’s the place. Now’s the weather. The living and the dead dance together.