The 3 February 1964 DV announced The Night Walker as filmmaker William Castle’s first project under his Universal Pictures contract. He claimed it would feature “a form of human destruction never before seen on the screen.” Castle dismissed criticisms of movie violence as “ridiculous,” adding that such pictures were earning considerable profits. He described his latest production in the 16 September 1964 Variety as his transition from “gore into pure shock and suspense.”
According to the 3 June 1964 Variety, Castle was interviewed several months earlier by Chicago, IL, journalist Shirley Eder. During the interview, Castle stated that he would like Barbara Stanwyck to star in his next production. After suggesting Stanwyck’s ex-husband, Robert Taylor, as co-star, Eder promised to share Castle's request with the actress. Castle responded by promising Eder a trip to Hollywood, CA, if she could persuade Stanwyck and Taylor joined the cast. Both Castle and Eder kept their promises. The 15 April 1964 NYT noted that it was the first time in more than twenty years that Stanwyck and Taylor appeared on screen together.
The 4 May 1964 DV stated that Taylor was forbidden to show Stanwyck his assigned “horror mask” until the day he was to wear it. Ten days later, DV reported a cocktail party at Universal’s commissary to launch the production. The 15 May 1964 LAT included George Kennedy among the cast; his participation has not been determined. Other casting announcements included Paulle Clark and Kathleen Mulqueen (3 June 1964 DV) and Rochelle Hudson (20 May 1964 Variety).
The 24 December 1964 LAT noted that a replica telephone booth was placed on a Los Angeles, CA, street corner in the Wilshire District for use in an exterior scene. After the scene was completed and the studio retrieved the booth, eight dimes were discovered in the coin box.
An article in the 30 July 1964 DV indicated that photography had recently been completed. Editing was underway, according to the 5 August 1964 Variety. The 7 August 1964 DV reported that recording of Vic Mizzy’s score, conducted by music supervisor Joseph Gershenson, began that day.
A news brief in the 13 October 1964 DV announced that Castle began production that day on a six-minute promotional film, titled Experiment in Nightmares. The $25,000 short subject featured Pat Collins, known as “the Hip Hypnotist,” questioning six mesmerized subjects on their nightmares. The 16 December 1964 Varietynoted that Universal also planned a “‘dream’ contest” to be offered in the Jan and Feb 1965 issues of Modern Screen magazine. An item in the 30 December 1964 Variety reported that Castle, associate producer Dona Holloway, and cast members Stanwyck, Taylor, and Lloyd Bochner were scheduled to begin a series of promotional tours on 4 January 1965. Cities included New York City, Boston, MA, Philadelphia, PA, Detroit, MI, Chicago, IL, and the TX cities of Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio.
The Night Walker opened 30 December 1964 in Los Angeles, and 20 January 1965 in New York City. Reviews were mixed, with the 1 January 1965 LAT recommending the film as “one of the better horror efforts” currently in release, and the 21 January 1965 NYT calling it “eerie nonsense.” The 3 March 1965 Variety reported that the Dallas Citizens’ Committee for Decent Movies (CCDM) objected to advertising copy, which included the phrase, “Lust, murder and secret desires.” The picture was still in release as of 7 July 1965, according to that day’s DV.
A version of the title song was recorded by the Sammy Kaye Orchestra for Decca Reccords. A related album, titled The Night Walker’s Dead-Time Stories! was released on Vee-Jay.