SparkMore
n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.
Claire Dunne
One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.
Bessie Smyth
Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.
Leofwine_draca
My first exposure to the whole character of Kolchak and I'm left sufficiently impressed. What comes as most impressive is the way in which this film manages to work up a whole lot of chills and eerie moments even though it's a television movie. The plot follows that of a typical mystery yarn, with a string of murders and the identity of the killer being gradually revealed, but so much occurrence is packed into the ninety-minute running time that the pacing never flags or the film become boring. Richard Matheson's script manages to bring stock characters to life and the film achieves a fine balance between humour and horror and pulls it off successfully.Darren McGavin is excellent as the intrepid newspaper reporter who will never take no for an answer, and his character is impossible not to like. He's also frequently funny and displays a fine comic edge, if you like a light in the midst of all the darkness in the film which makes it easier to watch. McGavin is supported by an exemplary cast of character actors, many of whom were familiar from '70s television. Particularly good are Simon Oakland as McGavin's stressed-out, slightly psychotic boss; Jo Ann Pflug as a pushy belly dancer (!); and Scott Brady as the disgruntled chief of police. Familiar faces like Margaret Hamilton and the seemingly immortal John Carradine pad out minor roles and are fun to watch, and I can't go without mentioning Wally Cox's turn as twitchy research man Titus Berry, who aides McGavin's quest a great deal. Sadly this was to be Cox's last role before his death; a shame, as he would have been great to have around in the subsequent television series.The horror elements in this film may be predictable, but are given a breath of fresh air; thanks in part to Dan Curtis' assured direction (previously he had directed the horror television series, DARK SHADOWS, so he knew his stuff). Things start off with stalk-and-slash sequences in which the Ripper-like killer follows his victims through murky alleyways before strangling them. The film's highlight, though, comes when McGavin himself ventures into an eerie, buried streets underneath Seattle and comes upon the killer's lair, packed with mouldering corpses seated around a dinner table. This whole idea of a secret underground dwelling echoes the frankly terrifying concept of 1972's DEATH LINE and is one of the film's most imaginative and chilling touches; you never know what might be lurking out of sight in the shadows and that's where the film's power comes from. The predictable ending sees the killer reverting to his own age (think Dorian Grey) yet is fun in a tacky kind of way. This above average production leaves me eager to see more of Kolchak and the cast alone make it worth tracking down.
gavin6942
A reporter (Darren McGavin) hunts down a 144-year old alchemist (Richard Anderson) who is killing women for their blood."The Night Strangler" proved almost as popular as its predecessor garnering strong ratings and eventually prompting ABC to order a TV series (though neither writer Richard Matheson nor producer/director Dan Curtis was involved in the TV series).For me, this is actually the stronger of the two films, with a better mystery and a more interesting villain. The pacing is a bit off and seems a tad slow, due in part to its being pushed to 90 minutes from its original 74 minutes. It is not awful, and I shouldn't complain about more Kolchak. Rumor has it that still more footage exists somewhere... so maybe we'll see that in a Scream Factory release.
Radish4ever
The night Stranger was a follow up to The Night Stalker. This was the highest watched TV movie ever and it was obvious a sequel would follow. The Night Strangler followed exactly one year later. Both are directed by Dan Curtis and both great but I saw Night Strangler first when I was very young and remember how scary it was for that reason it became my favourite of the two. I later found out that a night stalker TV series of 20 episodes followed but for years these had never been shown in the UK until the 90's when they showed the entire series. I had waited years to see this, long before the Internet and DVD shopping online, everything was not easy to purchase. Although the TV series was very good and atmospheric at times, not as good as the two movies. But does have a cult status and did inspire the excellent X-files TV show, in Which Darren Mcgavin appeared in a few episodes. The strangler/stalker films rely on clever slow-motion camera work, creepy sets and some great directing from Dan Curtis instead of the gore you find in modern day horror films. They don't make them like this anymore sadly. The Chemistry between Carl Kolchak and his long suffering boss Tony Vincenzo works a real treat. Darren McGavin and Simon Oakland are two superb actors and they just work so well together on screen there is a ongoing humour running throughout the film The dialogue is well written and witty. Vincenzo spends half the film frustrated and shouting at Kolchak's demands. The two reprised the same roles in the TV series after the third Night Stalker film did not get off the ground, which was rumoured, was planned as a direct sequel to part one.The plot is easy, reporter Karl Kolchak begins life in Seattle, after being run out of Vegas in the previous Night Stalker film, after a cover up of a real life vampire was found. He bumps into his old boss Vincenzo, who it transpires, was booted out too and went to Seattle for a quite life, which he knows wont happen when he finds himself working as Kolchak's boss again at another newspaper office. Thing begin to get interesting when 2 murders happen in a few days. When Kolchak investigates, he find similar murders have happened in the past. Spanning over a hundred years in fact. Every 21 years, six females are strangled by someone with superhuman strength and speed. They have their necks broken and blood drained via a syringe, and dead rotting tissue is left from the assailant. Apparently an alchemist aged 144 years is responsible and the movie is then about Kolchak once again fighting the authorities that get in his way and look for clues to find out who the mystery man is. Easy these days with DNA but its all about clever detective work in the 70's from our investigating reporter. Makes this riveting entertainment.Recommended if you can find this rare film. Night Stalker is easier to get hold of, this one is worth the extra hunting down and a must watch for all fans of 70's horror films.
Woodyanders
The ever-abrasive, irritable, obstinate and incorrigible newspaper reporter Carl Kolchak (delightfully played with lip-smacking aplomb by Darren McGavin) once again finds himself elbow deep in trouble when he crosses the lethal path of ancient, but powerful alchemist Dr. Richard Malcom (an excellent performance by Richard Anderson), who every 21 years commits a series of vicious murders in Seattle, Washington in order to retain his immortality. Ably directed with tremendous skill and flair by Dan Curtis, with a smart and witty script by Richard Matheson, a nonstop zippy pace, a spirited funky-scary score by Bob Cobert, a nicely spooky atmosphere, slick cinematography by Robert B. Hauser, an often hilarious sense of deliciously sardonic humor, and several outbursts of pretty brutal violence (the female victims not only are drained of blood, but also have their necks broken), this hugely enjoyable made-for-TV sequel to the first-rate "The Night Stalker" delivers the goods with a winning blend of style and energy. The terrific acting from a top-drawer cast rates as a major plus: Simon Oakland as Kolchak's peppery, long-suffering editor Tony Vincenzo, Jo Ann Pflung as sweet, perky belly dancer Louise Harper, Scott Brady as the gruff Captain Schubert, John Carradine as hard-nosed newspaper owner Lewellyn Crossbinder, Wally Cox as friendly, helpful librarian Mr. Berry, Nina Wayne as vacuous, but alluring bimbo Charisma Beauty, Virginia Peters as Charisma's mannish, domineering lesbian lover Wilma Krankheimer, Margaret Hamilton as flaky anthropologist Professor Crabwell, and Al Lewis as a grubby, rundown old tramp. Moreover, Dr. Malcom makes for a nifty villain; he has a fascinating back story and he resides in a wonderfully eerie retro 19th century subterranean world. Granted, this movie certainly rehashes the basic plot from the first one, but does so with such great infectious verve and imagination that this is a forgivable minor flaw.
