Rating: 
Summary: Carl Kolchak finds another unbelievable mystery to solve
Review: Darren McGavin reprises his role as Carl Kolchak in this sequel to "The Night Stalker," one of the most celebrated made-for-television movies of its day. "The Night Strangler" finds our intrepid reporter challenged by his old Las Vegas editor, Tony Vincenzo (Simon Oakland), with uncovering a 120-yeard-old Jekyll and Hyde type killer in the eerie underground of Seattle, Washington. There really is a sense in how this sequel is trying too hard to top the original, which had the virtue of a simplistic elegance to its plot. This time around director Dan Curtis tries to come up with a really big ending, which is not where Kolchak was most effective. Maybe we would have been more impressed with this story if it did not have the original to contend with, but this is yet another instance of Hollywood trying to milk the golden goose dry. Still, any scene between McGavin and Oakland is worth paying attention to and the supporting cast throws Jo Ann Pflug, Wally Cox, Richard Anderson, Margaret Hamilton, John Carradine, and Al Lewis at us If you can not identify the Mr. Peepers, the Wicked Witch of the West, Dracula, and Granpa from the "Munsters" in that list, shame on you. But then it also serves as more evidence that this movie is trying a bit too hard.
Rating:
Summary: The Typewriter is Mightier than the Sword
Review: Darren McGavin reprises his role as Carl Kolchak, an annoying investigative newspaper reporter who continously stumbles into bizzare stories. This time Kolchak, exiled from his prior assignment in Las Vegas, finds himself in Seattle and on the trail of a mysterious 144 year old strangler. Similar to the first movie, the police and city officials attempt to thawrt Kolchak's investigation and pressure the newspaper to withhold his articles from publication.THE NIGHT STRANGLER includes quite a few familiar faces: Simon Oakland (Black Sheep Squadron), Jo Ann Pflug (M*A*S*H and cohost of Candid Camera), Margaret Hamilton (The wicked witch from The Wizard of Oz), Al Lewis (Grandpa from The Munsters)and John Carradine. Also look for Richard Anderson who would later go on to television fame in the television series THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN. The sets are more elaborate in this sequel and the plot is a little more complicated than the first movie. This is traditionally what happens when a sequel attempts to trump the original. THE NIGHT STRANGLER aired in early 1973 and a year later would be followed by the television series THE NIGHT STALKER. Prior to the network's dash for cash in rushing out the television series, a third Kolchak television movie was in pre-production. However, THE NIGHT KILLERS never materialized as the televison series consumed Darren McGavin and his character, Carl Kolchak. If you saw the first NIGHT STALKER movie, then you would be remiss for not viewing this one.
Rating: 
Summary: bring the series to DVD
Review: Great to see these TV movies on DVD. Now please put the weekly TV series on DVD! There were only 20 episodes, 5-discs would do it -- maybe they could throw in DEMON AND MUMMY and CRACKLE OF DEATH (the 2 tv-edited movies, both of which DO feature NEW footage/narration!) and those cool ads for the next week episode ("next on the Night Stalker!"). C'mon, get 'em out already!
Rating:
Summary: Possibly the best vampire movie ever
Review: I got this one simply for the Night Stalker. I've seen the best vampire movies such as Dracula Prince of Darkness, House of Dark Shadows, the Dark Shadows series, Norliss Tapes, Louis Jourdan's BBC version of Dracula, Dan Curtis' Dracula with Jack Palance, and others with Lugosi, Langella and misc. others. I consider the Night Stalker is perhaps the best vampire movie ever. Nevertheless Jonathan Frid and Louis Jourdan did wonderful jobs of complex character portrayals of their vampires. I guess it's like apples and oranges though, for the Night Stalker vampire was in contrast to the two previous a mysterious menacing character who we only knew second hand, whereas Frid's and Jourdan's vampires we got to know more personally--Frid's especially was indeed an extremely developed character who more often illicited our sympathies than our horror. The Night Stalker's vampire was ALWAYS an unsympathetic THING that illicited our horror and revulsion throughout and whose death was a welcome and appropriate fate--more an extermination of a chilling parasite than a killing of a being.
God, those eyes! It's enough to make one close the drapes when you're a young impressionable boy watching this movie for the first time! The Night Strangler featured here however isn't one of Dan's best, but if you're into Curtis produced horror movies then you'll probably want to have it regardless. I'd never buy it if it wasn't included with the Night Stalker however.
Rating:
Summary: Best Vampire Depiction EVER!!!
Review: I have not seen "The Night Stalker" TV Movie in many years. However, it made such a strong impression on me that I will never forget it. Without re-hashing the story (or talking about the "Strangler" which is much more forgettable), here is why I believe "Night Stalker" is Vampire #1!!;(SPOILER CAUTION)I'll be careful. -People react logically to events in this movie. Few are willing to believe there really is a vampire. "Just a nut who thinks he's a vampire".
-Kolchak relishes the supernatural and enjoys kreeping out his boss. The police keep a big thumb on him to prevent panic.
-Everything is believable. This is how a vampire would live in a modern society.
-You never really get to know the vampire. He is silent, elusive, reclusive, powerful and intelligent. You don't have dialogue with this vampire. He has only one purpose: GET BLOOD! This makes him exceedingly menacing and creepy.
-The vampire is validated by an encounter with a large group of police. Their inability to stop him, dispite shooting him at close range, has them in denial.
-The vampire has an ingenius (and diabolical) method of feeding without getting "take-out". A great touch of "realism".
-Kolchak is a reporter, and the only one willing to face the threat for what it is. Consequently, he is ill-equipped to be a hero. This adds a great sense of dread during the final confrontation.
-The music is used sparingly. Often, the lack of sound builds incredible tension. There is so much more, but hopefully you get the point. This is a truly scary movie. If you like "prince Charming" Dracula depictions or the Modern "Techno-vamps" from "Blade" (which is a great movie) then you might not like this. This vampire is as down-to-earth scary as they come!!
Rating:
Summary: Just Could Not Believe It
Review: I just could not believe that I came across this DVD.
I remember these movies (and later the series), from my childhood. I was but a young lad at the time, but I remember sneaking into the den to catch these horror/mysteries.
This DVD looks great. Extras include interviews with director and some cool inside info.
Turn the lights out and enjoy. This was accually the highest rated TV movie of all time(Night Stalker), and for good reason.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Show
Review: I own this DVD, and I would love it if the entire series was put on DVD as well -- I'd snatch it up faster than Vincenzo could get mad at Kolchak.
Rating:
Summary: Kolchak: The Night Stalker/The Night Strangler
Review: I recently purchased this DVD and have watched it several times. It is a good story and well done without all the "eye candy" required today to shock and frighten. I recommend this DVD. I was a loyal follower of the TV series in 1974 when it first came out and was disappointed to see it cancelled. I sincerely hope the entire season run, of about 20 episodes, I think, will be released on DVD in the not too distant future.
Rating:
Summary: Carl Kolchak- Man Outside of Time
Review: I remember that when I first saw these made-for-TV movies in the early seventies I knew that they were something special. The character of Carl Kolchak especially stuck with me. It seemed like he was a man stranded outside of his own time. I mean, everything around him was part of the "mod" seventies, but Kolchak himself seemed like an old-time reporter right out of the 30's or 40's. Sure, his hair was a little shaggy, but you got the impression that this was because he didn't have the time or money to get a haircut- and not because he was being "fashionable." Perhaps that was the reason that he could spot creatures who also didn't belong in the modern world- because he was a misfit there himself.
In any case, these two movies are some of the best pure story telling ever put on film. The make-up, sets, and special effects aren't bad, but writing and acting carries the day. People by the early seventies considered themselves so "sophisticated" that they pretty much all considered traditional horror movies to be a joke. The Night Stalker made them believe again that vampires could really exist- and in Vegas, the most modern and sophisticated of all settings. And if anything, The Night Strangler, was even more skillfully and believably woven with its tale of immortality elixirs and of a necropolis beneath the streets of modern Seattle.
The interviews with producer/director Dan Curtis (Dark Shadows) are entertaining and informative. For instance, before I watched them I had no idea that the great Richard Matheson (I am Legend and Hell House) had written both of these scripts.
Rating:
Summary: Bring on the TV Series
Review: I see TV show collections on everything from The Monkees (which I like, by the way) to MASH (good one, two), but why hasn't this classic show been issued? Let's hope it will soon -- along with the "Get Smart" TV series. Come on, my credit card is ready to go CHA-CHING!
|
