Rating: 
Summary: Thoughts on MGM's DVD release
Review: The Night Stalker: Movie: ***** DVD Quality: ***** Extras: ***
The Night Strangler: Movie: ***** DVD Quality: ***** Extras: ***
Two beloved made-for-TV movies (which later inspired a short-lived series) are given the deluxe treatment on this MGM single disc release. Both films feature the inimitable Darren McGavin as veteran newshound Carl Kolchak, who has a special gift for sniffing out stories with a supernatural angle; and Simon Oakland as Vincenzo, Kolchak's skeptical and exasperated editor. In "Stalker", the two are in Las Vegas and become involved in a series of vampire murders; in "Strangler", the men have been chased out of town and meet up in Seattle where a very strong (dead) man is strangling young women and removing their blood! Produced by "Dark Shadows" veteran Dan Curtis and scored by "Dark Shadows" composer Robert Cobert, both films offer genuine chills perfectly balanced with just the right amount of humor, and both feature fantastic supporting casts of veteran character players, all of whom play their parts with relish.
The MGM DVD features superb video and audio transfers of each film. The soundtracks are crisp and clear, and the visuals are sharp with perfectly balanced color (you don't often see TV movies from the early 1970's looking this incredibly pristine, and I would guess that these programs did not look this good during their initial network television broadcasts). Each film is accompanied by a short interview segment with producer Curtis who provides nuggets of information regarding the making of these specific movies, his own career, and the process of making telefeatures in the 1970's versus today. Highly recommended as a worthwhile addition to your home video collection, this is a double feature you'll enjoy watching again and again.
Rating:
Summary: Most underrated character and series EVER.
Review: The TV movies and episodes were some of the best ever made in history. They don't feel dated at all, in fact they still give the X-Files a run for its money. PLEASE Anchor Bay, PLEASE release all 6 episodes of the short-lived TV series!!
Rating:
Summary: A Tale of Another City
Review: The Voice is familiar: It belongs to reporter Carl Kolchak: "This is the story behind the most incredible series of murders to ever occur in the city of Seattle, Washington. You never read about them in your local newspapers or heard about them on your local radio or tevlevision station. Why? Because the facts were watered down, torn apart and reassembled, - in a word, falsified." The Night Strangler is a made for TV movie sequel to the Night Stalker. It takes place in Seattle, Washington. Here Carl Kolchak is reunited with his old editor, the vocal Tony Vincenzo. In this case, Kolchak is investigating a series murders of young women. With the help of a research clerk they uncover a series of serial murders going back nearly a century and repeating every 21 years, tracking down the perpetrator. This sequel is excellent and one of the few good Jack the Ripper movies, with a unique twist. The film shows an exstinsive underground city. I took a trip to Seattle to see this, and it is not as extensive as the film.
Rating:
Summary: Kolchak - A Timeless Classic Series
Review: These two movies are the mostly highly-polished of the "Kolchak" series and are well-preserved in this DVD. While these movies don't have a tremendous amount of special effects (Some of the special effects were limited in the series) they do have gripping storylines and Darren McGavin really made the character of Carl Kolchak enjoyable. I've watched these movies dozens of times and they're great each and every viewing.
I watched the series as a kid when it first aired and it always scared the living daylights out of me! Simon Oakland is perfect as Kolchak's impatient ranting boss. The whole series is a lot of fun but might be too intense for young children.
If you're able to find copies of the series (apparently out-of-print) grab them and you'll have a great addition to your collection. An old-school newsman fighting monsters, management, city hall cover-ups and bureaucracy. Gotta love it!!!
Rating:
Summary: A BEAUTIFUL BARGAIN!
Review: This is a real treat! Witty, well written, well acted and well directed flicks which combine the atmosphere of film noir with an intelligent and yet eventful and not too realistic supernaturalism: a good mix indeed! The DVD transfer is superb (there occures some graininess during darker scenes), even though there are no extras (not being familiar with these films I immediately longed to know more about them). Perhaps I'm a bit overenthusiastic just for the reason that these flicks (which I seem to have picked out for no reason) were a real surprise - and a real treat. Thanks, and give us more!
Rating:
Summary: Nothing tops Carl Kolchak
Review: This is the horror series that turned horror tv and movie upside down. I hear the tv series Night Stalker is going to be released sometime next year as a collection library. I hope this is correct. Ill be the first in line for the tv series collection if it truely comes out. Untill then the movies do just fine B-)
Rating: 
Summary: Seattle Strangler
Review: Though a lesser film than its predecessor, THE NIGHT STRANGLER is still an above-average sequel to the classic 1972 TV thriller THE NIGHT STALKER. Darren McGavin once more slips into the role of Carl Kolchak, the inquisitive and often brusque newspaper reporter who somehow manages to get crossed up not only with big city bigwigs but also with supernatural happenings. Last time, it was in Vegas and it involved a vampire. Now it's Seattle and the culprit this time is an aging monster (Richard Anderson) who goes on a strangling spree against women every twenty-one years to keep his youth. He lives in Seattle's famed underground city, which is why he routinely escapes detection. But McGavin's on the case alone, having to stop Anderson before he strikes again. And when he's not after Anderson, he must also deal with Seattle's city fathers and his irascible editor Tony Vincenzo (Simon Oakland). Featuring appearances by horror veterans John Carradine and Al Lewis, THE NIGHT STRANGLER is efficiently directed by "Dark Shadows" creator Dan Curtis, who served as the producer for the original NIGHT STALKER. McGavin is at his usual best, hard-nosed, tough, and with a tendency to rub those in authority exactly the wrong way. Richard Matheson once again has written a fine screenplay. Even though it is a slightly inferior film, mainly because a sex strangler in a place like Seattle is not quite like a vampire in Vegas, THE NIGHT STRANGLER is effective and atmospheric horror/suspense entertainment, highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Great movies, DVD less so
Review: Tongue-in-cheek horror par excellence. Saw Night Strangler when I was 11 and remembered it for two decades plus before viewing this DVD. Night Stalker looks excellent. Night Strangler, however, looks like it comes from a VHS master. High graininess count particularly during darker scenes. No extras on the DVD. Disappointing.
Rating:
Summary: A KOLCHAK DOUBLE FEATURE
Review: What do you get when you team up 2 classic ABC-TV movies starring Darren McGavin? A Kolchak double feature that were so well received that they inspired the Night Stalker TV series. I'm glad to see that Anchor Bay has been busy mining several classic TV films (like Trilogy Of Terror) from my childhood. I can only hope that they raise their sights to include the Kolchak series.
Rating:
Summary: KOLCHAK!! GET BACK HERE!!!
Review: When I first saw this movie back in the early 70's as a child, I was scared out of my wits. Thankfully they have come back, and as an adult I can so appreciate the sarcasm and humor that made the series cutting edge. Unlike Dark Shadows which is so drawn out you forget who the people are, Kolchak cuts right to the chase. His slightly upbeat caustic attitude yet willingness to be frightened and still try to do the right thing regardless of what anyone else thinks is what makes him stand out in Televisionland. By today's standard, there probably isn't enough blood for some horror fans, but notably in true horror, there really isn't that much to begin with, as it is a state of mind.
I can only hope that the entire twenty episodes gets transferred to DVD in order to preserve an exceptional piece of history.
This is a definite "MUST ADD TO MY COLLECTION" set. The realism of the film is haunting and makes you think twice about some things normally taken for granted. Besides, who can resist seeing someone actually use a real typewriter ?
If you have cable in your area, you can catch some of these episodes on TRIO< Brilliant but Cancelled, nights at 11 pm. OF Course.
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