Witty and funny attempt to update the vampire to the present day being hunted by a reporter. The night stalker is a vampire film with a great reputation. Darren mcgavin is carl kolchak and gives a great performance and truly gets you into the work of the the super natural as a professional journalist who is under his bosses. The night stalker is a television film which aired on abc on january 11, 1972 as their abc. The night stalker about a reporter on the hunt for stalkers, monsters, strange unexplained deaths. In this tv thriller, newspaper reporter carl kolchak is assigned to. Sure, he may not get that pulitzer prize, but for his uncanny abilities at ridding the world of one monster after another, this. Janos skorzeny is a vampire that terrorized las vegas during the events depicted in the night stalker. It may not be the scariest or creepiest movie ever made, but the night stalker sure knows how to entertain. The night stalker wasnt the first supernatural procedural movie, but its. It featured a fictional chicago wire service reportercarl kolchak, played by darren mcgavin who investigated mysterious crimes with unlikely causes, particularly those that law enforcement authorities would not follow up. The night stalker tv series the first movie is the night stalker 1972 which was the primary inspiration for the xfiles, one of the most successful and longrunning scifi tv shows, of whose subjects were aliens, supernatural and paranormal.
This lack of mystery surrounding whether or not janos skorzeny barry atwater is a vampire is what makes the night stalker feel so modern. It was hugely successful when it first came out indeed, for several years, the night stalker was the highest rated tv movie ever aired in terms of viewing audiences. An abrasive las vegas newspaper reporter investigates a series of murders committed by a vampire. Mar 16, 2014 sherlock holmes the scarlet claw 1944 full movie basil rathbone the best classic movies duration. The night stalker noticeably parted company with established convention regarding what qualifies a character to fill the role of a hero. A particularly clever touch in the script is the idea of catherine working as a prostitute. It is an adaptation of capcoms darkstalkers series of video games. The night stalker crept through the constraints of tv. Like the vampire in the original night stalker movie, catherine never utters a word, but instead tends to hiss like some vicious, feral beast. Common practice dictates that your basic tv good guy will be conventionally handsome, good with his fists and fearless in the sight of danger.
This touch moves the genre from the religious struggle of good. Nov 11, 2019 this lack of mystery surrounding whether or not janos skorzeny barry atwater is a vampire is what makes the night stalker feel so modern. Darkstalkers revenge originally titled vampire hunter. The night stalker crept through the constraints of tv popmatters.
An episode of the series titled the vampire was an actual sequel to stalker, deriving its story from characters introduced in the film. When kolchak needs a priest to bless the silver he is using to make bullets, he ends up resorting to a fellow passenger on the cruise ship who flunked out of the seminary. The night stalker is an american television series that aired on abc during the 19741975 season. A collection of promos and other footage hyping the 1974 75 abc series kolchak. In it an investigative reporter, played by darren mcgavin, comes to suspect that a serial killer in the las vegas area is in fact a vampire. A perfect nighttime profession for a vampire that makes it easier for her to find fresh victims. Autoplay when autoplay is enabled, a suggested video will.
Aug 07, 2006 i saw the night stalker when i was a kid in the early 80s and although it wasnt the first movie to set a vampire story in modern times, it was the first id ever seen on tv as a kid to do so convincingly. The night stalkers janos skorzeny barry atwater is a vampire in the traditional sense and can be killed by daylight and weakened by brandishing religious artifacts. There have been numerous films based on dracula, an 1897 gothic horror novel by. The night stalker wasnt the first supernatural procedural movie. The night stalker tv movie 1972 the night stalker tv. Darren mcgavin stars as a reporter who investigates mysterious crimes. According to the night stalker 1972 is one of the best vampire movies ever made. Quite a maverick among television shows of the day, kolchak.
The night stalker tv series the first movie is the night stalker 1972 which was the primary inspiration for the xfiles, one of the most successful and longrunning scifi tv shows, of whose subjects. Kolchak gets word of the recurrence of vampire like murders and flies to las vegas under the ruse of interviewing an indian guru, but soon enlists the help of a friendly real estate. The night stalker 1971 after several highprofile newspapers fire him for his difficult attitude, investigative journalist carl kolchak darren mcgavin finds a job following the police beat for. Sherlock holmes the scarlet claw 1944 full movie basil rathbone the best classic movies duration. The night stalker 1972 film, a 1972 madefortelevision movie starring darren mcgavin. There have been numerous films based on dracula, an 1897 gothic horror novel by irish author bram stoker.
Genre and tv veteran richard matheson is credited with writing the screenplay for the movie. But the most interesting element introduced in the night stalker is the introduction of due process to the genre. Like some vampire in a horror movie, the horror podcast rises yet again this time to take on one of the best made for tv horror movies ever made. But theres no denying the powerful intersection of screen writer richard matheson, producer dan curtis, and darren mcgavin in perhaps his best role after a christmas story. Ably assisted by jeff rices original novel, night stalker works on every level. The night stalker is one of the best made for tv movies ever created, a near perfect. The night stalker is the second movie on what is to become kolchak. Portrayed by portrayed by barry atwater may 16, 1918 may 24, 1978. The animated series in japan is a fourepisode ova anime series by madhouse studios under license from capcom, directed by masashi ikeda and originally released in 19971998. Investigative reporter carl kolchak suspects a serial killer in the las vegas area is in fact a vampire. I saw the night stalker when i was a kid in the early 80s and although it wasnt the first movie to set a vampire story in modern times, it was the first id ever seen on tv as a kid to do so convincingly.
Be warned, the production values are not as good as a feature film, but the story, the writing, the acting, and the directors mastery of creepiness make up for any other faults. The night stalker is a television film which aired on abc on january 11, 1972 as their abc movie of the week. In the mid1970s the night stalker was shown as a t. Dont let a few faults deter you from an otherwise classic bit of horror filmmaking. The night stalker 1971 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. The night stalker 1972 film the night stalker is a television film which aired on abc on january 11, 1972 as their abc movie of the week. Airing as a 90minute movie of the week 74 after you deduct the commercials, the night stalker is one of the most effective vampire movies ever made. The night stalker paved the way for the supernatural. The night stalker the vampire tv episode 1974 imdb. Our guest for this one is screenwriter richard hatem. Darren mcgavin, carol lynley, simon oakland, claude akins and janos skorzeny osmium. New castle after dark presents the night stalker duration. Take an exclusive behindthescenes look at the abc movie of the week, from brians song to the night stalker and beyond.
The night stalker was a 1972 tv movie and shortlived series starring darren mcgavin as a las vegas newspaper reporter investigating a series of murders committed by a vampire. The vampire story is a cool combination of classic super. She takes up her old profession of call girl and carl wrangles an assignment there to investigate. This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. The night stalker the vampire tv episode 1974 on imdb. Kolchak uncovers the truththe murders are the work of a real live vampireand the truth is quickly covered up again by the las vegas police department, who. In this sequel to the original night stalker telefilm, a road crew accidentally unearths the grave of a vampire in las vegas, a female victim of janos skorzeny. Second, is the paranoia that runs throughout the movie, with the idea of a reporter being held down by authorities from telling the whole story. As a whole, the night stalker is one of the very best vampire movies ever made. Such is the case with the night stalker 1972, the abc tv movie that took the vampire out of his crumbling castle and transported him to the.
Although the series only lasted a single season, it remains popular in syndication. Vintage vampirenight stalker film, kolchak, end scenecirca 1972. Darren mcgavin, carol lynley, simon oakland the night strangler tv movie 1973. Lead by darren mcgavin, the film features memorable performances from a host of great character actors. Delroy easton grant, a serial rapist who operated in london during the 1990s and 2000s, sometimes referred to by the british media as the night stalker and the minstead rapist arts and entertainment. The night stalker the vampire tv episode 1974 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Jun 21, 2015 a collection of promos and other footage hyping the 1974 75 abc series kolchak. The night stalker is one of the very best of these madefortv films. The night stalker is a movie that believes in the freedom of the press. With darren mcgavin, simon oakland, william daniels, suzanne charny. Interview with a vampire has kolchak meeting barnabas. First, it is a truly creepy horror film, even today. But this is the price that is paid for a tv movie with a short shooting schedule. On top of that, the plot sticks close to classic vampire lore for those horror purists out there.
Despite strong performances from all involved the night stalker is a deathly repetitive story. Crackling with tension, night stalker works on two levels. The series was preceded by two television movies, the night stalker 1972 and the night strangler 1973. Sep 29, 2015 vintage vampire night stalker film, kolchak, end scenecirca 1972.
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