The Night Stalker

precursor for the X files - love Night Stalker - great series for the time

This DVD exceeded my expectations. Enhanced in 2018, this movie is now very sharp, vibrant, and has great sound. The description said a 4K transfer, whatever that is. All I can say, is it is superb. Probably better than what I saw on the TV when I saw this 1972 film at age 7. The DVD has some great bonus features as well: an interview with the director, a separate run down by a film historian that spans the entire length of the film, and some other discussion.The Night Stalker is the first of the physical vampires played by Barry Atwater that actually uses his tremendous strength to fights squads of police and is shot multiple times by them, but overpowers them each time. He has no dialog, which is much different than the Hammer film vampires with Christopher Lee or Bela Lugosi in the 1930's, both of which were centuries old European nobility with plenty to say. This vampire is purely driven by blood, and he kills constantly to get it. He even walks into a hospital and steals it, which also requires him to throw half the staff around the halls and out the windows.This is another great story by Richard Matheson who wrote I am Legend, some of the Star Trek scripts, and other great TV and movies. Daren McGavin is perfectly cast as Carl Kolchak, the journalist that gives his all to figure out the truth no matter how bizarre, and no matter what people will think or say of him. McGavin really made this film work, and it apparently had the highest viewership of any TV film at the time, which was over 30 million. This resulted in a follow-up 1973 movie and TV series 1974-1975. Well worth the price for such quality in a remastered TV movie of great writing, acting, and directing.

A very unique movie in vampire film legacy. Technically not Dracula himself but where a vampire serves as the backdrop to larger social issues and for the first time on film places said vampire in a truly modern setting.I would describe The Night Stalker as more Sci-Fi than horror, more in line with the Twilight Zone than Twilight. Many elements from the movie can be seen in almost every modern vampire adaptation since it's release in 1972.Those interested only in gore and guts and no solid story probably won't enjoy this X-files styled thought provoking take on a vampire loose in Las Vegas ... if I had to compare it to another movie I'd go with Jaws, nobody wanted to close the beaches cause of a shark, will they close the casinos because of a vampire?You'll have to watch the movie, and you won't be disappointed you did.

I first saw this when I was about 8 years old. Scared me pretty bad but I loved it. Then the Night Strangler came out and I was hooked. I decided to watch them again and it brought back the old spooky memories. . My two favorite Darrin McGavin movies are the Night Stalker and a Christmas Story. If you buy the Night Stalker, be sure to get the Night Strangler as well. You can also see the Night Stalker tv series on a lot of oldie stations.

I don’t give a lot of five stars, because I reserve those for releases that are particularly outstanding. This Kino Lorber Blu-Ray of the original Kolchak 1972 TV movie, “The Night Stalker,” is one of those rare releases. First of all, Kino Lorber has outdone itself with the pristine quality of this 4K remastering of a fifty year old TV film. It looks incredible. Not only that, but they have gone the extra mile of presenting brand new (2018) interviews of the original director, producer, and composer, all in their 80s and 90s. KL has created a true historical document with this rare release (which is NOT included in the syndication package for the “Kolchak: The Night Stalker” TV series which later followed, and now airs in reruns on MeTV).Let me say that again: Neither this film nor its sequel, “The Night Strangler,” air in syndication with the short lived series based upon it. It is NOT included in the “Kolchak: The Night Stalker” Complete Series DVD box set. In short, this movie has not been seen in fifty years. I never saw it before buying this Blu-ray, even though I’ve seen the TV series reruns many times over the years. This new Blu-Ray from Kino Lorber is one of the few means of viewing it.Furthermore, it’s easily the very best Kolchak episode I’ve seen—and it’s his rarely seen origin story! If you like Kolchak and you’ve never seen this movie, you MUST buy this Blu-ray.

This is the 50th anniversary of this TV movie from Dan Curtis. I saw it as a little boy and it has always stayed with me. Still spooky!

Back when the X Files began, Chris Carter was often asked where that show came from. He was very open about it: he said he wanted to create a series that gave him the same feeling he had as a child watching Kolchak the Night Stalker. This film (from the mind of Dan Curtis one of the creators of the soap operatic Dark Shadows) started with this TV film about a reporter who stumbles across evidence of the supernatural: in this case a vampire. Though perhaps lacking violence by modern standards, this TV move was a monster in the rating and inspired both a sequel film: The Night Strangler and a television run (Kolchak: the night Stalker.). I highly recommend this film! I only need to get the night Strangler to complete my collection....

A pesar de que haya transcurrido casi medio siglo de su estreno en televisión, esta modesta producción de terror continúa manteniendo todo su encanto. Mucho de ello se debe al excelente libreto de Richard Matheson y a su acertadísimo reparto.

Great movie a little short but a great movie ...

Carl Kolchak (Darren McGavin) is a cynical and brusk Los Angeles newspaper reporter who comes to believe the activities of a serial killer are in fact - those of a modern day vampire!It spawned a sequel and a TV series, such was the impact of this better than average TV horror movie. It's a film of many delights, full of rich and quirky characters, who come to life as the screenplay enjoys toying with audience expectations. Nicely photographed as well, there's a lot of love gone into bringing this to the screen. The great Richard Matheson adapts from a Jeffrey Rice story, while a roll call of excellent character actors of the 40s and 50s give stoic support to the magnetic and witty McGavin.Not as scary these days as it would have been to impressionable viewers back in 72, it's none the less a horror antique to cherish. 7/10Spanish release has nice crisp picture. For English audio select Version Originale.