MysteryHorrorThrillerTV Movie

The Night Stalker

Wisecracking reporter Carl Kolchak investigates a string of murders in Las Vegas and suspects the culprit is a vampire. His editor thinks he's crazy and the police think he's a nuisance, so Kolchak takes matters into his own hands.

Release Date : 1972-01-11

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : ABC Circle Films

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Carl Kolchak

Original Name : Darren McGavin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gail Foster

Original Name : Carol Lynley

Gender : Female

Character Name : Tony Vincenzo

Original Name : Simon Oakland

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bernie Jenks

Original Name : Ralph Meeker

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sheriff Warren A. Butcher

Original Name : Claude Akins

Gender : Male

Character Name : Police Chief Ed Masterson

Original Name : Charles McGraw

Gender : Male

Character Name : District Attorney Tom Paine

Original Name : Kent Smith

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mickey Crawford

Original Name : Elisha Cook Jr.

Gender : Male

Character Name : Fred Hurley

Original Name : Stanley Adams

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Robert Makurji

Original Name : Larry Linville

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. John O'Brien

Original Name : Jordan Rhodes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Janos Skorzeny

Original Name : Barry Atwater

Gender : Male

Character Name : Las Vegas Policeman (uncredited)

Original Name : Edward Faulkner

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Brandon (uncredited)

Original Name : Virginia Gregg

Gender : Female

Character Name : Intern (uncredited)

Original Name : Buddy Joe Hooker

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Irene Cagen

Gender : Female

Character Name :

Original Name : Edward Faulkner

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Sig Frohlich

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Eddie Garrett

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Virginia Gregg

Gender : Female

Character Name :

Original Name : Buddy Joe Hooker

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Monty O'Grady

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Peggy Rea

Gender : Female

Character Name :

Original Name : Mark Russell

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : George Simmons

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Judge for yourself its believability and then try to tell yourself, wherever you may be, it couldn't happen here. 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. 7/10

Wuchak

@Wuchak

2021-06-23

A formidable vampire is on the loose in Las Vegas RELEASED TO TV IN EARLY 1972 and directed by John Llewellyn Moxey, "The Night Stalker" chronicles events in Las Vegas when the bodies of several young women are found drained of blood. Intrepid reporter Carl Kolchak (Darren McGavin) increasingly suspects that something supernatural is at foot, which his bellowing boss finds incredulous (Simon Oakland), as well as city authorities (Ralph Meeker, Claude Akins & Kent Smith). Elisha Cook Jr is on hand as an informant while Barry Atwater plays Janos Skorzeny. “The Night Stalker” was a hugely successful TV movie, which naturally led to a sequel, “The Night Strangler” (1973), and a series that ran for one season from 1974-1975 (20 episodes), not to mention numerous Kolchak books. This original movie was the best of the batch with “The Night Strangler” almost as good and even better in some ways. Both movies established the template (formula) for all that followed. What makes this movie “the best of the batch”? Answer: The streamlined story is full of intrigue, action, ravishing women, horror and suspense; and the jazzy score doesn’t hurt. As far as the women go, lovely Carol Lynley is on hand as Kolchak’s babe, but not enough is done with her. Nevertheless, there are 3-4 peripheral beauties. The sequel flick and the first episode “The Ripper” followed this pilot’s lead in the female department, but the rest of the series was rather weak on this front. Since this is a TV flick from the early 70s don’t expect a much gore. THE MOVIE RUNS 1 hour 14 minutes and was shot in Las Vegas with studio work done at Universal Studios & Samuel Goldwyn Studios, CA. WRITER: Richard Matheson (teleplay) & Jeffrey Grant Rice (story). GRADE: A-

whitsbrain

@whitsbrain

2024-02-09

This is a nicely done TV thriller. It's campy but has a dark mood that I enjoyed. The "Night Stalker" himself got quite a bit of screen time; he wasn't hidden in the shadows too much. There are a couple of short but good action sequences where the Night Stalker evades police cars, motorcycles, even gun fire. Kolchak manages to handle the Night Stalker a bit too easily when compared to the army of police and their failings, but that is all part of the movie's charm. Darrin McGavin as Kolchak was one of my favorite characters as a youth and I absolutely loved the TV series that followed soon after. Kolchak is different in this movie than he is in that TV series. He's mostly interested in getting the big story so he can get a job in New York again. He doesn't seem to be friends with his boss Tony Vincenzo in this. They seem very much at odds with one another. Kolchak greases a lot of palms and swings a few deals to get what he needs to score the scoop. I'm surprised he doesn't wear the light blue suit here. He's got the trademark porkpie straw hat, though. He also has a love interest who seems much too young and beautiful for ol' hairy Carl. Darren McGavin is fantastic as Kolchak, and this has a nice gritty '70s Las Vegas atmosphere.