TV MovieHorrorMysteryCrime

The Night Strangler

After being run out of Las Vegas, reporter Carl Kolchak heads for Seattle and another reporting job with the local paper. It's not long before he is on the trail of another string of bizarre murders. It seems that every 21 years, for the past century, a killer kills a certain number of people, drains them of their blood and then disappears into the night. Kolchak is on his trail, but can he stop him?

Release Date : 1973-01-16

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : ABC Circle Films

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles : Kolchak: The Night Strangler

Cast

Character Name : Carl Kolchak

Original Name : Darren McGavin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Louise Harper

Original Name : Jo Ann Pflug

Gender : Female

Character Name : Tony Vincenzo

Original Name : Simon Oakland

Gender : Male

Character Name : Capt. Schubert

Original Name : Scott Brady

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr. Berry

Original Name : Wally Cox

Gender : Male

Character Name : Prof. Crabwell

Original Name : Margaret Hamilton

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dr. Richard Malcolm

Original Name : Richard Anderson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Llewellyn Crossbinder

Original Name : John Carradine

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tramp

Original Name : Al Lewis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Charisma Beauty

Original Name : Nina Wayne

Gender : Female

Character Name : Wilma Krankheimer

Original Name : Virginia Peters

Gender : Female

Character Name : Janie Watkins

Original Name : Kate Murtagh

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dr. Webb

Original Name : Ivor Francis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Joyce Gabriel

Original Name : Diane Shalet

Gender : Female

Character Name : Policewoman Sheila

Original Name : Anne Randall

Gender : Female

Character Name : Restaurant Woman

Original Name : Francoise Birnheim

Gender : Male

Character Name : Merissa (Ethel Parker)

Original Name : Regina Parton

Gender : Female

Character Name : Police Officer (uncredited)

Original Name : David Armstrong

Gender : Male

Character Name : Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : Margaret Bacon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : Al Beaudine

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bar Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Loren Brown

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bar Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Bill Clark

Gender : Male

Character Name : Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert Cole

Gender : Male

Character Name : Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : Tony Dante

Gender : Male

Character Name : Underground Tour Guide (uncredited)

Original Name : George DiCenzo

Gender : Male

Character Name : Man on Tour (uncredited)

Original Name : Rudy Doucette

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bar Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Bob Harks

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bar Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Chester Hayes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Charlie the Bartender (uncredited)

Original Name : Bill McLean

Gender : Male

Character Name : Detective (uncredited)

Original Name : Joe Phillips

Gender : Male

Character Name : Police Officer (uncredited)

Original Name : Al Roberts

Gender : Male

Character Name : Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : Arnold Roberts

Gender : Male

Character Name : Police Officer (uncredited)

Original Name : Hank Robinson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bar Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Bob Templeton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bar Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : George Tracy

Gender : Male

Character Name : Police Officer (uncredited)

Original Name : George Washburn

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

I just saw your "so-called killer" wipe up the street with your so-called police force! After the success the previous year of The Night Stalker, Carl Kolchak (Darren McGavin) returns for another feature film. The intrepid reporter with a quip on the lips and a disdain for the unbelievers in the suit wearing echelons, is now in Seattle and quickly realises that the current spate of killings are more than just the work of a serial killer. But can he convince the authorities of this? The formula is exactly the same here, Kolchak simultaneously locks horns with his editor and all the law enforcement people in his arc. He does a voice over for us, proves to be clearly better than the law officers in charge of the case, drops sarcasm as pearls of wisdom, and of course has charisma in abundance. The difference here is that the villain, elegantly played by Richard Anderson, has a voice, a sort of Count Dracula for the modern setting, a Eugene Tooms in embryonic form, he's a great villain and this in turn gives Kolchack more to get his teeth into. Of course the ending is never in doubt, but there's a whole bunch of fun and 70s style scares to enjoy during the ride. Joining the ever enjoyable McGavin are Jo Ann Pflug, Simon Oakland (again great foil for McGavin), Scott Brady, Wally Cox, Margaret Hamilton and John Carradine. A TV series would follow, such was the popularity of the character and its monster of the week formula, and it would influence none other than The X-Files some years down the line. Kolchack, legacy earned and warranted. 7.5/10

Wuchak

@Wuchak

2021-06-23

Every 21 years a formidable strangler is on the loose in Seattle RELEASED TO TV IN EARLY 1973 and directed by Dan Curtis, "The Night Strangler" chronicles events in Seattle when the strangled bodies of several young women are found. Intrepid reporter Carl Kolchak (Darren McGavin) discovers that the same kinds of murders occur every 21 years dating back to the late 1800s. Simon Oakland plays Kolchak’s bellowing boss while Jo Ann Pflug appears as a genial belly dancer who assists Carl. Scott Brady plays the police captain while Wally Cox is on hand as a helpful scribe. Richard Anderson has a key role. “The Night Strangler” was the follow-up to the highly successful “The Night Stalker” (1972) and led to a series that ran for one season from 1974-1975 (20 episodes), not to mention numerous Kolchak books. The two pilot movies are the best of the batch and established the template (formula) for the series and books. Like the first film, there’s a lot of intrigue, action, ravishing women, horror and suspense, plus a percussion-oriented jazzy score that’s even better. “The Night Strangler” adds a little effective comedy and the antagonist is more complicated. The underground lair is mysterious and the mummified family is creepy, but the details of the alchemist’s elixir and strategy seem contrived. It’s good to have Kolchak team-up with someone (cutie Pflug), which rarely happens in the ensuing series, but it was welcome when it did (“The Energy Eater” and “Demon in Lace”). There are a few peripheral beauties (Regina Parton, Nina Wayne and Francoise Birnheim), which the rest of the series mostly lacked, except for the debut episode, “The Ripper,” and "The Werewolf." Since this is a TV flick from the early 70s don’t expect much gore. THE MOVIE RUNS 90 minutes (with the original TV release more streamlined at 74 minutes) and was shot in Seattle and the Bradbury Building in downtown, Los Angeles, with studio work done at 20th Century Fox Studios. WRITER: Richard Matheson (teleplay) & Jeffrey Grant Rice (characters & formula). GRADE: B+