The Night Stalker (1972)

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, along with "The Werewolf," 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-

What a cast. Darren McGavin and Carol Lynley are more or less in their prime but the production has a striking assembly of supporting players that must by this time have been living on residuals -- Claude Akins, Kent Smith, Ralph Meeker, Elishah Cook Jr., and Charles McGraw whose face is now as mauled as his voice. Reminds me of John Ford's collection of falling stars in "The Last Hurrah." The plot is standard. McGavin is a hungry reporter in Las Vegas, always at odds with his boss, Simon Oakland, and pretty much hated by everyone else in authority. A number of young ladies are killed, their blood drained, and on the rare occasions when the killer is encountered, blunt force by the police doesn't stop him and neither do bullets. McGavin concludes that they're dealing with a vampire. When the scoffing is over, the authorities reluctantly accept his conclusion as well as his means of dealing with the vampire -- a crucifix, a wooden stake, and a mallet.The logic of the story is flawed. This is a kind of black comedy and a TV production so not much care goes into it. An informant tells McGavin the address of the vampire's house. The reporter then investigates the house, although it's night and we know the blood sucker is awake at night. Why not wait until dawn, you ask? Well, then you have no rough-and-tumble encounter between the Baron and McGavin. McGavin naturally loses the wrestling match but is saved by the arrival of a friend in the police department. Together -- and with the help of the crucifix and the Las Vegas desert sunlight -- they manage to destroy the monster. Not that it does McGavin any good. The police force the paper to kill the story and boot the reporter out of town.McGavin does well enough by the role of the cocky newspaperman. If sometimes he seems kind of dumb, well we all have our dumb moments. Lynley is luscious but is only there to prove that Darren McGavin's character is heterosexual. The supporting actors do the best they can with their roles. I prefer Kent Smith as the patient, reasonable, accommodating figure from the cat movies of Val Lewton. And I can't help wondering what Claude Akins would do in a sympathetic role.

"This nut thinks he's a vampire! He has killed four, maybe five women. He has drained every drop of blood from every one of them. Now that is news Vincenzo, news!"- Carl Kolchak, newspaper reporter, to his editor in THE NIGHT STALKER. Produced in just eighteen days by television horrormeister Dan Curtis (DARK SHADOWS) as shoestring-budget program fodder for a network TV movie-of-the-week show, THE NIGHT STALKER became a ratings champion due to its unexpectedly lively mixture of amusing cynicism in the face of unnerving circumstance. Richard Matheson's detailed yet economical teleplay grabs you immediately with a plot of rapidly growing terror. And when director John Llewellyn Moxey unleashes stunt coordinator Dick Ziker and his team of incredible stuntmen you may find your jaw dropping (watch for the melee at the hospital and the swimming pool sequence). The movie's success is also due in no small measure to Barry Atwater's hair-raising appearance as the bloodthirsty fiend, Janos Skorzeny. Atwater doesn't have a single word of dialogue but his image leaves a lasting, unsettling impression.But without question this is Darren McGavin's movie and his relaxed, reactive performance infuses many of the scenes with a sustained and welcome humor. As the chillingly staged murders multiply and the disbelief of the jaded civil servants and one hard luck, bandy-legged journalist begins to crumble, the viewer is borne away into the nightmarish reality of the tale with genuine, chilling fear rising out of the threadbare production. Once again, a whole lot less provides a whole lot more. The follow-up movie, THE NIGHT STRANGLER has its moments but never quite matches the creeping dread of STALKER.

I hadn't given this one a try before so I decided to pop it in and take a look. By the end I couldn't believe I let this one slip by. This could easily be one of the best TV Movies ever made.This one has one tight little story that will creep you out from start to finish. Even for an early 70's TV Movie, this one is extremely effective with story telling and atmosphere. By the end I knew the ending but I was so blown away the quality of the production and story, it didn't matter.It's a darn shame TV Movies with this kind of story telling doesn't exist anymore. Of course it didn't hurt that Richard Matheson wrote this one so if your a fan of his, jump on board this little gem and hold on. Great script, great acting and supreme atmosphere make this TV movie a winner all the way.