As we approach the mid-1970s in my Countdown to Halloween,
my memories are beginning to become a bit unreliable. For example, since I first saw it on TV on
January 11, 1972, I have maintained that The Night Stalker was one of the top
ten vampire movies of all time. After
watching it recently, though, I’m not sure I can continue to make that argument. Conversely, I’ve always thought its sequel,
which I first saw on TV on January 16, 1973, was inferior. After watching it recently, though, I now
believe it is actually the better movie of the two.
The thing about The Night Stalker is that it’s really just
a standard vampire tale, and not a particularly good one. What makes the movie special is the character
of reporter Carl Kolchak, played by Darren McGavin. Kolchak is one of the greatest television
characters of all time. In this movie,
the sequel and a subsequent 20-episode series, the concept of the “monster of
the week” television show was born.
The two movies and the series episodes had the same exact
structure. After a series of murders,
Kolchak would discover something supernatural.
No one would believe him, but he would pursue the story anyway. After ultimately dispatching the particular guest
monster of the week, he would somehow be blamed and his story would be buried. Lather, rinse, repeat.
In The Night Stalker, the supernatural element is Janos
Skorzeny (Barry Atwater), a vampire killing Las Vegas showgirls. When his editor, Vincenzo (Simon Oakland) and
the sheriff do not believe Kolchak, even after being witness to incredible
events, Kolchak takes it upon himself to track him down and drive a stake
through his heart. Of course, when he’s
successful, it is Kolchak who is arrested for murder. Rather than jail time, though, he’s simply
run out of town.
In The Night Strangler, the supernatural element is Dr.
Richard Malcolm (Richard Anderson), an immortal underground dweller who surfaces
every 21 years to refresh his elixir of life by killing Seattle women and
collecting their blood. When his editor,
Vincenzo (apparently fired and run out of town as well) and the police do not
believe Kolchak, even after being witness to incredible events, Kolchak takes
it upon himself to track him down and destroy his magical elixir. Of course, when he’s successful, he and
Vincenzo are fired and last seen in Kolchak’s car heading for New York City.
The two movies are framed with Kolchak’s after-the-fact,
likely embellished, narration about the events that occurred. He speaks earnestly, as if what he has to say
is of grave importance. For example, The
Night Stalker ends with him stating, “One fact that cannot be buried: Janos and
all his victims were immediately cremated. Try to tell yourself it
couldn't happen here.” But he has some
very funny lines, as well, such as his response to being booted out of Las
Vegas, “I pull your fat out of the fire and you turn around and do this to me!”
Kolchak’s relationship with Vincenzo is also great fun to
watch. Their verbal sparring, often
escalating to near fisticuffs, is another signature of the movies and the
television series. They must have a
history, because Vincenzo warns him, “If you keep going on like this, you’re
going to be fired again.” It’s a little
coincidental that they both end up in the same bar in Seattle in The Night
Strangler, but it soon doesn’t matter; you’re just glad they’re back together.
The Night Strangler is a more effective horror film than
The Night Stalker. Dan Curtis (Dark
Shadows), producer of the first one, took directing reigns in the second, and
he is better than John Llewellyn Moxey at creating thrills and chills. The Night Stalker is almost documentary-like
in the way the scenes with the vampire are filmed; there’s no suspense. But The Night Strangler has spookier sets,
better lighting and more creative camerawork.
Curtis-regular Robert Cobert provides the music for both, and it’s even
a richer score in the second movie.
The Night Strangler is also more fun than The Night
Stalker. Its cast is full of cameos and
guest stars familiar to genre fans.
Margaret Hamilton, the Wicked Witch of the West, is a professor with
whom Kolchak consults. Horror legend
John Carradine is the newspaper’s publisher.
And Al Lewis, Grandpa Munster, shows up as a “tramp” who may have some
information about the murders. 70s movie
and TV regular Wally Cox has a more extended role as Mr. Berry, a researcher
for the newspaper who gives Kolchak most of the historical information for the
case.
Since we’ve already been introduced to Kolchak in The
Night Stalker, McGavin is really firing on all cylinders playing him in The
Night Strangler. The banter between him
and a Seattle policeman asking a witness questions is hilarious. You begin to realize in the second movie that
the monster or supernatural element is almost irrelevant. It’s Kolchak whom we want to watch. Apparently, the formula wore out it’s welcome,
though, since the series was cancelled after one season. But that’s material for another day…
Tomorrow: Sisters!
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