The Night Strangler

"The Night Strangler" was screenwriter Richard Matheson's sequel to "The Night Stalker," completed in Aug. 1972, only seven months since the original was broadcast, Darren McGavin returning as intrepid reporter Carl Kolchak, Simon Oakland also back as his 'bilious grouch' editor Tony Vincenzo. Instead of a modern day vampire on the loose in Las Vegas, Matheson recalled a tour of underground Seattle, the ruins of a 19th century culture that stirred him into creating a killer from another time ("The Time Killer" was one alternate title), committing a series of six murders of young women over a period of 18 days, only to disappear for 21 years until the next spate of killings. Kolchak finds himself happily employed once more due to a chance meeting with Vincenzo, but the honeymoon doesn't last long as a new story even more incredible begins to take shape due to the diligence of Daily Chronicle librarian Titus Berry (Wally Cox), who helps connect the dots by starting with a previous set of similar crimes from 1952, all detailing a loss of blood from a needle puncture at the base of the skull, rotted flesh left on each woman's crushed throat: "as if they had been strangled by a dead man!" Continuing their research further back, they discover that the same number of victims covering the same span of days dates all the way back to 1889, another lead arriving via author Mark Twain, describing a chance meeting with Dr. Richard Malcolm (Richard Anderson), a former Union army surgeon during the Civil War who believed that immortality was achievable through an 'elixir of life.' Margaret Hamilton puts in a splendid cameo as Prof. Crabwell, whose pontifications on the nature of alchemy conclude that the main ingredient necessary for this potion to succeed is human blood. All of this is too much for a beleaguered Vincenzo and aging publisher Llewellyn Crossbinder (John Carradine), compared by Kolchak to Cotton Mather (Vincenzo: "don't underestimate him, he may be old but his fangs are potent!"), while equally exasperated police captain Roscoe Schubert (Scott Brady) handles the case his own way, until all six victims are claimed by the 18th day. The connection between Dr. Richard Malcolm and a clinic named for Dr. Malcolm Richards leads Kolchak to the fabled Seattle underground and a final date with destiny, revealing a 144 year old culprit ready to disappear for another 21 years once he ingests the final dosage. McGavin may have clashed with producer/director Dan Curtis but it doesn't show in his performance, a spirited, robust presentation of facts (or 'screwball speculation' in Vincenzo's opinion) that even Carradine's publisher can't ignore, until such time that the reporter finds himself unemployed yet again, too damn effective for his own good (both McGavin and Oakland would repeat their roles in all 20 episodes of the subsequent series). As simple and straightforward as the first Kolchak outing was, this sequel is at least its equal with so many intricate threads tied together to weave a web of murder spanning more than a century, with another superb cast bringing it all to vivid life, and special kudos to the set design for the hidden underground, shrouded in fog and a marvel to behold with the rotted corpses in attendance.

The follow-up story to The Night Stalker once again finds wisecracking reporter Karl Kolchak investigating a string of bizarre murders that yet again points to an unnatural suspect. Deftly crafted and making fab use of its added runtime, The Night Strangler is just as impressive as its predecessor and is a sequel done right, for it takes what was good about the first film and builds on top of it.

Directed by Dan Curtis, the story follows almost the same route as before and retains all the fascinating aspects of the original. Additional runtime allows for more of Kolchak's ranting & friction with the powers that be. The plot is simple in structure but executed with finesse and the improved production value is evident in its elaborate set pieces. The antagonist however is less memorable in this one.

Just like the previous entry, the film comes equipped with a spooky atmosphere for the night scenes and the camera is skilfully utilised to heighten the build-up. Darren McGavin reprises his role as Kolchak and is even more abrasive, intruding & exasperating than last time which only works in the story's favour. The finale is a tad too expository and is amongst the weaker aspects but it still wraps the journey of a fine note.

Overall, The Night Strangler is slightly more polished in looks, more focused in content & more confident in executing the original formula and also improves upon the original in few aspects. Despite lacking a fearsome villain, the film makes up for it by creating an aura about him. The ride is almost as entertaining & satisfying if not more, the interest in the outcome is never lost, and McGavin's grating act comfortably steers the film past the finish line. A worthy sequel.

Part of the success of The Night Stalker and this its sequel has to be the ever-present humour created throughout the script in the character of Carl Kolchak. He is a character that is as stubborn as ever andone that despite his need/desire for a story shows more humanity and ethical standards than the system which continually steps on him. He is at one point a caricature...sneakers and the same suit and the same straw hat....and yet possesses common sense, intelligence and wit. These contradictions in character often provide a lot of comedic relief in the Night Stalker/Strangler movies and the television series as well. No one better understands this than Darren McGavin who essays the role of the obstinate reporter. Each of his performances is a real treat. And although I have been genuinely frightened by these films and the series...many of my fondest memories are about the funny things..the character traits(and outfit) of Kolchak, the discussions between Kolchak and super veteran character actor Simon Oakland(his boss), the situations Kolchak faces out of lack of care, and so on. In many ways The Night Strangler is a better film that the first one...perhaps not as scary..but better written and acted. Great character actors abound with the likes of Al Lewis, Margaret Hamilton, Wally Cox, and John Carradine. The story this time deals with the secret of a man who kills young women for their blood...a need he must satisfy every few years. He lives in a city below a city...and the shots of this subterranean polis are visually striking. Great story, great acting, wonderful sets, and lots of scary moments and funny ones make this a triumph of the small screen.

This was a second pilot for a television series that aired after this movie was shown. Another pilot, "The Night Stalker," a year earlier. This one actually kicked off the series, called "Kolchak: The Night Stalker," which ran only two years. It seemed to be popular so I don't know why it didn't last longer.

At 90 minutes, this was longer than the first pilot but very similar in plot. The only major change is in the cities. Here, our intrepid reporter-hero "Carl Kolchak" (Darren McGavin) is hunting down a serial-killer werewolf in Seattle instead of Las Vegas.

He has the same common opponents, meaning his newspaper boss "Tony Vincenzo (Simon Oakland) and a hostile police chief (played by Scott Brady). Along the way you get to see a bevy of beauties including Jo Ann Pflug and Nina Wayne. You also have brief appearances by somewhat-famous actors John Carradine, Margaret Hamilton, Al Lewis and Wally Cox.

The story will keep your interest and has good suspense at the end. The only annoying part - at least for me - is the overdone yelling between McGavin and Oakland, and McGavin and Brady. Every single time - every time - that pairing is on screen it is nothing but a shouting match. Can you say "abrasive?" It's just too much. Thankfully, on DVD, I can use the English subtitles and mute the sound button so I can turn off these screaming lunatics. Unfortunately, those shouting sessions take up a good chunk of the movie.

The Night Strangler is the follow up to the successful 1972 TV movie 'The Night Stalker'. Aside from featuring similar titles, the films also share similar plot lines, and it could be said that this is something of a remake of the first film with a slightly more in depth story. I won't profess to be a big fan of the first film in the series, although I found it to be a more than decent TV movie and I did enjoy it. This film isn't a big improvement over the first one, although I would say it's an improvement; with a longer running time and a more well thought-out plot, this one delves into it's subject matter more and feels more like a proper movie than a made for TV movie. Darren McGavin once again plays Kolchak; a maverick reporter who this time finds himself in Seattle after being ran out of Las Vegas (probably for annoying everyone with his constant persistence!). Coincidence strikes and pretty soon he's on the trail of yet another vampire! He discovers that every 21 years for over a hundred years, a group of people have been killed within a small time period and thinks the murders are connected.

The thing that stands out most about this film is most definitely the central performance from Darren McGavin. His portrayal of the stubborn reporter is great to watch and always ensures that the film is entertaining. A lot of the film consists of our unlikely hero trying to convince the relevant authorities that his suspicions are fact and them disbelieving them. These scenes are fairly clichéd, although they are fun to watch; and again it's mostly because of McGavin's excellent impersonation of the central character. Since the film is really about the detective on the trail of the vampire, there's not a great deal of actual bloodshed or bloodsucking in the film, although that isn't much of a hindrance because as a thriller it works very well and director Dan Curtis does manage to create several moments of suspense that kick the action up a level. It's always obvious where it's all going, and the ending doesn't come as a surprise; but it's a fun time getting there. This film and the first one were pilots for a TV series and obviously they did the trick because Kolchak was solving more mysteries in his own TV series a year after this film was released.