Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

The Night Stalker Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 4, 2018

There was once a time when a television movie could bring the nation together. In 1972, the event was “The Night Stalker,” a low-budget production meant to act as entertaining filler for ABC’s weekly schedule in January, only to pique the curiosity of almost the entire viewing audience. It was a hit, a massive success for the network and producer Dan Curtis (who created “Dark Shadows”), who found an immediate response to something as potentially frivolous as a detective tale featuring the hunt for a vampire. While certainly a case could be made that sheer oddity made people stay home the evening “The Night Stalker” aired, there’s something a little more than just shock value here, with director John Llewellyn Moxey finding a proper investigative tone to keep the short (75 minutes) feature on the move, while screenwriter Richard Matheson (adapting an unpublished book by Jeffrey Grant Rice) fills the effort with idiosyncrasy and discovery, rewarding viewer attention with a propulsive genre offering that knows what it wants to accomplish, ditching complexity for a solid offering of chills and Las Vegas exploration.

Working the Las Vegas beat for the local Daily News, Kolchak (Darren McGavin) is instructed by his editor, Vincenzo (Simon Oakland), to cover a local murder involving a casino employee. When the victim is discovered with her blood drained from her body, Kolchak begins to piece together a reason for the strange evidence, with other dead residents with bite marks soon arriving on the scene. While local law enforcement, including Sheriff Butcher (Claude Akins), prefers to deal with the reality of the case, Kolchak turns to the monster realm for answers, believing the culprit is actually a vampire, with plans to keep feeding on the community until he’s stopped.

“The Night Stalker” isn’t a large-scale horror endeavor. It’s made for television, bringing down the scope of things to the bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip, which Kolchak tightly monitors as part of his job, making sure readers are clear on the details of everyday crime in the city. However, his latest story contains no ordinary string of murders, with the serial killer feeding on his victims, draining blood from their necks, also graduating to break-ins, stealing blood donations from the local hospital. Matheson doesn’t underline the fantasy elements of the tale, preferring to focus on Kolchak and his unusual persistence in reporting, with the writer’s story thoughts acting as narration for the movie, offering a clear timeline of the vampire rampage. Similar to “Jaws,” local leaders trying to protect tourism want nothing to do with the idea of a monster on the loose, trying to keep Kolchak quiet as he travels to various crime scenes, with most of “The Night Stalker” playing up the character’s sharp instincts and connections to various locals.

“The Night Stalker” is a mystery, but not an especially lengthy one, finding the vampire identified as Janos (Barry Atwater), and he’s not one to hang around and get caught. While the majority of the picture is devoted to investigation, Moxey gets in some impressive stunt work during chase sequences, offering the thrill of recklessness as cops dodge crashing cars and motorcycles, while Janos tosses a doctor out of a window to preserve one escape attempt. The effort does just fine with McGavin in the lead role, adding his quirks and thespian emphasis to liven up the story, but little flashes of mayhem do the trick in “The Night Stalker,” giving the production a few visceral highlights.

The Night Stalker Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Billed as a "Brand new HD restoration in 4K," "The Night Stalker" provides a pleasingly refreshed viewing experience. The AVC encoded image (1.34:1 aspect ratio) presentation comes through with sharpness (when the production isn't battling focus issues), giving close-ups of meaty faces ideal texture, picking up on aging and intense focus. Las Vegas locations maintain depth and clarity, permitting historians to scan casino marquees to learn more about the lounge acts of the day. Costuming is fibrous, adding to character identity. Primaries are handled with care, best with period outfits and Kolchak's city tour, which brings him to blue pools and casino interiors. Signage is bright, preserving Las Vegas nightlife. Skintones are natural for humans, while a more bloodless look is secured for Janos, along with pronounced blood red eyes. Delineation is acceptable. Source is in decent shape, but a few jumpy frames are encountered along the way.

The Night Stalker Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix remains in line with television movie expectations, keeping dialogue exchanges prioritized with clear line readings and escalating tempers. Performances are secured, including mutterings. Scoring is defined, with enjoyable instrumentation for the jazzy score, including crisp percussion snaps and abrupt horns. Sound effects are blunt but communicative. Mild hiss is present throughout the listening event.

The Night Stalker Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (six pages) contains an essay by Simon Abrams.

• Commentary features film historian Tim Lucas.

• Interview (10:24, HD) with director John Llewellyn Moxey delves into his early career and approach to the T.V. movie production process, which requires intense preparation and the support of the crew, who respond positively to respectful leaders. The helmer describes his consideration of horror, and details filming in Las Vegas, where a man dressed as a vampire stumbling through a casino doesn't attract much attention from his fellow gamblers. Casting is examined, as are tensions with producer Dan Curtis, who wanted to make the film himself. The massive success of "The Night Stalker" shocked Moxey, but he wasn't called back for the sequel, "The Night Strangler," with Curtis finally taking creative possession of the franchise.

• Interview (10:01, HD) with Bob Cobert begins with a plea for patience from the 94-year-old composer, who isn't sure he'll be able to recall every detail about his participation in "The Night Stalker." Cobert does describe his initial viewing of the film, demanding the main titles remain silent for maximum network television impact, while the score itself was created on the spot, with Cobert singing themes to Curtis, who loved what he was hearing. Cobert explains his creative process, and talks about his friendship with Darren McGavin. There's some information shared about "The Night Strangler," and Cobert is eager to share his respect for other movie music professionals, fully aware he's living the dream.

• Interview (14:34, SD) with Dan Curtis is a highly opinionated conversation with the producer of "The Night Stalker," who shares his first reaction to the script and confesses to a contentious relationship with writer Richard Matheson, who wasn't pleased to see Curtis take on the project. Casting achievements are detailed, along with the hunt for Moxey, and Curtis also describes his love of narration, keeping Gavin's voice present throughout the picture. The best section of the interview covers the first audience reaction to "The Night Stalker," with the screening crowd going nuts for the film, inspiring a theatrical release overseas. Ratings in America were massive, and Curtis goes on to lament the changing times in T.V. movie development, with corporations unwilling to take risks on low-budget ideas.

The Night Stalker Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Night Stalker" is thin but extremely entertaining, supported by Bob Cobert's funky jazz score and fine supporting performances, giving McGavin plenty to work with. It's okay with vampire myths and better with Las Vegas culture, creating an engaging journey into horror that successfully walks the fine line between frights and investigation, wisely investing in McGavin's ability to support any picture with his distinctive thespian approach.