Anoraks Assemble

The Night Stalker is a 1972 made-for-TV movie, written by Richard Matheson and based on an unpublished story by Jeff Rice.

The film follows reporter Carl Kolchak (the magnificent Darren McGavin) as he investigates a series of mysterious murders on the Las Vegas Strip, where all of the victims were found to be drained of blood.

The victims’ bodies also have bite marks which, when examined, are found to contain human saliva. This revelation, along with the disappearance of blood stocks at the hospital, lead Kolchak to believe that a vampire is at work.

Of course the powers that be do not believe him and warn him off, but Kolchak has a nose for a story and just cannot shake off the feeling that mysterious forces are at work. Eventually he is proved correct, but at what personal cost?

When The Night Stalker was first broadcast in 1972 it set a record for the most-watched made-for-TV film, and it is easy to see why. It is just fabulous. This is mainly due to the character of Kolchak himself, a cynical, world-weary anti-hero made ridiculously likeable by Darren McGavin’s immense charm and charisma. We root for Kolchak and we want him to succeed.

The story itself is an interesting one and the scenes along the Vegas Strip give it a sense of realism – it is very much in the here and now. Skorzeny, the villain, is genuinely frightening. He does not speak but hisses like a wild animal, and this factor, along with his make up, make him quite terrifying. There are moments when the camera focuses on his eyes, and it is actually quite disturbing and very effective.

The Night Stalker, above all else, is fun, with a likeable lead character played by an actor with charm by the bucketload. It was followed by a sequel, The Night Strangler, and a 20-episode TV series, Kolchak: The Night Stalker.

It also proved a major inspiration for The X-Files, with its ‘monster-of-the-week” format.

The Night Stalker is an absolute gem and if you haven’t seen it, seek it out immediately.

I don’t think you will be disappointed.