The Night Strangler

1973

1h 30m

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

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TV Movie

Horror

Mystery

Crime

After being run out of Las Vegas, reporter Carl Kolchak heads for Seattle and another reporting job with the local paper. It's not long before he is on the trail of another string of bizarre murders. It seems that every 21 years, for the past century, a killer kills a certain number of people, drains them of their blood and then disappears into the night. Kolchak is on his trail, but can he stop him?

Directors

Dan Curtis

Writers

Richard Matheson(writer by)

Jeffrey Grant Rice(characters by)

Stars

Darren McGavin

Jo Ann Pflug

Simon Oakland

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Top cast

Carl Kolchak

Louise Harper

Tony Vincenzo

Capt. Schubert

Mr. Berry

Prof. Crabwell

Dr. Richard Malcolm

Llewellyn Crossbinder

Tramp

Charisma Beauty

Wilma Krankheimer

Janie Watkins

Dr. Webb

Joyce Gabriel

Policewoman Sheila

Restaurant Woman

Merissa (Ethel Parker)

David Armstrong

Police Officer (uncredited)

Directors

Dan Curtis

Writers

Richard Matheson(writer by)

Jeffrey Grant Rice(characters by)

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Review

Featured review

7.5/10

I just saw your "so-called killer" wipe up the street with your so-called police force! After the success the previous year of The Night Stalker, Carl Kolchak (Darren McGavin) returns for another feature film. The intrepid reporter with a quip on the lips and a disdain for the unbelievers in the suit wearing echelons, is now in Seattle and quickly realises that the current spate of killings are more than just the work of a serial killer. But can he convince the authorities of this? The formula is exactly the same here, Kolchak simultaneously locks horns with his editor and all the law enforcement people in his arc. He does a voice over for us, proves to be clearly better than the law officers in charge of the case, drops sarcasm as pearls of wisdom, and of course has charisma in abundance. The difference here is that the villain, elegantly played by Richard Anderson, has a voice, a sort of Count Dracula for the modern setting, a Eugene Tooms in embryonic form, he's a great villain and this in turn gives Kolchack more to get his teeth into. Of course the ending is never in doubt, but there's a whole bunch of fun and 70s style scares to enjoy during the ride. Joining the ever enjoyable McGavin are Jo Ann Pflug, Simon Oakland (again great foil for McGavin), Scott Brady, Wally Cox, Margaret Hamilton and John Carradine. A TV series would follow, such was the popularity of the character and its monster of the week formula, and it would influence none other than The X-Files some years down the line. Kolchack, legacy earned and warranted. 7.5/10

John Chard28 Jul, 2015