Night Stalker

Plot synopsis:
In the opening, Kolchak is sitting on the bed of a sleazy hotel room, listening to a replay of his dictation on his portable tape recorder. The notes are about a series of murders that have plagued the Las Vegas Strip, and a cover up of those events by the authorities. All of the victims had their bodies drained of blood. When a meeting is conducted with the sheriff's department, the DEA, the police and others, they discover the suspect's true identity is Janos Skorzeny, who is the prime suspect in multiple homicides involving massive loss of blood extending back years. When Skorzeny attempts to rob a hospital, the police are called to stop him. Skorzeny is shot multiple times without effect, and manages to escape by outrunning a police car and motorcycle.
Kolchak has a girlfriend named Gail Foster (Carol Lynley) who earns her living as a dancer, which Kolchak attempts to get her to give up. At Gail's urging, Kolchak looks into vampire lore. The evidence persuades Kolchak to suspect that Skorzeny is a vampire, much to the disbelief of his boss Anthony Vincenzo (Simon Oakland). Kolchak is able to convince the police that they are fighting a vampire, as the suspect possesses incredible strength and cannot be harmed by gunfire. Kolchak ultimately destroys the vampire, and unlike subsequent productions, he does so with the help of his friend in the FBI (a credible eyewitness).
Kolchak writes his version of the story for the newspaper, and proposes to his girlfriend, telling her that they will both move to New York City. However, in quick succession, the authorities print a false version of the newspaper story with his byline, and threaten to charge Kolchak with first degree murder unless he quietly leaves Las Vegas. Kolchak is told that his girlfriend Gail has already been forced to leave the city for "engaging in unsavory activities". Carl exhausts his savings placing personal advertisements across the country in a futile attempt to find her.
The final scene is of Kolchak in the sleazy hotel room, finishing his book. He explains that if anyone tries to verify the events in the book, they will find that everyone involved in the incident in even the slightest way has either left town, is not talking, or is dead, there is no file on the suspect, all of the evidence has been destroyed by the authorities, and all of the bodies were cremated.

Tags: paranormal

Review:
When the show was first announced it sounded promising, mostly because producer Frank Spotnitz was a veteran of "The X Files"...and as we all know, several "X Files" veterans were big fans of the original "Night Stalker" movies and series.Now, whenever a cultural icon is reinvented for a new era, one always expects a few changes.
The police, not wanting to look stupid, were not about to admit that there really might be things that go bump in the night running around their city...and Vincenzo (being not exactly akin to Ben Bradlee) was only too happy to quash the story in order to keep the authorities happy.
Watching a young, handsome Kolchak investigate a story with his capable partner Peri and wide-eyed photographer Jain, you get the feeling you're actually in Metropolis with Clark, Lois and Jimmy.Those changes alone are enough to alienate a number of the "Night Stalker" faithful.
But there's an underlying feeling, a style, that's also very different from the original books, movies and series.Whereas the "old" Kolchak used to narrate events in a snappy, factual way, Spotnitz has fallen back into his "X Files" habit of just using opening and closing narration which, even then, is more on the philosophical than factual side.
Unfortunately, it served only to remind the viewer of the big difference between the original Kolchak and Spotnitz's Kolchak.And finally -- without giving away spoilers -- there's the puzzling shot of Kolchak's hand at the end of the episode which ties in with the murder of his wife.
This was a good idea (bringing back Kolchack: The Night Stalker) unfortunately everyone who bought the rights to the name completely ignored what made the original a great show.
But why would writers with some ability(from The X-Files - a great show I might add)change everything except the names The Night Stalker, Karl Kolchak, and Vincenzo.
When this was announced I knew there would be trouble.Kolchak is one of TV land's most beloved and remembered supernatural-themed shows.One of the reasons being the superb casting of the Late,greats Darren McGavin,and Simon Oakland.As a big fan of the original I was looking forward to a faithful updating.The studio just used the name to launch a generic x-files wanna-be.This time we get Sturt Townsand and Gabrielle Union.They are not bad.The stories that aired had a little promise.The whole thing played like a wake.None of the charm or wit of the original to be found,and ended up very disappointing.Townsend is a bit underrated in my book.He could have grew into the role if given time and better writing.A bit too young for the character in my book.With Time this might have developed into something good.The show needed to start with a BANG;Not on mute.They just went for a serious tone with nothing to balance it out.How could the network have the stomach to green-light this and send it out into the public.It was clear from the start they had no idea of the following the original had.I expected more..
and i really liked it i liked how Stuart Townsend portrayed Carl Kolchak, and the best part is that the character is different from the first series.
Network: ABC; Genre: Remake, Horror; Content Rating: TV-14 (horror violence, blood and gore); Available: DVD; Perspective: Contemporary (star range: 1 - 4); Season Reviewed: Series (1 season) I've got to admit right off the bat that I'm not familiar with the original Jeff Rice series "Kolchak: The Night Stalker" starring Darren McGavin.
For those not familiar with the story, it follow Carl Kolchak, a newspaper crime reporter who obsessively hunts down all things supernatural after the brutal murder of his wife by a beast that left a mysterious mark on her (and other victims) after she died."Night Stalker" is a disaster from head to toe.
Instead of a hardboiled crime reporter he looks like a soft WB TV star sleepwalking through a slasher movie.While I may not know "The Night Stalker", I do know "The X-Files" where "Stalker" developer Frank Spotnitz hails from.
The violence and use of (quote/unquote) creature effects is chopped to hell in the editing - an obvious attempt to hide a low budget rather than to meet the network standards."Night Stalker" is one of several network potholes on the long, boring road between the time when the masterful "The X-Files" held nerds in suspense over alien conspiracies and now, when the unbridled funhouse ride "Supernatural" has brought the TV horror genre back from the dead.
Calling a program "Night Stalker" and the main character Carl Kolchak, does not mean that this program bears any resemblance at all to the earlier series.
The brief appearance of Darren McGavin, star of the original series, in the first episode, seems to have been an unsuccessful attempt to give the new show some kind of official approval.
To begin with, there's not even a single episode of the old Night Stalker of the seventies that I missed and that because I'm a huge fan.This new series has very little in common with the original ,old series.
An eager young journalist trying with enthusiasm and diligence to get into the gist of reporting he is all the time swayed between the 2 protagonists with the equally strong character trying to built the right profile of the pro he wants to be at the same time maintaining a balance with where his own instinct leads him.Finally a very solid and convincing performance from the actor Cotter Smith who plays the role of the experienced,sometimes tough editor who however has a genuine love and interest in his reporters whom he wishes to succeed in their missions every time.All in all I find this series very thrilling and really hope it goes on forever..
I personally like it a lot better than CSI at the moment, so I'm going to keep watching it.Also, what a lot of people don'r realize is that Darren SKIPPED OUT on the original show because he didn't like the humor in it.
Don't get me wrong, the writing is good, and most of the cast, Townshand included, can act, but the problem lies within its name.I have no idea what possessed these people to give it the Night Stalker license.
The original was set in Chicago and that's fine, but the new one just becomes "Yet another supernatural tale set in LA." If it were set in any other city, maybe it'd have more merit.Also, this just doesn't feel like Night Stalker.
It's supernatural and the first ep was thrilling, but this just doesn't feel like the original.So while this show is good, its not Night Stalker and it would have been better if it were something else..
I loved the original "Night Stalker" TV series.
This show is an insult to the makers of the original (though I did see Dan Curtis listed as an Executive Producer; I hope he simply allowed them to use his name and didn't actually have any involvement in this atrocity).I remember when movies and TV cast actors like Darren McGavin, Elliot Gould, George Segal, Shelly Winters, Richard Roundtree, Warren Oates, Jill Clayburgh...
As I young teen I used to faithfully watch the original series, but just wasn't sure if Stuart Townsend could pull off the character or hold up as the focal point of TV series.Compelling probably best describes his work on this show.
Don't you realize what made the original "The Night Stalker" movies and series such a classic was the wonderful interplay between Kolchak (Darrin McGavin) and his boss (Simon Oakland)?
Instead, this series is starting off as a rejected "X Files" episode."Night Stalker" needs, at least, a quirky Kolchak, say, Matthew Lillard or David Schwimmer.
I understand that Chris Carter and his *The X-Files* crew were inspired by the original *Kolchak: The Night Stalker* TV movies and series.
Humor and irreverence were the lifeblood of the original Carl Kolchak, and Spotnitz sucked it out of this incarnation of Kolchak as thoroughly as Janos Skorzeny, Dracula, Nosferatu, Lestat or any other vampire who appeared on the big or small screen.Many are touting *Night Stalker* as "the new X-Files," and I can't disagree with that; Stuart Townsend's Kolchak doesn't resemble Darren McGavin's original Kolchak so much as he does Fox Mulder-- if Mulder were taken off Prozac.
It's obvious that the Generation Xers (pun definitely intended) like their TV shows about the supernatural dark, depressed and humorless; this show may be the new X-Files, but don't try to pass it off as the new *Kolchak: The Night Stalker*!Somebody stake this vampire before it hurts anyone!.
This new Night Stalker totally sucks from every angle that you can possibly consider.I don't like any of the actors.
I enjoy the story and think that Stuart Townsend is a great actor and enjoy the entire ensemble.This show does not have the same "feel" to me as X-files had, which is good.
I am looking forward to see how this show grows.At this time the stories seem to have many loose threads, which I assume will come together later in the series.Seems like most of the disappointment around this is with people comparing it to the original.
Very much a worthy companion to X-FILES and even forgotten fare, such as Anthony Quayle's STRANGE REPORT, this new NIGHT STALKER will find an audience that appreciates thoughtful horror and interesting investigations.
IF Spotnitz had hired, say, Paul McCrane as Kolchak and Hector Elizondo as Vincenzo, and IF he had tried to emulate the same balance of chills and humor exhibited by the original pilots, and IF the new approach weren't such a transparent blueprint of the unending story arc of Byzantine conspiracy that was "The X-Files," it might have worked as a respectful homage.
If Spotnitz wanted to make this radical a departure from the original, he really should have said "no" to the idea of a remake and just composed a whole new series without trying to shoehorn this sad Chris Carter retread into a classic format.Update: Those crappy ratings can't be ignored.
ABC Night Stalker ( new series).
If the makers of the show didn't want a comparison, they shouldn't have called it Night Stalker and named its leading character Carl Kolchak.
The "new" Battlestar Galactica is a wonderful show, light years ahead of its infantile predecessor.)Aside from its failure as a true descendant of the original series (that honor goes to this season's WB series, Supernatural), Night Stalker is a clunker because of its too loose story lines, its cast members who look like fashionistas, and its failure to come to grips with an interesting Carl.
Take a series with fine character actors playing quirky, interesting roles, inject it with an equal mix of horror and humor, and you have the original 1974 "Night Stalker" series.
This show was absolutely nothing like the original Kolchak: The Night Stalker.
Carl wants to know but it seems the FBI agent investigating Carl's wife's death already has his mind made up that Kolchak did it...no matter what the evidence says.Despite tough competition The Night Stalker seems to slowly but surely be winning fans approval, including that of the original Kolchak himself, Darren McGavin according to his son York McGavin.
I think if this was a direct remake with re-hashed stories, this wouldn't have worked.Back when the original show came out people didn't really have to see the gore or the killings, etc..., because of great set-up, but times have changed since shows like Law and Order and C.S.I. show all of gore, which really kills the dramatic aspect of a story.
Sure sometimes its necessary, but sometimes just seeing a shadow of someone will work just as well.If you haven't seen Night Stalker yet, I really recommend watching at least one episode, before you make up your mind..
I don't understand these old people that complain..the show is not supposed to be like the original Night Stalker.They talk about how great the original was..yet it ONLY LASTED ONE SEASON.
The original series in 1974 starred Darren Mcgavin as Carl Kolchak.
I think we will all miss him.I purchased the DVD of 'Kolchek: The Night Stalker' complete series, (all 20 episodes) as my wife had never seen the original, only this remake.
Hey there, I was a fan of the original Night Stalker as a kid and was excited that a remake was being done - sure it wasn't just like the old one but some great suspense.
Running just one season is an extra big drag because it gets to the point where all kinds of questions are asked but not answered - good series, good writing, (much like X-Files feeling-some same writers I think) - if you liked X-Files, you'll like Night Stalker but there's only one season so take it slow!!
Stuart Townsend is a great, he's a reporter who brings mystery when he's on the screen (a little reckless, but you know he believes & so will you) Gabriel Union plays his rival, (who shoots straight from the hip)who wants to trust him, but just cant grip all the supernatural occurrence's this show brings(kind of similar to the x-files(which made it famous & millions as well)you know the story - Scully is always fighting Mulder with his far fetched ideas of the supernatural) This is a great show with good acting, but it just hasn't gotten the proper publicity it deserves to have..
I wasn't all that crazy about the new Night Stalker the first time I saw it because I still had the original with Darren Mac. lodged in my head.
i first noticed a new series of Night Stalker was coming out through i tunes and i was bored so i decided to download the pilot episode.
it drew me and many other of my friends in well and was a good twist of the older night stalker i give this series a 10 without a doubt and also hope that this review contributes to the show coming back 2 the air or at least ABC to release the last 2 episodes of this awesome show.
I watched the original Night Stalker each week and for my then wife and me it was one of our must see shows.I will start this review with a thank you for superimposing a scene of Darren McGavin in the news rooms since he had just died previously.
X files was running hot and this would have been a good time to bring back Night Stalker.
How great it would have been if Kolchak had made an appearance on X Files and passed the torch to Maulder and Sulley along with all of his data.Returning to the "new" Night Stalker.
I did not see any episodes when this series (of 2005) originally aired in the US (I bought a second-hand DVD copy) but evidently the ratings were not that good and the ABC executives decided to cut the series after its sixth episode (the official DVD includes also four additional unaired episodes).Stuart Townsend stars now as Carl Kolchak an inquisitive journalist/reporter working for the LA journal 'Beacon' and covering the crime column of this newspaper.
Kolchak believes that sometimes dark forces are lurking behind some unexplainable events but his theories are always met with suspicion or openly scrutinized by his boss (Tony Vincenzo, the senior editor of the newspaper) and by his dynamic and more down-to-earth colleague Perri Reed (played by Gabrielle Union).I liked the series to be honest, especially its X-files-like theme, and I thought could be given another chance to develop a bit more its ideas and themes.
Night Stalker is about a guy named Carl Kolchak (Stuart Townsend) who is a detective figuring out these cases about this mysterious murders and other freaky stuff that is happening along with his partner Perri Reed (Gabrielle Union).
if the producers had made a completely new show with no reference to the original series OR if they had made this a show about the son of Kolchak being laughed out of journalism like his dad I think the show would have gone for a few years.
No, this was not supposed to be a continuation of the original series (which I love and feel that it did not last as long as it should have) it is a new take on Kolchak.
I absolutely loved and still love Darren McGavin's Karl Kolchak, the 2 movies and the series...This is the same and different and that's fine - it does what i want it to - it entertains me and keeps me wanting more...The new Battlestar Galactica cured me of wanting exactly the same thing if something is remade...to be sure, i want it to have the essence and the spirit of the original and the names and the motivations and the settings and the conflicts and the surprises.
Watching this new Night Stalker just because I'm a fan of the old one and curious to see how it goes.
BE FOREWARNED FANS OF THE OLD NIGHTSTALKER SERIES, YOU WILL NOT LIKE THIS UPDATED VERSION IF YOU ARE EXPECTING THE OLD CHARACTERS AND STORY LINES OF THE 1970'S MOVIES AND SHOWS..
Whether on its own terms or as an update of the '70s series, "Night Stalker" ultimately deserved to be chopped by ABC after seven episodes (although as is often the case, all ten produced shows turned up over here, via Bravo this time - bravo!
This version of the Night Stalker more closely resembles X Files than the original Night Stalker films and series with the wonderful Darren McGavin as Carl Kolchak.While the story lines are reasonably realistic and interesting, the primary problem with this series are the lead actors.
This show is one of the best shows of the season.Stuart Townsend does a suspenseful role as Kolchak, a reporter who enjoys doing stories on crime.