Robert Makurji, and Stanley Adams as fast-talking used car salesman Fred Hurley. as wormy informant Mickey Crawford, Kent Smith as the severe District Attorney Tom Paine, Larry Linville as puzzled coroner Dr. Butcher, Charles McGraw as the crusty Police Chief Ed Masterson, Elisha Cook, Jr. The first-rate acting from a stellar cast of seasoned pros constitutes as another significant asset: Carol Lynley as Kolchak's loyal, concerned gal pal Gail Foster, Simon Oakland as Kolchak's irascible, long-suffering superior Tony Vincenzo, Ralph Meeker as affable FBI agent Bernie Jenks, Claude Akins as the huffy Sheriff Warren A. Expertly directed with topmost brisk efficiency by John Llewllyn Moxey (who also gave us the well-regarded early 60's gem "Horror Hotel"), with a sharp and witty script by noted writer Richard Matheson, a constant frantic pace, plenty of tension (the big confrontation between Kolchak and Skorzeny is especially harrowing), a wickedly amusing sense of cynical humor, several rousing rough'n'tumble action set pieces, and a realistic downbeat ending, this bang-up little winner makes for an incredibly gripping, scary, and flat-out entertaining treat.
#SIMON OAKLAND KOLCHAK VAMPIRE SERIES#
This extra supernatural element rises it above what few dramatic reporter-featured movies there are out there.ĭarren McGavin gives a wonderfully robust and engaging performance as Carl Kolchak, an abrasive, impetuous, impulsive, and excitable down-on-his-luck newspaper reporter who uncovers the scoop of a lifetime after he finds out that Janos Skorzeny (a genuinely frightening portrayal by Barry Atwater), the man responsible for a vicious series of baffling murders in Las Vegas, is an actual vampire.
The only difference is here, he's after a vampire.
He could be stalking a story about corrupt politicians, or mobsters, or whatever.
#SIMON OAKLAND KOLCHAK VAMPIRE MOVIE#
It's a movie about Carl Kolchak, reporter and undeterred seeker of truth. Skorzeny has none of the sexuality or personality of Dracula, but in a sense the movie isn't about him even if he's the "Stalker" of the title. No lame transformations into a bat: The script's portrayal of Skorzeny the Vampire echoes that of Christopher Lee (Hammer also resisted displaying much of Dracula's superhuman abilities). The vampire is a feral beast who is strong, invulnerable, and drinks blood.and that's it.
Ably assisted by Jeff Rice's original novel, Night Stalker works on every level. But there's no denying the powerful intersection of screen writer Richard Matheson, producer Dan Curtis, and Darren McGavin in perhaps his best role (after A Christmas Story). And it took a TV movie to achieve this feat.
0 kommentar(er)
