The Night Strangler (1973)

I love this movie so much

Did you people see the same film I saw?

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

After the success of THE NIGHT STALKER, Dan Curtis put together THE NIGHT STRANGLER. Now in Seattle, reporter Carl Kolchak (Darren McGavin) runs into his old boss from Las Vegas, Vincenzo (Simon Oakland) in a bar, and a new partnership is forged, just as a bizarre string of murders is getting underway. Kolchak is on the case, much to the irritation of the police. Of course, Police Captain Schubert (Scott Brady) has no tolerance for any of Kolchak's foolishness. After all, this is Kolchak, and he's following another supernatural story. This time, women are being killed by what is described as a rotting corpse w/ superhuman strength! As he investigates further, Kolchak finds quite a lengthy history of such killings, dating back many decades. He also discovers each victim died by strangulation, and that some vital information has been withheld by police. This information is very interesting indeed, complete w/ a definite pattern! Kolchak is led to the underground labyrinth of "Old Seattle", where truly ghoulish terror awaits. While not as fresh as STALKER, STRANGLER is still an excellent made-for-TV horror movie. Some of its charm comes from the number of cameos by the likes of John Carradine, Wally Cox, Al Lewis, and Margaret Hamilton! Co-stars the beautiful Jo ann Pflug as Louise Harper...

Item: supernatural murder mystery. Item: vicious and creepy villain. Item: cool and occasionally eerie soundtrack. Item: tension and scares. Item: sly and witty humor. Item: charismatic and relentless journalist.'The Night Strangler' is sequel to 'The Night Stalker' where, again reporter Carl Kolchak (Darren McGavin reprising his role without discount) is on the tails of mysterious killer who leaves behind victims drained from blood and with their neck crushed. This time the playground is Seattle. Kolchak relentlessly tries to convince authorities about his fact based theories while, again, he is left without help, as no one takes him seriously.Maybe not as dark as its predecessor, but equally enjoyable.

Following on from the success that was "The Night Stalker", Dan Curtis would go on to produce and direct the year after the follow up TV presentation "The Night Strangler". Richard Matheson again penned the teleplay, while Darren McGavin reprises his role as newspaper reporter Carl Kolchak who encounters something out of the ordinary and also coming back is Simon Oakland as his long-suffering editor boss Vincent Vincenzo. Reporter Kolchak finds himself working for the Seattle newspaper thanks to Vincenzo, who puts him on his first assignment that involves the strangulation of a young woman one night. Then suddenly another one occurs, but the strange thing was that there was a puncture wound on their necks and loss of blood. Can it be happening again? Kolchak goes about trying to present his case to the narrow-minded police and while also trying to convince his bosses. But nobody seems to want the truth, which leads Kolchak digging himself into more trouble where the answers lie in the ruins of old Seattle, the fire-shattered ghost town under the city. Really it's just a conventional retread of the first film, but with a change of scenery (which it makes good use of its atmosphere and sense of place) if a tad stronger in its cohesive story developments of the ironically rewarding formula and McGavin is as lively as ever. Some of the best moments involve the sparring between Kolchak and Vincenzo. There's much more here. "I came to Seattle for some piece and quiet. What do I get? You again. And another crazy story. " The actions might become repetitive, as Kolchak researches, follows clues, speak to witnesses and harasses the police force in telling them how to do their jobs before some sort of conspiracy cover-up ends it all. Things seem much sombre and dark, although the ending isn't downbeat like before and where it opens it up for the TV series to eventuate. Curtis does a sturdy job in the director's chair, illustrating touches of suspense, intrigue and atmosphere in a brisk manner. Nothing spectacular, but effective because of a clever screenplay and rich performances. Jo Ann Pflug is spirited and Scott Brady adds starch to his part as police captain. Richard Anderson as the alchemist brings a sinister vibe, ghoulish but also suave. There are some enjoyable minor support roles by John Carradine, Margaret Hamilton and Al Lewis. "Give me the facts."

The intrepid reporter Carl Kolchak (McGavin) returns to familiar paranormal territory as he uncovers a case of an apparently 'undead' fiend, maniacally bumping off hot models for their blood. Typically, his agitator brand of journalism and puritanical pursuit of integrity, rubs his superiors the wrong way leading to another double edged sword. Not as good as the predecessor ("The Night Stalker"), but still entertaining fare with another capable cast and effective chills.The characterisations are, essentially, the same as the aforementioned picture, with different actors in the respective parts; Scott Brady is in the Claude Akins role, John Carradine vice Kent Smith, Richard Anderson vs Barry Atwater, Jo Ann Pflug in for Carol Lynley etc etc. Despite the carbon copy, the set design is superior here, and the storyline involves a few more angles, even if the comedic tone is more pronounced. Dialogue remains taut and functional, and Simon Oakland is again borderline self-parody as Kolchak's long suffering editor, Tony Vincenzo. Overall, the key distinction here is that director Curtis (who served as producer on the first picture) treats the subject matter with much more humour.In spite of its age and relative confinement (TV scale), brevity keeps things absorbing and the appearance of beauties Pflug, Nina Wayne and Anne Randall (in a prominent cameo as a feisty policewoman) is a welcome sight amid all the macabre.