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The Night Strangler

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6.7/10 • 77

1973-01-161h 30m

TV MovieHorrorMysteryCrime

The horror continues…

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’s on the trail of another string of bizarre murders. It seems that every 21 years, for the past century, a killer murders 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
Writters
Richard Matheson
Characters
Richard Matheson, Jeffrey Grant Rice
Editors
Richard Matheson, Folmar Blangsted

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Darren McGavin

    Darren McGavin

    Carl Kolchak

  2. Jo Ann Pflug

    Jo Ann Pflug

    Louise Harper

  3. Simon Oakland

    Simon Oakland

    Tony Vincenzo

  4. Scott Brady

    Scott Brady

    Capt. Schubert

  5. Wally Cox

    Wally Cox

    Mr. Berry

  6. Margaret Hamilton

    Margaret Hamilton

    Prof. Crabwell

  7. Richard Anderson

    Richard Anderson

    Dr. Richard Malcolm

  8. John Carradine

    John Carradine

    Llewellyn Crossbinder

  9. Al Lewis

    Al Lewis

    Tramp

Reviews2

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John Chard Avatar

John Chard

Jul 28, 2015

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

Media

  • The Night Strangler poster
  • The Night Strangler poster
  • The Night Strangler poster
  • The Night Strangler poster
  • The Night Strangler poster
  • The Night Strangler poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
sequelinvestigative journalistoccult detective