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Kolchak: The Night Stalker - The Complete Series [1974]


RRP: £34.99
Our Price: £21.97 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

The acknowledged inspiration for The X-Files, and the basis for an updated 2005 network version, Kolchak: The Night Stalker was a short-lived 1974 series spun off from a pair of extremely popular made-for-TV movies about the supernatural adventures of dogged newspaper reporter Carl Kolchak (Darren McGavin). Though plagued by low ratings and critical brickbats, the show has cultivated a huge cult following over the past three decades, which has given rise to this three-disc set, which compiles all 20 episodes of the show. Though none of the episodic stories matches the suspense and writing strength of the Night Stalker or Night Strangler movies, TV horror fans will appreciate the parade of interesting and inventive monsters encountered by Kolchak (including a witches' coven in "The Trevi Collection"; an Aztec cult in "Legacy of Terror"; a Hindu Demon in "Horror in the Heights," which was penned by Hammer Films scribe Jimmy Sangster; and a headless biker in "Chopper," an episode deemed in extreme poor taste by Stephen King and co-written by Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale, and Sopranos creator David Chase). McGavin is of course topnotch as Kolchak, and he's well-matched by Simon Oakland as his hot-tempered boss; guest stars include Scatman Crothers, James Gregory, Phil Silvers, Eric Braeden, Tom Skerritt, and Richard Kiel as the monster in two back-to-back episodes. Sadly, no extras accompany this fun collection of Kolchak's creepiest cases. --Paul Gaita


Birth OF the X-Files
Review date: 2008-07-29 Rating: 10 out of 10

I first saw this series back in the early 90's on the SI-FI channel and was hooked. I suppose you have to be a child of the seventies to really enjoy programmes such as these, as they bring back fond memories of an earlier age. Newcomers to Kolchak will think its a bit quirky or lame compared to the X-Files but so did newcomers to STAR TREK TOS after watching Enterprise or The Next Generation. What we must remember is who started the whole thing. Sure Kolchak isnt that scary and yes the effects are suspect, but its the story and the acting that are pure gold.
The late McGavin is perfect as Kolchak and is funny as well as dramatic. Try getting your hands on 'The Night Stalker/Strangler' the original TV films which came before this series. It shows Kolchak's first brush with the supernatural.


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Reviews


Maybe Worth Renting...
Review date: 2008-05-28 Rating: 6 out of 10

I'm sure people who have fond memories of the show still love it and forgive it its faults. But for those who are coming to it fresh, I can only suggest: don't get your hopes up.
Having read that this inspired Chris Carter to write The X-Files, I decidd to give it a try. I got fed up after half a dozen episodes. This is not because it's a bad show. But it is very much of its time. And the early Seventies was not a wonderful time for American television. Formulaic stories, shallow characterisation and wisecracking scripts were pretty routine, and that's where Kolchak fails. Darren McGavin is excellend in the role, but is let down by some poor scripts. The lame effects don't help. I know, I know, they had no modern CGI resources, but sometimes it's downright naff. The werewolf on the cruise liner did it for me. Just too cuddly, and a man going 'Grrr', isn't scary, no matter how much conviction he puts into the role.
So, rent it by all means, but buyers beware!


Stalking the night creatures
Review date: 2008-03-31 Rating: 10 out of 10


The mid-1970s produced a pair of unlikely hit TV movies, called "The Night Stalker" and "The Night Strangler," chronicling the supernatural investigations of a quirky reporter.

And you can guess what happened next -- the TV spinoff "Kolchak - The Night Stalker" debuted, reintroducing audience to Carl Kolchak, a threadbare reporter who is working in Chicago. He also has a tendency to bump into ghoulies, ghosties and things that go bump in the night -- all with a tinge of humor and lots of researching.

In this series, Kolchak encounters more than just vampires and serial killers: he battles bizarre aliens and "missing link" primates, a possible Jack the Ripper, a call girl returning from the dead, a malevolent doppelganger causing people to burn to death, and voodoo zombies, haunted armor, succubi, werewolves, demons, killer robots, ghosts and goddesses who are sucking the youth from various attractive young men.

The supernatural is everyday on TV now, with movies and television happily focusing on everything from A (animal spirits) to Z (zombies). But "Kolchak - The Night Stalker" has the advantage of being the grandaddy of them all, with a fresh outlook and plots that owe nothing to anyone -- and a delicious black comedy bite to some of its episodes.

While the horror parts can be a bit campy, the originality of its plotlines can't be denied. Sure, it mines everything from Aztec gods to voodoo, Hindu demons to underground lizards -- the latter is the biggest flaw of the series, since it's pretty obviously papier-mache. But it also comes up with plots that no legend could come up with, such as the idea of Helen of Troy still alive and beautiful, and sucking the youth from modern young men.

It also has what few supernatural series have: a sense of humour. There's that entire episode about a headless motorcycle driver -- a modern update of the "Headless Horseman," maybe? And, of course, the brilliant twist of having diabolical help during a political campaign. Seriously, how could some of these politicians -- including certain presidents -- be elected otherwise?

Not to mention the dialogue: we are informed by Kolchak that, "Captain Leo Winwood and I had a relationship that was long and bloody, like the Crusades, only without the chivalry." That's not the wittiest line of the series, either.

Darren McGavin -- who twice played a similar character in "The X-Files" -- did an excellent job as Carl Kolchak. He plays Kolchak as a crusty, slightly crabby reporter in a white suit and odd hat -- an everyman for the supernatural. He's not handsome, not athletic, not charming, and he rubs the cops the wrong way. Therein lies his rough charm.

The original "Kolchak - The Night Stalker" remains a delicious cult classic, and despite some hoky costumes, it still stands up well. Witty, dark and bizarrely original.

Not that exciting or scary
Review date: 2008-01-12 Rating: 4 out of 10

While it's nice to have these episodes available again, sadly, watching a few of them in one session shows - in my opinion - that they just weren't as good as we remember. The best (e.g. Horror in the Heights) have inventive scripts but pedestrian direction and often amateurish-looking "monsters". The worst come across as rather boring, despite good performances from McGavin and the rest of the cast, and a refreshing sense of humour.

The episodes are well presented, with clean, steady images and clear sound, but there is no "added value". It would have been nice to have the odd extra like commentaries or interviews with surviving cast or crew. Jimmy Sangster (one of the better writers) is still living and apparently healthy as I write this.

once again i have been denied telling what really happened
Review date: 2007-09-07 Rating: 10 out of 10

carl kolchak is a news reporter for chicago independent news .
his boss tony vincenzo wants him to get the facts & give him a front page
exclusive,but there is a problem ; kolchak always seems to come up with
strange stories about vampires,werewolves,zombies etc. the cops wont let him print the stories for fear of a public panic ,so they make up stories & bury the truth,this angers kolchak & he argues with his boss repeatedly.
this classic 20 episode dvd was the blueprint to x-files etc.
plenty of action,scares & laughs on the way,it always ends where kolchak
is talking into his cassette recorder saying" but it couldn t happen again could it ? this is carl kolchak signing off"
the series was made for tv material low budget but it still is great stuff! buy it !

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Darren McGavin
Virginia Gregg
Stanley Adams
Barry Atwater
Edward Faulkner

Creators:
Darren McGavin (Primary Contributor)
Stanley Adams (Primary Contributor)

Recording label: Universal Pictures UK
Manufacturer: Universal Pictures UK
EAN: 5050582432817
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 3
Format: Box set, PAL,
Release date: 2006-08-21
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Theatrical release date: 1974
Language: English (Original Language)

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