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Rating:  -
The best way to watch this series (especially if you have affection for the original Kolchak) is to disregard any connection to the 1970's show. There is little resemblance between the two except the names of some characters. Just take this new version as a series about reporters investigating mysterious deaths and unexplained events. If these episodes smell a lot like the "X-Files," that's no real surprise since most of the writers and producers worked on that show.
My personal bias is that I prefer answers to mysteries that are posed (at least eventually), and this series provides few. Granted the plug was pulled before some storylines could be resolved, but often I felt the writers were trying to be intentionally vague or just too lazy to come up with a fully realized story.
On the positive side, the series is well acted and beautifully shot. The episodes are suspenseful and diverting if you don't mind some ambiguity. The two commentaries on the set are interesting and worth a listen.
Here are my mini-reviews of the ten episodes (with grades):
PILOT: Introduces somber reporter Kolchak, whose wife died under mysterious circumstances, and his team of colleagues. A series of gory deaths lead them to track strange creatures in the desert. Briskly paced with some genuinely chilling moments. Watch for the blink-and-you'll-miss-it "cameo" by Darren McGavin, the one, true Kolchak. B+
THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HELL: A prisoner in solitary confinement is able to psychically influence people on the outside to commit terrible acts. A surprisingly effective episode that has a nice twist at the end (even though you see it coming). A-
THREE: People begin dying from their worst fears. A dull story that falls back on the worn device of using ghosts as an excuse to show a bunch of "scary" imagery. C
BURNING MAN: Someone is sending figurines that cause the recipients to burst into flames. Not a particularly novel plot, this episode goes light on the supernatural element and leaves a key question unanswered. B-
MALUM: Bad things befall people who cross paths with a young boy and his sinister father. The central mystery is not terribly mystifying and, even worse, is not particularly riveting. B-
THE SOURCE: Kolchak pursues a man who may have answers he seeks about his wife's death, while a gang of zombie bikers shoots up everyone in sight. More action-packed than usual. B
THE SEA: Conclusion of THE SOURCE in which Kolchak and Co. protect a woman from the ghostly Hell's Angels. Some nice action, but again too few answers are offered (So what's with those zombie bikers anyway?) to leave the viewer feeling truly satisfied. B-
INTO NIGHT: Kolchak tries to uncover what's turning people into mummies. There are a few frights along the way, but the story is strangely uninvolving. At least there is a halfway plausible explanation for the events. B-
TIMELESS: Young women are murdered and mutilated, and Kolchak suspects someone is using them as a source of eternal youth. The premise is unoriginal, but this episode manages to wring some unsettling moments from it. Guest starring the "French chick" from "Lost" in another bizarre role. B+
WHAT'S THE FREQUENCY, KOLCHAK?: One of those maddening episodes that is all set up and no payoff. Kolchak is kidnapped and held captive in a plot that's part "Misery" and part "The Thing at the End of the Hall." The suspense builds effectively, but the frustrating final act brings no resolution. B-
Rating:  -
I bought the dvd collection few weeks back and finally got chance to watch it last night without any expectation knowing that this show has been prematurely killed by the network. i watched the pilot which was kind of OK however as the story moved ahead i really started finding it interesting. particularly the story Malum, Three society, the source, the sea were really really great though may not be original. but admit it who creates original these days. bottomline is the show was great and promising but with only one flaw --- it aired on the wrong network. (ABC is notoriously known for pulling the plug of great shows commander in chief, invasion are few examples). the dvd is also superb. the images are sharp clear and voice quality is awesome. overall worth buying. (i paid 15 including shipping)
Rating: -
I bought this set intrigued by the premise of the show and the involvement of an extremely talented cast and crew but skeptical since it was cancelled after just six episodes? Could a really great show (or any show with any redeeming qualities) be cancelled so quickly? The answer is a definite YES and this show proves it.
I never saw any of the origional Night Stalker movies or the TV show so I can't compare this show to the origional material, I can only talk about this show on it's own merits, which given the considerable difference seen in this show to the origional seems fairer anyway. This is a very dark and exquisitely creepy show. It's intelligently wirtten and produced and it works on several levels. For a show that deals with the supernatural (esentially things that don't exist) it dose a terrific job of bringing you into the story and getting inside your head which makes it far scarier then just getting something to jump out of the dark and decimal level jumps from 0-100 in a split second. It's also just great popcorn, escapism, cool, slick horror/drama. And trust me this is dark and scary stuff.
Firstly this is the most strikingly beautiful show I've ever seen. It's shot in high definition, much the same way the movie "Collateral" was shot, and the producers took full advantage of their locations, using L.A to it's full. It's especially striking at night time when the camera picks up so much and given the shows title much of it is shot at night.
Stuart Townsend is absolutely fantastic as Carl Kolchak. Kolchak is a dark, brooding, mysterious, selfish, single-mindedly driven man yet he is also warm, engaging, funny, charasmatic and charming, not to mention full of despair for what happend to his wife while also mainting an optimistic outlook for what he dose. Townsend manages to encorporate all these things into the character seemlessly and naturally.
Gabrille Union is a very fine actrees and plays a sort of two-dimensional Perri Reed very well indeed. Eric Jungman as photographer Jain Mcmanus is terrific and adds some well needed comic relief.
THE PILOT episode is a solid if slightly unspectacular episode. The storyline is not that engaging as it lacks any real origionality. However the deeper mystery of what happened to Kolchak's wife, his possible involvement in her death and the mysterious mark on Kolchaks wrist that also appears on the wrist of certain people who have died mysterious deaths makes this episode engaging.
Epsidoe 2, "The Five People You Meet In Hell" is one of the best. Extremely dark and creepy with a terrific villian, an engaing and interesting story, beautifully directed by X-Files veteran Rob Bowman and some great scenes between Kolchak and Reed which really deepen their relationship.
"Three" is an excellent episode. It's by no means an origional storyline but it's made so well it truly dosen't feel predictable at all.
"Burning Man" is the weakest episode for me but by no means poor. The problem with it lies in the fact that the storyline dosen't lend itself to a supernatural story, nor is it one, but nonetheless one was added unnecessarily.
"Malum" is superb. The guest cast of actors are simply phenomenal, the story has many twist and turns and keeps you guessing right until the brilliant and surprising finale.
"The Source" and "The Sea" is a magnificent two-parter where the show really begins to fufil it's potential. The story behind Kolchak and what the mark could possibly mean are explored and developed brilliantly and it is so madening when you watch these episodes realising where the show could've gone.
"Into Night" is a very fine episode.
"Timeless" is an interesting one because it's very creppy, very disturbing and grusome with lots of intrigue and mystery yet it seems to lack a certain something to really make the episode complete. I like the fact the audience is left to join the dots at the end but even though it's not the story still feels slight unfinished.
Keep the best till last! "What's The Frequency, Kolchak?" is written but Vince Gilligan who was responsible for many of the finest episodes of The X-Files and here he delivers an absolutely phenomenal piece of television. It's an absolutely brilliant story and psychological horror at it's absolute best. It's a tour de force for Stuart Townsend as an actor and brilliantly casts doubt once again on the sanity of the lead character. It's thrilling, origional, edge-of-your-seat drama at it's absolute finest.
I was so impressed by this show. Granted it lacks a certain origionality, and the mysteries wont have you asking as many questions as "Lost" and of course fans of The X-Files will see subtle similarities in the stories but make no mistake this is no X-Files copy and is definitely worth seeking out. For very obvious reasons you will be left with lots of questions when you finish the set but the within the commentaries Frank Spotnitz reveals many of the shows secrets and where the show would have gone so you gain some sort of resolution. Highly reccomended.
Rating:  -
I attempted to watch this series when it originally aired on ABC but was unable to continue past the second episode. Why? The acting was bad, the scipt contrived, and the whole idea of trying to remake a classic series redundant.
The fact that the person who wrote for this series also wrote for some X Files episodes is ironic considering that Chris Carter, the creator of the X Files, stated that the original Night Stalker was an inspiration. This series attempted to be like the X Files by being 'mysterious' and totally reworking the original Night Stalker series, but it failed due to bad casting, writing and a main storyline that nobody really cared about.
Do yourself a favor and watch the original series. There is a reason why this show got cancelled as fast as it did.
Rating: -
It is truly sad that this show was never given a chance by ABC. But what is worst is that the fans of the original "Night Stalker" which aired back in the late 70's bad-mouthed this show without taking it for what it was - A NEW SHOW. I'm so tired of people saying this show was bad because it wasn't like the original series. Hello, people this is a remake! And a darn good remake of a past show. Instead of celebrating this fact and enjoying a new twist on an old concept, fans of the old series sabotaged and doomed this show to fail. It didn't help that ABC seemed to pay more attention to every other new series on air and forgetting this one. Yet ABC kept Alias on for what seemed an eternity. What a MAJOR lose!
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