Kolchak: The Night Stalker (3DVD)

This set is well done with nice artwork and individual slim cases for the DVD's, but completely lacking in bonus material. Sadly Mr. McGavin passed away in Feb/2006, so why didn't the studio interview him for the DVD release of this classic show when they had the chance. Any commentary from Darren McGavin or a look back interview from him would have been a welcomed addition to this set. Universal Studios just doesn't get it, including bonus material is another reason to buy these classic shows on DVD.

My only other gripe is that the two Kolchak movies should have been included in the set as well, to complete the entire series. This is the original Night Stalker and it definitely shouldn't be passed up at any price. Rumors about reviving this show have once again emerged, but like all classics they're often imitated and seldom duplicated.

Thanks to Universal Studios, the complete Kolchak "The Night Stalker" television series has finally been released on DVD. The video transfer is really decent and the 2.0 sound is pretty consistent and definitely better than I expected. All 20 episodes of this classic 70's TV series are spread out over 3 double sided discs and that's my only major complaint with this set.

Universal Studios should abandon the double sided discs and go with single sided discs even if it means adding a few more dollars to the price of the set. In a few of the episodes, some of the night scenes are very dark and sometimes it's hard to make out the images. I give this classic show five stars all the way for pure entertainment value. Darren McGavin in my opinion was the perfect choice to play the Kolchak character and he played it to perfection.

DVD Features Include:

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Studio: Universal Studios
Available Subtitles: English, Spanish
Available Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 2.1 Mono)
All 20 original episodes on three double sided discs

Episodes Include:

Episode 1: The Ripper
Episode 2: The Zombie
Episode 3: They Have Been, They Are, They Will Be.
Episode 4: The Vampire
Episode 5: The Werewolf
Episode 6: Firefall
Episode 7: The Devil's Platform
Episode 8: Bad Medicine
Episode 9: The Spanish Moss Murders
Episode 10: The Energy Eater
Episode 11: Horror in the Heights
Episode 12: Mr. R.I.N.G.
Episode 13: Primal Scream
Episode 14: The Trevi Collection
Episode 15: Chopper
Episode 16: Demon in Lace
Episode 17: Legacy of Terror
Episode 18: The Knightly Murders
Episode 19: The Youth Killer
Episode 20: The Sentry

I haven't seen this series or the two previous films since they ran in the '70s. Mostly I had a memory of enjoying them, but little memory of specifics. I'm so glad I took a chance and ordered this set. It was a wonderful revisit of a very cool show. I might even appreciate it more now then I did as a teenager. To me it seems hardly to have aged even if I can see some dated aspects in it. The series hit a wonderful balance of charm, quirky humour and creeping you out. And it's easy to see how this inspired the creation of The X-files twenty years later---there are a lot of similarities in concept and even some stories. Most of the twenty episodes I rate Good to Excellent. The few disappointments are not not bad, but only not quite as good as the rest.

The only real disappointment is the lack of extras and that the discs are double sided. What really should be done is a proper remastering as well as inclusion of the previous two made-for-TV movies all in one package. That would be the proper way to celebrate this wonderful show.

This is the stuff of "real" monsters and such. Never mind all that super supernatural find out what a real person would do if they came across these monsters.