Plot: What’s it about?
Carl Kolchak (Stuart Townsend) hasn’t been the same since his wife’s death, he has been consumed with learning the truth about what happened. Over a year ago, Kolchak and his wife were on an isolated stretch of road when they were attacked. Kolchak was able to save himself, but his wife was killed and he has no idea who or what was responsible. Some believe he killed his wife on that lonely highway, but there isn’t enough evidence to pursue that as an option. Since the accident, Kolchak has become obsessed with finding the truth and learning whatever he can about the strange mark that was left on their wrists. He has found others with the same mark, victims in other cases he has looked into. He soon heads to Los Angeles, where a woman was killed in the same fashion as his wife and plans to find out more. He signs on as a crime reporter and while his methods are a little unusual, he is able to get angles no others can obtain. As Kolchak and the others at the paper explore the darker side of the crime world, will he find the answers he seeks?
I love the series Kolchak: The Night Stalker, the monster of the week classic that still manages to entertain, even after all these years. I was hesitant, but optimistic about Night Stalker, a new series that returned Kolchak to television. I figured with more modern special effects and more leeway on what could be explored, perhaps this new series would be worthwhile. The show would crash and burn, given the ax after only six episodes, so I never really had a chance to see it for myself. Touchstone has release those six episodes, plus four unaired new ones in this two disc collection. As it turns out, that quick death was appropriate and this Night Stalker falls miles short of living up to the original. The first mistake is the cast, where looks are valued over talent and Stuart Townsend as Kolchak should be a crime. He is a terrible choice and has no depth or value here, he is a pale imitation and his inclusion in the main role dooms this series. The decision to cast this as a supernatural Smallville was a miserable one, this material needs performers who can display depth and character. This series is also neutered in terms of storyline, as this is as safe and by the numbers as this kind of show could be. Lame. I wanted to like Night Stalker, but it sucked and deserved to be crushed after one episode, let alone six. If you want to see how good this should have been, check out the original Kolchak: The Night Stalker.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. I was pleased to see the series shown in widescreen, as I had only seen the standard broadcast versions, so this treatment scored points right from the start. The image is clean and crisp in all the episodes, yielding a much improved visual presentation, compared to the original broadcasts. The prints are in pristine condition, which means the visuals are never hindered in the least. The colors bound off the screen, with vivid hues and natural flesh tones throughout. No troubles with contrast either, as black levels are bold and consistent at all times. I have to commend Touchstone for their work here, especially for the decision to present the episodes in widescreen.
Audio: How does it sound?
This is a dialogue driven series, so the included 2.0 surround audio is more than up to the task. Some sequence make better use of the channels than others, but on the whole, this material uses a conservative presence. But when the tension mounts or the action picks up, this mix handles the bumps without much trouble, so no worries on that front. Most of the show is fueled by dialogue though, which is well replicated here and no problems arise in the least. The vocals sound very crisp and clean at all times, I found nothing to complain about with this mix.
Supplements: What are the extras?
I hated this show and I couldn’t suffer through the supplements. You’ll find some audio comments on some of the episodes, deleted scenes, and an interview with Frank Spotnitz. I know I slacked off, but I can only endure so much in the course of my studies.
