THE NIGHT FLIER [1997]

Evil travels by darkness in Stephen King’s THE NIGHT FLIER. Richard Dees is a man hardened by his grueling profession as a star reporter for a sleazy news outlet. While facing the gradual decline of his writing career, a major national news story breaks. A blood-thirsty night flier with a lethal set of beastly canines flies into farm towns and malevolently decimates local residents. At the outset, Richard rejects the shovel for digging into the “dime-a-dozen” story of a vampire and suggests passing the job along to an amateur. Katherine, an inexperienced but highly enthusiastic reporter snatches up the opportunity to exhibit her strengths and establish herself as a serious journalist. Soon after, the body count jumps and Richard follows; with more bloodshed comes more juice, and he needs as much as he can get to propel his career back to the top. As Richard tracks the vampire pilot, Dwight Renfield, he is warned to cease his efforts through notes written in smeared blood. He persists regardless. Meanwhile, Katherine diligently pursues the case in a vicious race against her egotistic colleague. The competitors continue on until one drops out…literally.

Stephen King’s THE NIGHT FLIER is a breath of fresh air after drowning in a vastly contaminated ocean of poorly adapted vampire films. I truly didn’t know what to expect when I bought the movie, but I instantly fell in love with the handsome monster elegantly gracing the front cover. I’m very grateful I did. Both the honest acting and the colorful interactions are impressively true-to-life. Miguel Ferrer plays Richard’s part phenomenally as a tight-fisted hardass who fights dirty. Julie Entwisle, as headstrong Katherine, also emoted far beyond the often mediocre acting that comes along with horror films from the ‘90s. Ideally, the cape-donning freak gives the gift of gore before the five minute mark hits. Dwight Renfield is as seductive as he is atrocious and horrid. He skillfully builds panic within his victims and mesmerizes them with fear. Jaw-dropping incidences of sheer terror generate unforgettable anxiety, particularly when Richard meets the enigmatic villain in a blackened public bathroom. The ending begins with an eerie scene of zombie-filled Hell, only to transition into an explosion of graphic, unadulterated barbarism that will leave you feeling elated. Severely underrated, this vampire flick is a must-see.

Rating: 9/10
Director: Mark Pavia

Cast: Miguel Ferrer, Julie Entwisle, Michael H. Moss
Country: USA|Italy