I am not too sure what to think about the rumors connecting Johnny Depp to a feature film version of “Kolchak: The Night Stalker.” The series lasted only one season, but was one of the places some now famous writers and directors honed their craft. Three such talents are David Chase, Richard Matheson, and Robert Zemekis. Some reports, like that from Aintitcoolnews, imply that Johnny Depp is playing Carl Kolchak, played by Darren McGavin (originally played by Darren McGavin) while a piece in Deadline: New York–the basis of the Aintitcoolnews story–leaves open the option that he may be only producing it. I hope that the latter is the case, because if they’re basing it upon the original series, then Carl Kolchak didn’t have the looks of a model by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, he was unkempt, a bit cowardly and a somewhat of a pain in the arse to any one that that the misfortune to have a run-in with him. Yet, at the same time he wasn’t afraid to do whatever he had to to get the story; no matter how much his editor (or anyone else) mocked his efforts. As I said, he wasn’t much of a fighter, but he was tenacious when he thought he was on the trail of a clue. He had only time for the truth,even if obtaining it meant that he would be pursued by zombies, vampires, or ancient Indian spirits, he was there (though he tended to never know what he was getting into ahead of time. If he did, I suspect his somewhat cautious nature would have restrained him). In fact, that’s what made the original series so interesting; Kolchak wasn’t above lying, cheating, or even stealing evidence to find the clues that he thought he required for his story. That being said, his bulldog-like persistence wasn’t a matter of greed, malice or ego. Thematically, “Night Stalker” resembled the original series (down to a digitally rendered Carl Kolchak, in a newsroom scene) but Stuart Townsendwasn’t scruffy enough for the role, especially for someone who was as much of a fan of the original series as I was. Though a greater problem is how they are gong to play the violence. The original series wasn’t gory by any stretch, since it aired on national television, but it was rather intense, and I suspect that if they could have got away with more, they would have.

I would be willing to let some of my concerns go if the soundtrack at least carries over musical themes from Gil Melle’s original.

Interestingly enough, I originally thought that Kolchak: The Night Stalker was canceled due to low ratings, though it appears, according to Classic-horror.com, that Darren McGavin chose to not continue in the role because of what he thought was apathy on the part of ABC.