CommentsXp Best movie ever!

SparkMore n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

Guillelmina The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Janis One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

BA_Harrison Hoping to score a much-needed cover story, Richard Dees (Miguel Ferrer), unscrupulous hack for sensationalist tabloid Inside View, goes in search of Dwight Renfield AKA The Night Flier, a vampiric killer who travels the country in a black Cessna Skymaster, landing at rural airstrips where he feeds on the locals. Also keen to bag a scoop with The Night Flier is the rag's newest reporter Katherine Blair (Julie Entwisle), but has she got what it takes to do the job?The Night Flier is adapted from one of Stephen King's short stories, and it feels like it, the plot being far too insubstantial for a wholly satisfying feature length film; consequently, there is a lot of filler, mostly in the form of the dull rivalry between slime-ball Dees and ambitious newbie Blair, which soon gets tedious. A delightfully scummy turn from Ferrer (Dees is a character you will love to hate) and some rather gruesome effects from KNB help matters a little, but as Stephen King movies go, this is amongst the more forgettable efforts.5.5 out of 10, generously rounded up to 6 for the hilarious goof where the clean-shaven Dees lands his plane and, just for a fleeting moment, he is the proud owner of a very bushy moustache.

ctomvelu1 Veteran tabloid reporter Miguel Ferrer is on the trail of a savage killer who flies from rural airport to rural airport in search of victims. Soon enough the reporter begins to realize he's pursuing a blood-sucking vampire, Dracula cape and all. Shades of The Night Stalker! At some point, the killer starts warning the reporter off, to no avail. The story takes time to build, and the killer is barely glimpsed until the last five minutes. Keeping him in the shadows until the final confrontation, also done in The Nigh Stalker, pays off big time for the very shocking and bittersweet ending. Ferrer is intense as usual, and the supporting cast is populated by some pretty colorful characters. I was most intrigued by a scene where the reporter, already sensing something supernatural about his prey,finds the killer's empty plane on a tarmac and climbs inside, only to discover the controls rusted and ruined and the entire cockpit saturated with blood.

Matt Kracht Sometimes, movie adaptations end up totally missing the point of their source material, but this was a very faithful adaptation. In fact, I'd argue that it's probably near the top, as far as faithfulness goes. Unfortunately, there a few things wrong that kind of drag down my rating.I like Miguel Ferrer, so I was pretty excited when I found out that he starred in this movie. As I expected, Ferrer is the high point of the movie. Dees is one of those characters that you love to hate, and he was done to near perfection. Unfortunately, given that film is such a visual medium, it was more difficult to get into Dees' head than the short story, but that's pretty much an obvious and unavoidable issue. Still, Dees' commentary in the short story was the best part, leaving me feeling slightly sad that much of his internal dialogue was missing.As far as the other actors, they were all pretty much passable. None of them were ever bad, at least. A new character was introduced, as a foil to Dees, I suppose. Usually, when this happens, it's a disaster, but I thought it was handled fairly well. Unfortunately, the actress, Julie Entwhisle, was one of the weaker elements in the movie, in my opinion. She wasn't bad, but she wasn't great, either. Dan Monahan, as the editor, played his character as a cheerfully sleazy bastard. I usually dislike comic relief in my horror movies, but it was done well enough here that it didn't bother me. Michael Moss, as the Night Flier, was fine. Other people really seemed to enjoy him, but I did not find his performance particularly memorable.I guess what really bothers me is the plot. This is not unique to the movie, of course. I really don't understand what possessed Stephen King to write a story about a vampire who flies a Cessna. I'll just say it: this is a stupid idea. However, the story really does work, even though the main conceit is too wacky to take seriously. I like how Dees and the vampire serial killer are compared and contrasted, even if it is a bit heavy-handed and lacks subtlety. Nonetheless, it raises interesting questions about morality, ethics, and the role of sociopaths in our society. Still, it's difficult for me to just let go of the ridiculous idea of a vampire flying a Cessna. I mean, really? That reminds me of a hilariously bad European movie I saw once about a haunted elevator. Yes, that's right, it was about a haunted *elevator*. I think it was titled Lift, if you're morbidly curious.While somewhat generic, there are times when the movie does rise above being your average direct-to-video King adaptation. Some of the special effects from KNB are quite good. There's a fairly well-done homage to Night of the Living Dead near the end. Unfortunately, the atmosphere was frequently a bit flat, leaving you with gross-out effects or grisly, black humor, rather than suspense. Certainly, that's not bad, but it makes for a somewhat less fulfilling horror movie. Instead, I think Night Flier works better as an exploitation movie, since it's so lacking in atmosphere, tension, and suspense.Some people were disappointed by the ending, but I found it to be perfectly acceptable and perhaps even satisfying. If I sound a bit unenthused, then keep in mind that many King adaptations end up being dismal failures, and that finding even an average or mediocre one is something of a coup. While not High Art, this is still enjoyable enough to recommend to other King fans, even if they're only familiar with the movie adaptations.

new-spirit-jazz I'd like to add my own comment to this movie because I have some personal fondness for it. The reviews around here aren't so unfavorable either, but I'd like to up the praise a little. I'll also keep this spoiler-free, how about that.So what do I like about "The Night Flier"?a. Overall atmosphere. Right from the start, there is a thick air of mystery. Sometimes it retreats into the background, but it never goes away. It's not only mystery, but also a presence of the supernatural; an awareness of some being with more than human powers.b. Music. Supports the atmosphere very nicely. This applies especially to what you could call the main theme - the theme of the night flier's plane.c. Tempo. Almost perfect, just slightly on the slow side here and there maybe.d. Characters. The different reporter characters - especially our "special couple" (you'll understand when you watch the movie) - bounce off each other perfectly. Add their respective relationships to the evil guy - and to evil in general -, and you have fertile soil for an interesting story.e. Story. Following up on item d, yes, an interesting story was indeed written - mostly by Stephen King I guess (haven't read his book).f. Cast. Interesting actors. It's got Miguel Ferrer in it, and he fits his role 100%. Also, I love that plane repair hick and the way he talks. It's just quirky and cool. Oh, and the villain's voice: Genius - pure genius.g. Acting. Good. Just good. Can't complain about anyone really.h. Repeated viewability. I've watched this flick quite a few times now, and it still grasps me. I do skip some of the scenes anyway. Some of the stuff is decidedly too graphic for my taste.i. Source of inspiration. "The Night Flier" teaches a lot about people who seek to understand the extremes in the world: the best and the worst. Well, the movie focuses more on the latter.As for criticism: My only complaint might concern the ending. It's a bit over the top and I didn't quite like the resolution they came up with.Watching "The Night Flier", for me, is a kind of redeeming experience. Maybe it will be for you too? When the voice of the evil flier (or God masquerading as such) woos you, you'll know you're called and you'll know what to do: Go to your favorite movie outlet and ask for: The Night Flier.