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Miguel Ferrer, Julie Entwisle, Dan Monahan, Merton H. Moss, Michael H. Moss ... see more see more... , John Bennes , Beverly Skinner , Rob Wilds , Richard K. Olsen , Elizabeth McCormick

Stephen King's short story, The Night Flier, originally appeared in Prime Evil: New Stories by the Masters of Modern Horror (1988), edited by Washington, D.C., lawyer Douglas E. Winter, and it was lat... read more read more...er collected in King's Nightmares & Dreamscapes (1993). This film adaptation aired on HBO (November 1997) and was seen in European territories prior to the American theatrical release. An unknown vampiric Cessna pilot is suspected of night murders at remote airfields. At the tabloid Inside View, longtime reporter Richard Dees (Miguel Ferrer) expresses disinterest, so eager newcomer Katherine Blair (Julie Entwisle) is instead given the story by editor Merton Morrison (Dan Monahan). Then there's another murder, prompting Dees to reverse himself. He demands the story back and takes after the killer in his one private plane, tracking witnesses, gathering grue, and staging photos when the subject looks too dull. Blair is also on the trail, and the two newshounds are soon competing. Both are out for blood -- and so is the night flier. Stephen King campaigned for director Mark Pavia and co-scripter Jack O'Donnell to steer The Night Flier after he saw their short film Drag, which King called "the best short horror film I've seen in 20 years." Locations included Wilmington, North Carolina. The character of tabloid journalist Richard Dees was first introduced in Stephen King's 1979 novel The Dead Zone. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

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38% liked it

6,781 ratings

R, 1 hr. 37 min.

Directed by: Mark Pavia

Release Date: February 6, 1998

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DVD Release Date: May 26, 1998

Stats: 217 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (217)

  • phubbs1
    February 12, 2011
    phubbs1
    I enjoyed this creepy kooky vamp flick, every minute of it :) its not an amazing film or well acted but it just has a nice eerie atmosphere that doesn't scare but merely adds to the halloween type feeling and makes you feel all good about vampires and their legend.

    As I said the... read more acting is alittle rough around the edges, Ferrer was never the best in the books but he plays a grumpy heartless pressman pretty well although he lacks a real punch. Rest of the cast are so so, adding not much but neither taking away, the real highlight is the brilliant makeup effects on the vampires face when finally seen, really nice design and look with a unique fang structure. The fact he uses an all black plane to get around is unusual for a start haha different I give it that but why would a vampire need a plane? hehe

    A nice short story from King which like many of his others is abit limp in the scare department but have a nice light hearted supernatural charm to them which equal reasonable films like this, I liked it due to the vampire element which always makes you think of the lore.
  • deano
    September 6, 2009
    deano
    This is the leastest Stephen King adaptation film I ever saw that usually sucks about the vampiric tale. Miguel Ferrer does an average performance as an utter asshole and the special effects is bloody poor.
  • matertenebraum
    July 27, 2009
    matertenebraum
    You can say what you want about Stephen King-movies, but there's always just enough talent and budget involved to not make 'em look cheap. In THE NIGHT FLIER this talent mostly comes from actor Miguel Ferrer and SFX-artists Kurtzman, Nicotero & Berger. Ferrer is an often overlook... read moreed actor who most of the time only gets supporting rolls. But he'll always be edged in my memory as go-getter Bob Morton in Paul Verhoeven's ROBOCOP. Now he gets the chance to star in the leading roll in THE NIGHT FLIER, and he proves that he can carry a film. He was just perfect as the arrogant sleaze-reporter Richard Dees.

    There's a mysterious figure flying in a black airplane and landing on small airports at night. He leaves behind him a trail of mutilated, blood-drained corpses. Richard Dees, reporter for the cheese & sleaze magazine "Inside View", is put on the case. So he gets in his airplane and starts following the same route as the vampiric murderer. Meantime, a rival reporter (the rookie Katherine Blair) is also assigned to write a story about it...

    The plot is nothing too complicated, but it's built up nicely and even manages to be a bit scary from time to time. It all leads to the enjoyable final scenes at the last airport. The vampire is mostly kept in the dark throughout the movie, which helps to build-up a little tension. But don't worry, you'll be satisfied when you see it's ugly scary face in the end. Which brings us to the work of our beloved KNB-crew. The special make-up-effects are very decent and quite gory too. And I also liked the fact that the vampire is able to mess with peoples minds.

    Okay, there are some improbabilities concerning some events in the plot, but lets not make a big deal out of it. Just take it as it is: It's a decent Stephen King-adaptation and a good vampire-movie, nothing more nothing less. So switch off the lights and fly with it.
  • MidnightMadwoman
    September 15, 2007
    MidnightMadwoman
    Another really ho-hum vampire movie. The twist here is that he's on a plane. Ooooo! This is exactly like After Dark, but even more underwhelming.
  • iansubordinate
    December 22, 2009
    iansubordinate
    Its ok. Stupid characters were made up for with tons of blood and guts. Story is really stupid though
  • grayavec
    September 21, 2009
    grayavec
    Anti-hero tracks down serial killer who has a thing for Dracula. Plays like an extended "Tales of the Crypt" episode with made-for-tv gore and a predictable twist ending. The explanation for his motivation is barely touched on, and it makes you wonder if he had worked with 'Jim... read moremy' how things would have turned out.
  • brent73rn
    July 27, 2008
    brent73rn
    I don't remember this movie ever coming to the theater, but its a surprisingly good movie. Not amazing but well done overall, good little spooky night movie.
  • robertedamm
    December 18, 2007
    robertedamm
    This movie is so much better than it should be. The ending is a bit over done but the rest is pretty awesome.
  • joyouskiss
    July 2, 2007
    joyouskiss
    A gross and horrific vampire movie. The vampire is one nasty looking man-thing but when transformed is a sexy dark haired man... but only at the end of the film. *laugh*
  • SaginTheWolf
    June 27, 2007
    SaginTheWolf
    Sad attempt at a King story, sadly they had casted Dees perfectly. If only they had held closer to the story and cleaned up the end.

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Critic Reviews

Lael Loewenstein
February 26, 2009
Lael Loewenstein, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Kevin Thomas
February 14, 2001
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

Click to read the article Full Review

January 1, 2000
Houston Chronicle

No review available.

Stephen Holden
January 1, 2000
Stephen Holden, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

February 6, 1998
Entertainment Weekly

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Emanuel Levy
August 21, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Spence D.
December 17, 2004
Spence D., IGN Movies

No review available.

Scott Weinberg
July 26, 2002
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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    • Richard Dees: It's funny; When you give blood, the most you can expect is a cup of orange juice. But when you take blood, you get headlines.
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The Night Flier Trivia

  • In Steven King's "The Night Flier", Richard Dees worked for a magazine company. The magazine told stories of both fact and fiction. What was the name of the magazine?   Answer »
  • In which movie did the Vampire have just one large fang ?  Answer »
  • The 1997 movie "The Night Flier" is an adaption from which author?  Answer »
  • What movie are these actors play in...... Miguel Ferrer Julie Entwisle Dan Monahan Michael H. Moss   Answer »
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