[KING'S CORNER] The Night Flier (1997)
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The Night Flier - King's Corner Review
Welcome to King's Corner. A recurring series of reviews based on the film and TV adaptations of Stephen King's novels and collections, reviewed and released in order of the original source material publishing date.
Director: Mark Pavia
Starring: Miguel Ferrer, Julie Entwistle, Michael H. Moss, Dan Monahan
Written by: Mark Pavia, Jack O'Donnell
Produced by: Mitchel Galin, Richard P. Rubinstein
Cinematography by: David Connell
Original Score by: Brian Keane
Synopsis:
A reporter is on the trail of a vampiric murderer who travels by plane.
Thoughts:
With 'Salem's Lot' Stephen King brought the vampire from a decrepit castle in Transylvania to the suburbs of middle America. It was a story born out of his nihilistic outlook on the world due to a growing mistrust in political institutions. Their corruption from the capital buildings was spreading and infecting small towns throughout the country sucking the very soul out of it. It still remains as one of his most thematically rich stories and if it was to be the only story he ever wrote to feature vampires, any fan would be satisfied with the famous monster's representation in his literature. He didn't stop there though as the creatures of the night featured in short stories like, 'One for the Road', 'Popsy' and 'The Little Sisters of Eluria' but one that stands out as a popular gem amongst King fans is 'The Night Flier'.
The story was first published in 1988 in the anthology, 'Prime Evil: New Stories by the Masters of Modern Horror' before being added to the short story collection 'Nightmares and Dreamscapes' in 1993. The story follows a cynical tabloid writer, Richard Dees whose latest investigatory piece sees him trying to hunt down 'The Night Flier', a serial killer who travels around small airports leaving a bloody trail of victims. Through his investigation Dees discovers he is tracking no ordinary killer as there is something supernatural afoot.
If the name Richard Dee sounds familiar it is because he has featured in King's novel 'The Dead Zone'. In that story he stops by Johnny Smith's house to talk about his psychic abilities. Although he was a minor character he was also one King couldn't shake leading him to being included in this story as the lead. In the notes section of 'Nightmares and Dreamscapes' he explains how Dees was a great fit for this story by saying, "As I worked on "The Night Flier," I began to glimpse a man of profound alienation, a man who seemed to somehow sum up some of the most terrible and confusing things about our supposedly open society in the last quarter of the century."
'The Night Flier's journey from page to screen began with producers Richard P. Rubinstein and Mitchell Galin in the wake of the dissolution of their production company Laurel Entertainment (who produced The Stand, The Langoliers and Creepshow). Now under the name New Amsterdam Entertainment, Inc they wanted to bounce back straight away with 'The Night Flier' being their first project to be shot. Director Mark Pavia was hired to helm the film as his short film 'Drag' impressed King and Rubinstein during the making of 'The Stand'. It was made without a distributor before eventually premiering on HBO. Shortly after this it received a limited big screen release through New Line Cinema.
Whilst 'Salem's Lot' had a commentary about the corruption of America by the most powerful of its political institutions, 'The Night Flier' takes more of a satirical approach in how it examines the metaphorical blood sucking nature of doing anything to get the juiciest headline in tabloid journalism to placate the bloodlust of its target audience. It is very much a case of a monster chasing a monster which is what makes it more interesting than your average creature feature. The film does a solid job at this by taking these elements and externalising them through the dialogue between some morally reprehensible characters.
Top of that list is tabloid journalist Richard Dees (Miguel Ferrer). As one of the leading writers for Inside View, a publication obsessed with murderers, cults and UFOs Dees is someone who isn't afraid to lower himself to despicable acts in order to get to the front page. Ferrer has always shined in antagonistic roles in the likes of 'Robocop' and (initially) 'Twin Peaks' which helps to explain why this is a dream role for him. From the second he first appears on the screen he exudes an abrasive aura painting a picture of someone you know is going to be a complete bastard. From that moment onward you see why he is perfect for the role of Dees. That initial impression soon becomes realised when he speaks in his trademark raspy voice where every sentence from his lips is dripping with cynicism. As the story progresses Ferrer doesn't lose this demeanor even when his dreams are haunted by the supernatural entity he is hunting. Whenever it seeps its way into reality Ferrer plays it cool with even though there are hints of fear in his performance offering a glimpse of humanity to a seemingly inhuman character.
As with every great creature feature, Pavia shrouds the titular Night Flier, Dwight Renfield (Michael H. Moss) in mystery teasing different parts of his body before his big reveal in the finale. It is a clever move as he isn't a conventional vampire both in appearance and his actions. His name is a play on the character from 'Dracula' and the actor of that character in the 1931 adaptation of the book and his mode of transport is a tongue in cheek nod to the mythology relating to how vampires can transform into bats. Although Moss is hidden under a lot of impressive prosthetic makeup from KNB EFX Group his voice alone adds enough menace to the character throughout making him a lingering presence throughout.
In terms of the story there isn't a lot to the film other than Dees' investigation and the toll it takes on him. It is very much a film that relies heavily on atmosphere and mood. The opening takes place at night in a near empty airfield cloaked in fog as the Night Flier's Skymaster lands. Brian Keane's piano led score gives proceedings a gothic flavour during this scene (and throughout the film). The investigation of the plane (which is presented as being like a flying hearse) inflates the tension like a balloon before being burst in a sudden moment of violence as Renfield attacks his first victim. This is a trope carried out repeatedly throughout the film only in an increasingly gruesome fashion. From here it takes on a lot of noirish elements as Dees sleazes his way through various crime scenes gathering witness statements and bribing the authorities to get the story that'll get him the front page rather than the one that tells the truth. It does get somewhat repetitive but it is Ferrer's performance that gets you through these moments of the film.
This slow build does pay off with a bloody finale that is a self fulfilling prophecy for Dees as death catches up with him despite several warnings that he could have taken onboard to save himself. His arrogance and obsession for a bloody story is his own undoing. Renfield sees this obsession in him (as it mirrors his own obsessive need for blood) and offers him so many chances to save himself but he refuses them at every turn. As a last twist of cynicism in the film, the newcomer reporter Katherine (Julie Entwisle) carries on Dees' legacy by hijacking his story and making him the front page story. They both get what they want as he makes the front page (not in the way he would have wanted) and she hits the big time by getting a front page story. In doing so the obsessive need to be the top journalist corrupts even the most well intentioned journalist in the quest for popularity over quality writing.
'The Night Flier' is a fun commentary on the scummy nature of tabloid journalism that whilst being creepy doesn't entirely take itself too seriously. The structure of the film may feel quite repetitive in the second act but Ferrer's performance alone makes the film a worthwhile watch as he brings to life one of the most compelling scumbags from any King short story.
Verdict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½
-Joseph McElroy