I still think The Night Stalker is one of the most underrated vampire movies of all time. Forget the usual over-romanticizing, this one is a serial killer, and isn't concerned with social graces. He isn't charming or handsome, he's brutal. I don't even recall that he had any speaking parts either, but I do remember he was downright creepy and frightening. His animalistic portrayal of a preditorial vampire was a real drastic change from the usual GQ/Playboy renditions played by pretty boys.

The quick-cut editing of the movie gave the action sequences an air of documentary, making the vampire's physical exploits believable on a shoestring budget. It was different that this storyline focused on the vampire hunter, not the vampire, something that Salem's Lot borrowed IMO.