brilliant actors, brilliant editing

A lot of fun.

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

Loner vampire police detective Nick Knight (a fine and likable performance by Rick Springfield) investigates a series of murders in which the victims are drained of blood. Knight's investigation leads him back to his former master and nemesis Lacroix (smoothly played with sinister glee by Michael Nader), who turned Nick into a bloodsucker centuries ago. Director Farhad Mann, working from a smart and inspired script by James D. Parriott, relates the fun and engrossing plot at a snappy pace, offers a vivid evocation of the funky neon haze of nocturnal Los Angeles, and stages the exciting action scenes with skill and flair. Moreover, Knight's struggle to retain his humanity and resist his more monstrous urges makes him a tragic and sympathetic figure. The fine acting from the able cast helps a lot: John Kapelos as Knight's easygoing smartaleck partner Don Schanke, Robert Harper as amiable coroner Dr. Jack Brittington, Laura Johnson as helpful anthropologist Dr. Alyce Hunter, Richard Fancy as antsy superior Captain Brunetti, Craig Richard Nelson as the vengeful Fenner, and Fran Ryan as kindly homeless lady Jeannie. Popping up in cool small parts are Irene Miracle as a nurse and Cec Verrell as chic vampiress Janette. Frank Beascoechea's stylish cinematography boasts lots of sweeping aerial shots and makes invigorating use of a constantly moving camera. Joseph Conlan's dynamic score and the lively rock soundtrack of familiar 80's hits both hit the right-on rousing spot. Worth a watch.

"Forever Knight" was a cheesy show, but the TV movie it was taken from -- "Nick Knight" -- with Rick Springfield was brilliant. It had much better production values than "Forever Knight" and it was both hipper and grittier. And it was better than the episode of "Moonlight" -- a suspiciously similar series -- I saw. Rick drove a big-ass vintage pink Cadillac, because if he was caught when the sun came up it had the largest trunk available for him to dive into and hibernate until night. He was working with a sympathetic coroner to try and wean himself from blood (which in any case he never took from people -- he had blood lab bottles in his refrigerator). The coroner guy was a cross between a friend, an AA sponsor, and a medical researcher. Rick was often strung out from their regimen, just like a recovering addict. Not only did he have withdrawal symptoms if he didn't get enough plasma, but real food -- which he was trying to break into eating -- tended to make him sick. His relationship with this guy was the central ongoing one in the story. He lived in an apartment carved out of a Grauman-type movie palace (it was the upper lobby or something) so it had all this over the top decor that was both vampire and Old L.A. in feeling.Springfield gave Nick a troubled rock star feel, hot and somewhat elegantly wasted. He was struggling with his life, and he just happened to have the hottest car, the coolest apartment, and the best jacket. He was such a good detective that the L.A.P.D. indulged his eccentric insistence on working only at night.They should have simply greenlighted the show just the way it was, with Springfield in it, but instead it ended up an underbudgeted Canadian series with no realistic underpinnings, a lot of costume flashbacks, and Geraint Wynn-Davies's somewhat actorish performance. What's more, the minute Wynn-Davies got the part he started putting on weight and kept putting it on. I hated, hated, hated that show.

I simply had to see this made for TV vampire flick because Forever Knight is still one of my favorite shows. Nick Knight was the inspiration for the cult series that many of us know and love. If you ever dug Forever Knight, I would recommend checking this out. But I also warn you, if you've seen the pilot episode of Forever Knight, you've basically seen this movie. But for completists, it's neat to see someone else in the shoes of our vampire cop, Nick Knight. Rick Springfield (that's right, "Jessie's Girl") was the first to don the fangs, but I can't agree that he's the best. Rick Springfield and Michael Nader aren't nearly as cool as their Canadian counterparts. Geraint Wyn Davies and Nigel Bennett just have a completely different look to them and I think they fit the parts perfectly. It's also cool to see John Kapelos playing a louder, yet skinnier Detective Donald Schanke. He would be the only cast member to reprise his role for the duration of the series (I can't see anyone else in this role anyway). And, interestingly enough, the role of Natalie was played by...Robert Harper. That's right, Nick's doctor and confidant was a man originally. The show would have played out much differently if this concept hadn't changed. Much differently indeed. Anchor Bay released Nick Knight on DVD, so if you liked Forever Knight, pick it up.

Sometimes shows that don't get life the first time around get lucky a few years later. That is the case with Nick Knight, a 1989 TV movie with big names and a big budget. You can tell that by watching it. Rick Springfield is up for the role and Michael Nader is at his devilish best. Also John Kapelos is great if not better in this original version of the cult series. The TV show, which I thought was good, did not really live up to this original unsold pilot. CBS decided to cut costs by moving the show to Canada, and hiring mostly unknowns to replace the big stars. The pilot of the show "Forever Knight" almost follows this movie's script line for line (with a few deveations). Watch this movie and ask yourself if Forever Knight would've lasted long with this cast. Maybe, maybe not.