Release: Night Stalker

 

Night Stalker

Genre: Crime/Horror/Biography

Director: Trey Edward Shults

Writer: Clive Steinbeck

Cast: Danny Ramirez, Michael Pena, Michael Chiklis, Zoe Kazan, Gabriel Chavarria, Barbie Ferreira, India Eisley, Isabella Gomez, Laurie Holden, Isaac Ordonez

Budget: $18,000,000

Domestic Box Office: $43,020,018

Foreign Box Office: $19,490,284

Total Profit: $30,309,398

Reaction: This was an excellent turn out given the rating, subject matter, and lack of bankable stars. Chalk it up as another low-budget horror hit for writer Clive Steinbeck, following up last season's Bigfoot.

"Night Stalker is compelling in moments but struggles to balance style with substance. Danny Ramirez is chilling, and the film captures the creeping fear that plagued 1980s Los Angeles. However, the focus on mood often overshadows the emotional core, with some victims underdeveloped and narrative threads (like Doreen Lioy) feeling tonally jarring. It’s a well-made film with strong performances, but one that sometimes gazes into darkness without fully illuminating it." - Margaret Sheffield, The Chicago Tribune

"The Night Stalker is true crime horror movie, capturing the terror Richard Ramirez unleashed on Los Angeles in 1985. The film is dark and unsettling, immersing viewers in the city’s growing paranoia while offering a disturbing look at Ramirez’s origins. His backstory uniquely stands out from other serial killers, shaped by his cousins horrific war stories. Gruesome and unsettling in all the right ways, The Night Stalker aims to keep you up at night." - Dexter Quinn, Cinematic Observer Newsletter

"Night Stalker is a gripping, unnerving descent into real-life horror, anchored by Trey Edward Shults' tense direction and a chillingly internal performance from Danny Ramirez. Rather than glorifying violence, the film focuses on mood, aftermath, and the psychological weight on both victims and investigators. Michael Peña and Michael Chiklis bring depth and exhaustion to their roles, and the atmospheric dread builds with relentless precision. It’s a harrowing true-crime portrait that never loses its humanity — a haunting, powerful achievement." - Dave Manning, Ridgefield Press

Rated R for graphic violence including disturbing images, language, drug use, and sexual content.