31 Days Of Horror: Day 2 - FRIGHT NIGHT (1985)

One of the best of the vampire flicks from the 80's is Fright Night. Casts William Ragsdale as teen Charlie Brewster who has a nice vintage mustang, a girlfriend named Amy (Amanda Bearse, who would later on become Marcy on Married With Children), a goofy buddy named Evil Ed (Stephen Geoffreys) and a doting mother. Everything is just fine and dandy until a new neighbor named Jerry moves in. Jerry is played by Chris Sarandon and happens to be a vampire. And Charlie knows he's a vampire. And Jerry knows Charlie knows he's a vampire. After a skirmish one night that Charlie barely survives, the teen realizes he needs help and enlists the aid of TV host Peter Vincent, Vampire Killer (played with relish by Roddy McDowall). That's your movie in a nutshell and it works wonderfully. A nice mix of horror and humor that balances both genres just right. Sarandon makes a suave and dealdly vampire. While Ragsdale is good as Charlie and McDowall is clearly having a great time with his role as Peter Vincent. The recent remake with Colin Farrell is actually pretty good and is worthy to be placed alongside this one. Fright Night just followed by a decent sequel 4 years later.

 Jerry and Charlie meet for the first time

 Peter Vincent with Charlie, Amy and Ed

Jerry putting the moves on Amy

 Amy all vamped out

 Peter Vincent ready to do battle with the undead

Ed going through some major growing pains

FRIGHT NIGHT (2011): Now this is a vampire movie!

I will be the first to say I was a little wary of this remake of my beloved Fright Night film from the 80's. I was like there is no way they can do justice to one of my favorite vampire films of all time. Well I stand corrected. The new Fright Night is awesome. It does not disappoint. And it makes a few changes from the original to make it stand on it's own, not simply as a remake.

Charley, his mom and Amy look a little worried....

The main components of the original story are still there as teen Charley Brewster (Anton Yelchin) and his mom (nice seeing Toni Collette again) live in a nice little suburban cul-de-sac off the Las Vegas Strip. Charley has a fetching girlfriend named Amy (played by Imogen Poots..cute name BTW). And his friend Ed (from Superbad as McLoving Christopher Mintz-Plasse). Things are pretty normal until Jerry (Colin Farrell) moves in next door. Of course Jerry being a vampire, things quickly get out of hand.

Jerry in deep thought...

After several people go missing, including Ed, Charley has a confrontation with Jerry which is cool as hell. Everyone knows a vampire can't enter a person's home unless they are invited, so Jerry is standing at Charley's doorway and Charley is not 100% sure he is a vampire but he still doesn't invite him in. And the two have a little stare down that ratchets up the suspense big time.

Ed trying to look brave for a minute...

After Charley fails to save one of Jerry's victims, he seeks out help in the form of Peter Vincent, a Las Vegas magician whose stage show focuses on vampires. Vincent is played by David Tennant, yes a former Dr. Who and he makes quite an impression as Vincent. Dressed in all leather, swearing like Samuel L. Jackson, drinking and constantly having sex on the brain. A total departure from Roddy McDowall's original Vincent. But Tennant is awesome here and when he finally comes aboard, the film goes into overdrive.

Peter Vincent packing some heat...

Colin Farrell makes an excellent vampire. Ruthless, seductive, intelligent, and manipulative. He pulls it off very well. And his full on vampire form is quite impressive. Yelchin makes a good Charley as he reluctantly becomes a vampire slayer to save Amy and his mom. Toni Collette even gets in on some of the action as she has a run in with Jerry.

Charley with his huge cross...

Fright Night is leisurely paced to be sure, but it never drags. The vampire kill scenes are graphic and very cool. The 3D effects are ok, but are really not needed. The film maintains a good balance between horror and comedy and never goes over the top. Credit writer Marti Noxin (of TV's Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel) for an excellent screenplay which is modern and full of new twists on the vampire myths). For instance the vampire being invited into a person's home is eventually overcome by Jerry in a very cool way. I won't spoil how he does it, but let's just say it is very explosive.

Amy and Charley spying on Jerry...

There is a very exciting car chase through the desert  when Charley, Amy and his mom try to flee Jerry, that ends in a brutal smash-up. And then the finale of the film has Charley and Peter entering Jerry's lair, which he has built underneath his home, to take on Jerry and some of his minions. Armed with weapons galore the duo become monster killers. There is a back story involving Peter which he explains to Charley about how he survived a vampire attack as a child while his mom and dad was butchered. And he became a magician to get away from that trauma. That was a great new element added to the film and the character of Peter Vincent. Like I said, this new Fright Night makes just enough changes to become it's own film. But there are plenty of references to the original with lines such as "You're so cool Brewster!" and "Welcome to Fright Night....for real!" to make old fans happy.

Evening folks..just out for a little stroll...

Oh and look for a surprising cameo by one of the stars of the original Fright Night. I had no idea they were going to be in this film so it was quite the surprise when they pop up.

I have a bad feeling about this Charley. Let's come back later...

All in all, Fright Night is one of the best films of the summer, as I enjoyed it immensely. And see not one bad remark about Twilight. Although there is one funny line about that series in this movie that will give you a chuckle.
B+
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Nah, this doesn't burn. Thanks for asking though.

Charley: I'm going to kill a vampire with this stuff.
Store clerk: Good for you!

Now this looks like a vampire movie...the new FRIGHT NIGHT (2011)

When I first heard they was re-making one of my most beloved films, Fright Night, I was very apprehensive. I mean the original Fright Night was very cool. It had the right balance of horror and humor.  It gave the vampire genre a serious injection of new blood, if you pardon the pun. It was cool seeing Roddy McDowall as Peter Vincent, the horror movie host asked to help take down a suave and sinister vampire (wonderfully played by Chris Sarandon). So when news came they were re-doing it, I was like here we go again. But guess what, after seeing the new trailer, this version of Fright Night looks bad ass. Colin Farrell is playing the vampire now, and while I have never been a huge fan of Colin, he looks perfect as the deadly vampire. Cast as the young teen who learns his secret is Anton Yelchin (fresh off paying Chekov in Star Trek and Kyle Reese in Terminator Salvation). And playing the updated Peter Vincent who is a magician now is former Doctor Who David Tennant. Throw in the wonderful actress Toni Collette as Yelchin's mom and Superbad's McLovin (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) as Yelchin's buddy Evil Ed and you have a super cast. So forget those Twilight movies, here comes the real deal with Fright Night. The film opens August 19th. I can't wait. If you haven't seen the trailer, check it out below.