Is it the 80’s cheesiness (fashion, clichés, music)? It’s impressive F/X? The story? Who knows. Time made justice to “Fright Night”, one of the best vampire movies ever and probably the best of the 80’s. When it came out in 1985 the Slasher genre was on it’s highest peak and as Peter Vincent said to Charlie, “his generation prefers movies where a masked looney kills virgin innocents” (or something like that). When nobody cared about Vampires “Fright Night” came out with a tremendous potential on it’s story, actors, and make up; the basic elements that a Slasher movie needs. The result is an entertaining, chilling, and very well done horror movie better than expected.
*SPOILERS* Charlie Brewster an average boy finds out that his neighbor is a vampire. He has doubts until Jerry Dandridge his vampire neighbor appears on his bedroom and threatens him to death. Nobody believes Charlie and after a series of events not only his life is in danger but also his girlfriend’s. Charlie finds in Peter Vincent, t.v.’s popular “Vampire Killer” character his only hope to save his girlfriend. In order to accomplish what he wants, Charlie and Peter Vincent will face the deadly Jerry Dandridge, his guardian Billy Cole, and their attacks.
ACTING. You can’t go wrong when a great actor like Mr. Chris Sarandon carries the entire movie on his back with his performance. His character, Jerry Dandridge completely steals the show. Sarandon made the character. Roddy McDowall as Peter Vincent is a pleasure to watch. His character has an admirable quick evolution in the movie. First he’s the vampire killer t.v. character that after meeting a REAL vampire knows what fear is like. Then after dealing with fear, he recovers faith and that makes him stronger in every aspect. William Ragsdale is good as Charlie Brewster, the teen main character in the movie. The boy that discovers that his neighbor is a real vampire but nobody believes him. Good character. Special mention to Stephen Geoffreys as Evil Ed for being one of the weirdest but likable characters ever to appear in a horror movie. His performance is truly evil and humorist. A nice touch. Amanda Bearse (from Married with Children fame) is also a good addition to the cast, she delivers an o.k. performance. Jonathan Stark as Billie Cole, Jerry’s guardian, delivers a solid performance. This is one of the best casts that you can get from an 80’s horror movie.
DIRECTION. The 80’s craziness was never this creepy. Tom Holland makes a terrific job this time. This man is behind key horror movies from the 80’s like “Child’s Play” and the surprisingly good “Psycho II” among others. His camera work in “Fright Night” is great. He knew how to combine perfectly the 80’s feeling (something that nobody has ever described for it’s madness) with the Vampire movies basic rules.
The idea of watching a Vampire movie from the 80’s could make you think the worst but luckily it’s a great idea. Excellent job Mr. Holland.
F/X/SCORE/CINEMATOGRAPHY. The f/x and make-up are very ahead of it’s time. You can’t get better gore effects! The scene of Evil Ed’s death (when he’s a werewolf) is amazing. On it’s time I’m sure that it shocked more than once. Also, Billy Cole’s death and the ending are great scenes that will please the horror audience’s eyes. Great use of gore and f/x. Enough said. The score is great. The 80’s pop metal and club music fits perfect with the feeling of the movie. The club scene is something you haven’t seen. In the tense and thrilling scenes the music works perfect. The cinematography is pretty good. The use of lightning on dark settings is very good. Watch the DVD version for a different experience. I love the lines from the movie. I can assure that “Fright Night” is something you haven’t seen. Don’t get fooled by the 80’s big hair, laughable fashion, and clichés. The movie stands alone. Be prepared for a real FRIGHT NIGHT!
