Movie Info
Movie Name: Fright Night
Studio: DreamWorks
Genre(s): Horror
Release Date(s): August 19, 2011
MPAA Rating: R
Crosses Charley…really?
Charley Brewster (Anton Yelchin) used to be a geek and is trying to shed his image to impress his new friends and his girlfriend Amy Peterson (Imogen Poots). When Charley’s old friend “Evil” Ed Lee (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) tells Charley that his new neighbor Jerry Dandrige (Colin Farrell) is a vampire, Charley refuses to believe it…costing Evil his life. Now, Charley finds his mother (Toni Collette) and Amy are being menaced by Jerry, and Charley’s only hope might be a TV magician named Peter Vincent (David Tennant).
Directed by Craig Gillespie, Fright Night is a remake of the 1985 cult horror film of the same name. The new film was met with positive reviews and a moderate box office profit.
McLovin…you’re just not “Evil” Ed enough…
Fright Night was an ’80s classic so word of a Fright Night remake was a little worrisome. The early casting news provided some good…David Tennant, Toni Collette, and Anton Yelchin…and some bad Colin Farrell (not a big fan). The movie, like the cast, had its pluses and minuses.
The story of Fright Night wasn’t horribly modified, but there were some slight changes to the story. The setting of Vegas (as stated in the movie) is a perfect idea…if you’re a vampire and only care about the night you need a place with a nightlife and wouldn’t care about the heat. Charley’s mother is incorporated more into the story, and I like that Peter Vincent has been transformed into an act instead of a horror host. The changes however make it less of a horror-comedy, and the movie seems to drag at points near the end…fortunately, we weren’t subjected to “nobody believes me” plotlines for very long after Charley finds out after Jerry.
It’s Chekov & the Doctor…Vampire Hunters!!!
Despite not like Colin Farrell much, he does ok here and isn’t too bad. Yelchin also makes a good Charley and is probably a better actor than the original Charley. David Tennant plays a very different Peter Vincent, but you got to love when “The Doctor” stops by any film. I could have done with more Toni Collette in the movie since she’s left behind about half way through. Poots is fair as Amy, but Christopher Mintz-Plasse just doesn’t live up to the original Evil Ed who was creepy on multiple levels. There is a small cameo by singer Lisa Loeb and the original Jerry Dandridge shows up in the car accident scene. Chris Sarandon plays the man who hits Collette’s car and is quickly dispatched by Farrell.
I was like “OMG…I’m a vampire”!!!
Visually the movie isn’t revolutionary, but it does have some good looks. In general, I found the scenes too dark and sometimes couldn’t figure out what was going on. Steven Spielberg had some say on the making of the film and helped develop some of the scenes and effects for Craig Gillespie.
Fright Night still is a fun movie, but just not as fun as the original. Despite dragging a bit at the ending, the movie moves at a relatively fast pace. Despite the positive reviews and decent box office returns, a big budget sequel wasn’t in the cards. A straight-to-DVD sequel Fright Night 2: New Blood was released in October 2013.
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