Fright Night (1985) is not only my all time favourite vampire movie but it’s one of my all time favourite movies full stop (or “period” to my American friends).
Needless to say when I read about a remake due to come out a few years ago I wasn’t impressed. I was even less impressed when I learned that David Tennant was attached to the project (hear me out)...
I’m talking of course about Fright Night (2011).
The original Fright Night is about a teenage boy called Charlie (William Ragsdale) who while spying on his new next door neighbour one night discovers he’s a vampire.
When none of his friends believe him he seeks the help of Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowall), the washed up host of a dated tv show called Fright Night to help put an end to his new neighbour’s killing spree.
I was actually surprised to find that I really enjoyed the remake!
It stars Anton Yelchin (Star Trek), Toni Collette (The Sixth Sense), David Tennant (Doctor Who) and Colin Farrell (In Bruges) as the vampire neighbour, Jerry Dandridge.
They changed a few things around and relocated the story to Las Vegas but all in all I liked the movie.
For some reason I’d taken a disliking to David Tennant (I don’t know why) but I have to say, this film changed my view of him and in actual fact he was the best thing about it.
As is often the case with movies these days they overdid it a bit with the CGI but I thought the story and the performances from all of the actors involved made up for it.
I also loved the nice little cameo from Chris Sarandon who played the original Jerry Dandridge.
Overall Verdict: It’s still not a patch on the original but as far as remakes go, this is one I’d recommend AS LONG as you watch the 1985 version first.
“Welcome..to..Fright..Night.....for real.”
Have you seen it? What do you think?