Buy the DVD:

Sponsored Links:

Fright Night

Here's one of my favorite vampire horror movies and I rank it in my top 10. It's such a perfect marriage of quirkiness, horror, and lurking suspense, but if you're looking for a gory feast, you're going to still be hungry. There are moments in the movie where it gets a bit messy, but I don't think hardcore vampire fanatics would think there was enough. My opinion, in reference to that, is why Fright Night works so well. This simply plays out to be a great vampire movie, a true classic for the beholder!

In a sleepy town, nestled in the suburbs on a cool autumn night, two teenagers Charley Brewster (William Ragsdale) and Amy Peterson (Amanda Bearse), are supposedly studying, but they're actually on the verge of taking their relationship to another level. Nervously, Amy gets ready while Charley turns the television off and innocently glances out his nearby window. His eye sharply catches two figures moving a large coffin in the moon's light. Instantly he's mesmerized by the new neighbors' macabre behavior in the back yard. Charley's curiosity is once again aroused when a young beautiful woman he'd seen during the day, asked him the whereabouts of his new neighbor's house. The next day Charley saw the woman's picture on the morning news, announcing that she had been murdered. Has Charley stumbled upon the neighbor's diabolical secret or is his over-active imagination clouding his perception?

The new owner is Jerry Dandridge (Chris Sarandon), the sexy, devastatingly charming and delectable new neighbor who unfortunately, with all that good stuff going for him, does have a nasty little habit that could be quite unpleasant for his unsuspecting neighbors. Then there's Billy Cole (Jonathan Stark), Jerry's roommate and carpenter, who's not at all what he appears to be and will protect Jerry at any cost, any time.

Charley won't let this be the last time he checks out his peculiar neighbors from his window, as his infatuation dangerously develops into an obsession and his meddling causes more of a threat to the people closest in his life. Even his friend, Evil Ed (Stephen Geoffreys), the outcast at school, thinks Charley has flipped his lid. Although Evil Ed is the perfect accessory for a person like Jerry Dandridge to take under his wing.

Amy, who loves and supports Charley, dearly fears his mental state is at risk with the thoughts and actions he's planning to take against Jerry. Charley seeks out Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowall), the aging and recently-canned horror show host, who thinks Charley is one nutty teenager with which he wants no association.

Amy and Evil Ed visit Peter Vincent and Amy offers Mr. Vincent money to pretend he's going to put on a vampire authenticating ritual to "prove" Jerry is not a vampire.

Peter Vincent is in disbelief of Charley's accusations until the doubt is clearly lifted by a simple mistake, but will that mistake cost them their lives?

Incredibly talented, absolutely dynamic are the performances in this movie. Each one crafted to suit the complicated needs of the role. I, of course, loved Chris Sarandon as the vampire. He's off the Richter scale! I especially was intrigued by William Ragdale's role and bowled over by Roddy McDowall's. There's just so much talent in this movie.

I found the special effects to be engrossing, with the creation of the vampire and other horror goodies such as the transformation of main characters. Nothing is taken away by these effects either because they only enhance the wickedness of the town over which the vampire has begun to take control.

The music rocks and it sets the tone of the movie. The most-well-known song probably is "Fright Night," by the J.Geils Band and they even had a video made to the song that aired on VH1 long, long, ago. The rest of the tracks are pretty cool. I especially like "Good Man In A Bad Time," by Ian Hunter; "Armies Of The Night," by Sparks; and "Give It Up," by Evelyn "Champagne" King.

Director Tom Holland's marvelous artistic eye creates sublime images of shadow and light that caresses the screen and the sharp camera angles and tight close-ups feel as if one is taking part in the slickness and sinister happenings. The movie also balances itself with touches of humor along side the fear, which makes Jerry's whistling scene quite amusing and, quite nicely, sets the intended mood for the next scene. Tom Holland's classic approach to storytelling is noted as he delves into the vulnerabilities and the cockiness of Jerry, making him appealing and sympathetically human.

I highly recommend Fright Night for any fan of vampire movies. It's an atmospheric movie that is monstrously fun to watch as it oozes dark, campy, and intense chills! I give it two fangs?

Written by: Lynda Dale MacLean

Reviewers Rating: 9
Reader's Rating: 8.64
Reader's Votes: 19

Rate It