Fright Night (1985)Directed by Tom Holland
Ok I have to say right off the bat, I totally guessed at what year this came out when I started writing this review, and I was right. It is funny, seems like the more 80s movies I watch, the easier it is for me to guess the release date. Anyway, now with that out of the way lets talk about this damn movie. Vampires have been a horror institution for, well basically forever. Nosferatu came out in the 20s, which was based off the Bram Stoker novel “Dracula” from 1897, so yeah basically FOR-EV-ER (Sandlot quote). It is a subgenre that never seems to get old, someone comes around and breathes new life into it.
Fright Night is about a teenage boy named Charley(William Ragsdale), whom loves late night horror movies with host Peter Vincent(Roddy McDowall). He has a new neighbor movie in named Jerry (Chris Sarandon). From the get go Charley suspects something weird is afoot with Jerry. One night, Charley is “pervin a dish” (another Sandlot reference) watching Jerry and a lady friend get it on. Charley notices Jerry’s teeth seem to grow in to fangs, Jerry makes eye contact with Charley and he runs. The next day Charley tries to convince his friend Evil Ed (Stephen Geoffreys) and girlfriend Amy (Amanda Bearse) that Jerry is a vampire. Of course, they think he’s nuts. Charley’s mother invites Jerry over for a drink and now Jerry can enter the house any time he wants, which is explained as a Vampire rule by Ed earlier on. In the night Jerry attacks Charley. Charley tries to get Peter Vincent to help him, he’s brushed off and goes home to lick his wounds. Amy and Ed visit Peter and convince him to help them out, basically to prove Jerry isn’t a vampire. The group goes to Jerry’s house and they have him drink “holy water” which isn’t real holy water, trying to prove to Charley that he’s nuts. Peter notices Jerry doesn’t have a reflection, and he runs off. Now Charley, along with his friends have to figure out how to get rid of Jerry before he destroys everyone.
While it may not be the most original story, sort of a mixture of Dracula and Rear Window, the story is effective and fun. The acting is quite solid and Evil Ed is rather funny, I really don’t know why he didn’t have a bigger career in the 80s, he would fit right in with movies like Porkies and Meatballs. Ragsdale does a good job as the neurotic Charley, you feel his frantic nature through his words and movements. Amanda Bearse, looking back makes me laugh because I can only see her as Marcy D’Arcy from Married…With Children now, but she is decent as the good girl next door type. Sarandon is always pretty good, he was great in Child’s Play and is really effective here as the vampire Jerry. Roddy McDowall, I mean…isn’t he always good? I love his character, the actor that portrays the fearless vampire hunter, but when put in danger he’s a pansy ass.
The special effects are subtle and well done. The vampires look cool and aren’t just guys with fangs, they’re actual creatures. Other than the creature effects, there isn’t much in this movie, it tends to lean towards atmosphere and humor more than gore. The soundtrack is pretty good as well, you get a nice mix of genres from the era, rock, glam metal, pop, mostly everything is represented. The vampires in this don’t turn into bats, but into wolves, which is interesting. Usually werewolves and vampires have a distinctive line.
Every scene is this movie seems to have nods to other horror movies, which is really fun if you are a horror nut like me. I can’t really explain much more of the movie without ruining the scenes, it is a fun movie and you should watch it. Fright Night doesn’t seem to get the credit it deserves, it is spooky and fun, full of scares and laughs. Usually I’m not much of a vampire movie fan but Fright Night is a fun one that I have watched a few times. If you have a chance, check it out, it is on Hulu plus right now. I would grade Fright Night a B. The acting is good, the dialogue is above average, and the effects are…um, effective? I can’t really give it an A because I never feel the drive to watch it each year but I do really enjoy it.
