Fright Night (2011) – Review

This remake of the 1985 film of the same name is a total blast, and personally for me, I like it a good margin more than the original. The plot is basic yet effective: As kids go missing in a Las Vegas suburb, high school student Charley Brewster (Yelchin) is convinced by his friend Ed (Mintz-Plasse) that the new neighbor Jerry Dandridge (Farrell) is potentially the cause.

When it is determined that a supernatural being may in fact be inflicting damage on the community, a proclaimed magician and vampire killer Peter Vincent (Tennant) is sought out to join the fight. This makes for a showdown of amateurs versus the seasoned vampire in town.

What I love about this movie are the characters, and the sharp dialogue. The high school kids ring mostly true, as most are more focused on popularity than reality. Charley’s new girlfriend Amy (Poots) is sexy, grounded and assured, while his mother Jane (Collette) is a believable mix of worried and focused.

The new neighbor is expertly crafted by Farrell, who must have loved his role and it shows. He is both devious, scary and fully memorable. Lastly, David Tennant’s Peter Vincent is an absolute riot of narcissism and drunken debauchery.

While Fright Night has many typical horror elements, it is not very scary and instead focuses on humor and fun just as much as the thrills it delivers. Check it out if you are looking for a very fun time with a few light scares.

It is a bit less hammy than the 80s version, however that is part of the 80s charm also, so some people that expect that type of a presentation will not be as pleased.