Fright Night

80s comedy-horror, about a teen boy and his vampiric neighbour, gets a new Blu-ray

Film Review by Kirsty Leckie-Palmer | 20 Dec 2016
Film title: Fright Night
Director: Tom Holland
Starring: Chris Sarandon, William Ragsdale, Amanda Bearse, Stephen Geoffreys, Roddy McDowall
Release date: 26 Dec
Certificate: 15

Suburban teenager Charley (Ragsdale) is on the brink of taking his relationship with girlfriend Amy (Bearse) to the next level when he clocks the arrival of an unwieldy coffin at the house next door. Several unsubtle encounters leave horror fan Charley adamant that the new neighbour is a card-carrying vampire, so he’s understandably irked when his mother invites smouldering Jerry (Sarandon) into the house for a chinwag.

Mother and bae are equally distracted by undead Jerry's debonair charms, ignoring Charlie’s protests. In desperation, he turns to his creature feature idol, ‘vampire hunter’ Peter Vincent (McDowall). Vincent doesn’t believe him either – but he’s strapped for cash, so grudgingly gets involved.

Scripted by horror writer and music video director Tom Holland, Fright Night was a stab in the dark at reviving a genre that was already in an abject state of decay. But If anyone could stake a claim on the vampire movie, why not Holland, a man who had the gall to script Psycho 2?

The result is a film devoted to, and informed by, its genre. This metatextual beast taps into a tangle of horror veins; here a steadicam prowl that recalls Carpenter, there a lacy gown fit for a Giallo donna.

Though it’s nowhere near the smirking reflexiveness of Craven’s Scream, for instance, Fright Night is undeniably self-aware. Female characters are hampered by a complete absence of agency, effects are gooey and outlandish. Moments of nuance or interest are trampled by hammy acting or insistent synths, all of which means Fright Night will mainly prove entertaining to those who view it in the same spirit as it was produced – as a horror artefact.

Extras

A comprehensive ‘making of’ entitled You’re So Cool Brewster spends over two hours poring over Holland’s background, casting decisions, special effects and outtakes. It’s presented by a faux Peter Vincent figure, and features extensive commentary from key cast members and crew.