Adam Collins posted on August 19, 2011 10:15
I am sad to report that I have never seen the 1985 original cult-classic that is Fright Night. Therefore, I have no frame of reference in which to compare this film. With that out of the way, the remake is directed by Craig Gillespie (Lars and the Real Girl, United States of Tara) and written by Marti Noxon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer). Marti Noxon wrote, produced and directed Buffy and Angel. She is no stranger to vampires. Craig Gillespie has never really directed anything that would require the level of special effects that Fright Night deserves. It doesn’t show.
Fright Night starts when Jerry (Colin Farrell) moves next door to Charley (Anton Yelchin) and his mother Jane (Toni Collette) in a suburban area of Las Vegas. Neighbors and students start to disappear from their fair town, and only Charley’s childhood friend Ed (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) believes that it is vampires. Once Ed himself goes missing, Charley begins to see the obvious signs of Jerry’s vampirism. Trying to convince his mother and his girlfriend (Imogen Poots) proves a difficult task. That is, until the melee begins. Charley then enlists the help of illusionist, Vegas performer, and world renowned vampire expert Peter Vincent (David Tennant). Together, they try to take down Jerry and his minions.
Where Fright Night really succeeds is in the fact that they knew what they were going for, and were not afraid to do whatever was necessary to get there. Once the film got going, there was no turning back. I was afraid that once it reached a level of ridiculousness and hokeyness, it would be afraid to continue on its path and stop. When that proverbial line was reached, Fright Night sped past it like it didn’t exist. This made for a very entertaining and enjoyable ride.
There is one thing that I just do not understand about vampire films of late. They all want to make fun of Twilight in some way. Yet, if not for the sad pathetic lives of pre-teen, teenage, and post-teenage women who loved the shitfest that Stephanie Meyer wrote, vampires would not be “in” and their movie, television show, or new young adult series of books would not have been funded or made. The amount of vampire crap that has come out in the past five years astounds me. I have guarded myself from as much of it as I could.
Fright Night’s entertainment value is much higher than it has any right to be. Colin Farrell is on top of his game for the again this summer. Anton Yelchin’s Rear Window/Disturbia character is as fun and awkward as its predecessors. For the second time in a row, the 3D was well-used and added just that little bit extra to the film. While there are only a few scenes that utilize it to its full potential, those few scenes are great. In the end, I found Fright Night to be as humorous as it was fun. I am happy to say that this vampire film does not suck.
RATING: 7.5/10