Fright Night

Rating:
Summary: Scary, funny and hot
Review: Chris Sarandon is gorgeous in this movie. Roddy Mcdowell is great and Amanda Beardsly (name) is very cute. It is very scary also sweet and has some real comic moments. I've seen it many times and love it.

Rating:
Summary: A major letdown.
Review: I went out on a limb when I bought this movie upon the stellar reccomendations of two of my friends. I should have rented it first. The kid who discovers that his neighbor is a vampire is such a dumbass I was hoping he would get killed. I also wasn't about to buy into Amanda Bearse as an innocent maiden since I'm a die-hard fan of Married...With Children in which she played a sexually aggressive and dominant wife and her scrawny frame and flat chest were constant sources of comedy throughout the show's run. Furthermore, the special effects were so cheesy and over the top that I was laughing more than I was scared. However, since a lot of people like this film, I would reccommend renting it so that you can decide for yourself, but don't buy it sight unseen. Amazon may offer it at a bargain, but I still feel hosed.

Rating:
Summary: Welcome to Fright Night!
Review: If it wasn't for my mother I would probably not have seen this classic vampire film until late in my teens. I remember sitting down with her at about the ripe age of six or so. I was extremely intrigued by every action in this film, and now at the age of 19, this film has become a truly wonderful film to watch. William Ragsdale plays the teenage detective obsessing over his next door neighbor, stating that he positively is a creature of the night. Charley Brewster (ragsdale) then goes to his tv hero, Peter Vincent ( Roddy McDowall) the great vampire killer. Peter rejects Charley's belief and later Charley is forced to go in alone. Another great aspect of this film is the sly, seductive vampire, played by Chris Sarandon. I believe he plays the perfect vamp in this tale. I honestly think that if you are in the mood to rent a hip, fun, scary, and classic vampire flick, then this is the movie. Tom Holland does an excellent job in creating the fear and clinging that an audience demands in horror films. "Oh, Brewster, You're so Cool"!

Rating:
Summary: A surprisingly impressive, entertaining vampire flick
Review: At first glance, Fright Night looks like another cheesy vampire film: a young man figures out that a vampire has moved next door, no one believes him, the vampire comes after him, his only hope is an old horror actor, etc. It's pretty predictable, right down to the whole thing about the boy's girlfriend bearing a striking resemblance to one of the vampire's old flames. So yes, in its own way, Fright Night is cheesy. At the same time, though, it is oh so much more than you would expect - an entertaining, somewhat creepy vampire film that features some great acting and some really impressive special effects. You expect to see really bad, noticeably cheap special effects in a film like this, but Fright Night hits a home run in this department.

William Ragsdale plays Charley Brewster, a typical horror-loving kid who just so happens to find out that his new neighbor is a vampire - naturally, no one believes him, including his friend Evil Ed (Stephen Geoffreys in a truly annoying performance) and his girlfriend Amy (Amanda Bearse, who went on to play Marcie on Married With Children). For some reason, Charley decides to be open about his suspicions, thus letting the vampire know that he knows his little secret - not a smart move, as Charley soon learns courtesy of a little visit from the new guy in town. This vampire, I must say, looks nothing like your typical Count Dracula; he actually looks like a reject from Dance Fever, making it a little hard for me to take him seriously (although the threat of "Deney Terrio" busting out some disco moves in the film's one night club scene certainly had me feeling uneasy). In desperation, Charley goes to the only man he thinks can help him - Peter Vincent, Vampire Killer (Roddy McDowall). Vincent killed many a vampire - in the movies - and he is now the local host of Fright Night, a late-night horror show. As you might expect, Vincent doesn't really believe in vampires and, once he sees that Charley is telling him the truth, he isn't too anxious to fight them, either. McDowall is really great in this movie; he is the lynchpin upon which most of the movie's success depends.

I can't say enough about the special effects, especially those in the film's climactic moments. As a horror fan, I really appreciate the filmmakers spending the time and money to give me such an impressive show. The plot features a number of clichés as well as a couple of "oldest tricks in the book," but the inspired performance of Roddy McDowell combined with the fantastic special effects leads me to bump my rating up from four to five stars. This probably won't be the best vampire film you've ever seen, but I am sure that fans of the genre will not fail to get quick a kick out of Fright Night.

Rating:
Summary: Terrific 80's vampire classic!
Review:
Charlie Brewster ( played by William Ragsdale) has gotten an unusual new neighbor named "Jerry Dandriege" ( Played by Chris Sarandon) who's quite savvy with the ladies but he's really a vampire who murders in the night. Charlie's friends such as his girlfriend "Amy" ( Amanda Bearse) and "Evil Ed" start to believe in him after they didn't, he also hires a popular TV host named " Peter Vincent" ( Roddy Mcdowell) who was called " the great vampire killer of the movies" to take down the bloodsuckers.

A refreshing, entertaining, and witty horror comedy that makes fun of the vampire genre with some good ideas, gore, self-referential jokes ( Before " Scream"), great special effects by Richard Edlund, wild vampire make-up effects by Steve Johnson and it's just a down and out fun yet original vampire movie with a cult following, it's one of the best from the 80's next to " The Lost Boys".

The DVD is quite good in picture and sound quality with the theatrical trailer, this is a must own movie for fans of horror comedies and vampire flicks.

Also recommended: " Vamp", " The Lost Boys", "Fright Night 2", " Evil Dead II", "An American Werewolf in London", " Demons", " Cemetery Man", "Underworld", "Vampire Hunter D", "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust", "Blade", "Blade II", "Lifeforce", " Demons 2", " From Dusk Till Dawn", " Night Stalker", "Scream", " Buffy The Vampire Slayer" ( Movie and TV Show), " Dog Soldiers", " Bram Stoker's Dracula", " Def by Temptation", " Bordello of Blood", " Wolf", " Van Helsing", " The Hunger", " Blood: The Lost Vampire", " Dead Alive", " Hocus Pocus", " Salem's Lot" ( Both versions), " The Forsaken", " Habit", " Martin", and "Subspecies".


Rating:
Summary: Fright Or Flight
Review: Fright Night is a classic horror comedy from the mid-80's, that's fun all the way around, no matter which way you bite into it. Like it's contemporary, The Lost Boys, it manages to be an entertaining hybrid of two genres. Great performances highlight a film that, handled another way, could have been a total disaster.

Jerry Dandrige (Chris Sarandon) is trying to keep a secret, he almost succeeds in doing so, moving into a quiet suburb. That is until his 17 year old neighbor, Charley Brewster (William Ragsdale) snoops around and discovers that Jerry is a vampire. He is convinced that he's a dead man. When Charley can't get anybody to believe him, he turns to TV horror host Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowall), who used to be the "Great Vampire Killer" of the movies for help. Things go from bad to worse as Chaley's girlfriend Amy (Amanda Bearse, from TV's Married With Children) gets trapped inside Jerry's house.

Written and directed by Tom Holland (Childs Play), Fright Night, works for a couple of reasons. First, I have to say that the screenplay is very well constructed. Holland walks a fine line, making sure the film can balance betweern horror and comedy, without either genre claiming complete ownership. The cast is just great too. McDowall is pitch perfect as a horror host has been in need of jolt. Sarandon gives Jerry proper amounts of tongue in cheek swagger, while at the same time, proving just enough of a threat as not to deminish the character. The climax of the film is a real howler that has stayed with me since I first saw the film on cable.

Sadly, the only extra on the DVD right now, is the theatrical trailer. I would welcome an "updated" or anniversary special edition release of the film. For now, Fright Night, is recommended