Fright Night
| release date | August 2 1985 |
| studio | Universal |
| director | Tom Holland |
| writer | Tom Holland |
| starring | Chris Sarandon, Roddy McDowall |
| rating | R |
| tagline | If you love being scared, it'll be the night of your life. |
| trailer 1 | Trailer #1 |
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2 Comments
I found this movie to be EXTREMELY BORING!!! If you want to watch a good 80′s vampire movie, watch The Lost Boys.
Classic vampire flick. Really, it was my first favorite horror movie. I must’ve seen it a hundred times. The effects are great (still), the humor good, and the setting suspenseful. What’s most interesting, I think, is how close they attempt to keep to the vampire legend while remaining in the eighties culture, and they do it well. For anybody who likes vampire movies, this should really be at the top of your list.
One of the best vampire movies ever made and one of my fav horror movies of all time! I’ve seen it so many times and it never gets old. Everyone should see this movie
I still love this movie after all these years, good acting and a good story , i adore it!!!!
this is one of the best vampire movies ever made!
Loved this film and the sequel.
Classic vampire film.
Should be in a true horror fans collection. Funny and creepy in some parts. give it a watch!
One of my top 10 vampire flicks!!!! It’s great!!!
I watched this movie religiously as a kid. One of the best vampire flicks ever. Creepy, scary, just pure awesomeness.
one of the few actual good vampire films that have been made, the casting of the two lead characters are very well casted and have interesting chemistry as a team on screen.
This movie was fun to watch. A great story and the acting was actually pretty good. It did drag on a little bit, but not too much. The one thing that I found funny and something that took away from the movie was the fact that you can see the wires of the wolf and bat. That was hilarious. Overall a fun movie to watch.
Oh watching this movie made me want to be a vampire — so sexy !!!!!!!!!!
Decent movie, better has come out of the 80′s. altogether good though
This is one of my fave 80′s horrors, one that I watched over and over and put on a pedestal as high as The Lost Boys. Such a fun movie thanks to it’s ordinary premise. Vampire moves in next to door to a horror freak but no one believes him so he seeks the help of Peter Vincent, host of a late night horror show !!! This had great vampire effects for it’s time especially Evil Ed’s werewolf transformation and the young funky cast make it a good ride. Fun,creepy and scary in equal amounts, every horror fan and more so vampire movie fans should have this one in their collection. The sequel is pretty good too thanks to returning characters. Awesome movie
Fright Night
I hate watching writers/directors mistake vampires for Star Wars stormtroopers. I’m tolerable to “Blade”… But, the quick death of numerous vampires terribly irked me. At some point during the 90′s, vampires evolved from Hollywood’s “Kings of Atrociousness” to just another evil pimple exploding from a teen’s face. Folks, I truly despise that.
Every now and then, I have to pull out a great movie that sets things back into the right order. Last night, I watched “Fright Night,” and vampires are once again terrifying creatures of the night. I’m sorry if you disagree, but I’m of the opinion that Chris Sarandon’s character, Jerry Dandridge, would wipe the floor with Wesley Snipes’ character, Blade.
The basic synopsis of “Fright Night” is this: Horror-fan Charley Brewster accidentally finds out that his new neighbor is a vampire (Jerry Dandridge.) No one believes poor Charley, and the vampire, Dandridge, begins his assault against Charley, his friend Ed, and his girlfriend, Amy (who is played by a young Amanda Bearse, AKA Marcy Darcy, from “Married with Children”). The police turn their backs on the “crazy” Brewster, so he turns to horror film star Peter Vincent (who is played by the wonderful-acting Roddy McDowell!) What ensues is a cool, dark battle for their lives.
The 80′s are present in this movie, but overall, I believe it has aged very well. Hollywood has been proclaiming a remake is in the works, but there is no need. “Fright Night” is still a great horror/vampire movie; in fact, it is one of my all-time favorite horror movies.
So if you want to have a good time, go out and rent “Fright Night,” then make some popcorn, turn off the lights, cuddle up next to your guy/gal, and hit “play.” If you’re like me, this will be one of those nights you’ll never forget.
Any great quotes within the movie?
(Quotes that my friends and I said often while goofing around.)
1. Jerry Dandrige: “Welcome to Fright Night… For real!”
2. Ed: “Oh, you’re so COOL, Brewster!”
80′s Horror Classic. Another good one. Check out Once Bitten.
I know the movie by heart. It’s great!
I love this move! I used to watch this movie every week when i was a kid. I think any fan of vampire’s would truly appreciate this movie. The effects were great, chris sarandon from child’s play is alot different in fright night, he’s one crude vampire!
One of the greatest 80′s horror / vampire pics of all time. It does everything right. The movie gives you a constant sense of dred, the vampires sfx make up effects are more demonic and terrifying than any other vampire film out their, the music is chilling and you really feel for charlies character and his sense of paranoia.
And believe it or not, the sequel is just as good.
Classic movie!
Excellent vampire film one of my favorites.The effects were great and the story was simple but effective.Still holds up pretty well today.Considering such crap like twilight exist.
Who could forget this movie? I couldn’t. The day it came out my friend and I was in line to see it and it blew us away. The plot is simple yet original: A teenager start to believe that his neighbor is a vampire, and is, he is set out to prove himself right. What makes this movie work is the fact that this teen enlists the help of a TV personality vampire killer, played by Roddy McDowall, to help him capture the vampire. Roddy’s performance works for the most part as being the washed up TV host looking for away to redeem him.
The scares are there and Tom Holland rethought the design for a vampire, as well as the bat that comes with it. It had a great blend of sexual pleasure, which vampires often do, and humor that drove this film. It had a very memorable dance club scene and a great theme song by the J. Geils Band simply titled, Fright Night.
The few bad things are very minor. The acting could have been better given the situation and the makeup, though good, was sort of funny. The special effects were great on the other hand.
Overall, this movie deserves a change. If you like new and interesting vampire movies, than this movie is for you.
A true classic, this one has it all! It’s funny, scary it has a fantastic cast, one of the best vampire movies ever and a personl favorite.
I had just re watched this movie over the weekend because i have been on a vampire kick and let me tell you what i remember why this was a great vamp flick…. This had the comedy in it and had the drama but the best is that it had bloody moments.
This movie had things which i loved seeing like the gag of the vamps friend getting shot in the head then getting back up and once they stake him and he melts away it just reminds me of a evil dead.
The faces of the vampires were also cool just knowing that it was a tradition set of teeth but to actually see there faces transform.
When his girlfriend transforms and her teeth are crazy it reminds me of baraka from the mortal kombat Games.
Over all i Recommend this to any one who likes watching vampire flicks and wants to have a great time!!
Every horror fan should take the time to see this movie. You can see how current filmmakers have been influenced by it.
Easily in my top five favorite Vamp films of all time. It’s blood, humor, and sex. Everything I want in my Horror.
Great movie, it reminds me of the whole Distubia thing with the Neighboor & kid. I agree a good Vampire movie
Probably the best vampire movie to date. Brings a lot to the table in terms of FX and suspense. Highly recommended.
I can’t say that this isn’t good movie, but then again I can’t say I liked it. I am not a fan of vampires at all, so this one isn’t the best for me. Still the best vampire I’ve seen though, but yeah. Eh.
One of the best vampire movies ever, a horror classic.
Awesome old school vampire flick about a teenage boy who cries Vampire and of course nobody believes him. One of my all time fav vampire movies.
one of the best vampire movies ever
i love this movie soo much. One of the best vampire movies ever. Evil Ed is just hilarious. Jerry is pretty hott and so is Charlie. The night club seduction scene is my favorite part of the movie. Nothing in the movie looked fake. Other movies can be seen for what it really is. Super fake, but this looks real. So real. Once again, one of my favorite MOVIES of all time.
BEST VAMPIRE MOVIE EVER!!! It doesn’t need a remake! It’s perfect the way it is! One of my fav movies of all time!
i love it! one of my favourite vampire movies next to The Lost Boys
i watched it last on new years eve, top film to end the year and the decade with
one of the best vampire movies of all time. Great actors, great effects, funny, scary – a classic!
Like it a lot more when I was younger, still entertaining and funny. This is still a classic 80′s vampire flick.
my true rating is a 6.5
I have to agree that this was much better when I was younger but still really a cool movie. I liked the effects and the acting wasn’t terrible. This movie was a bit long but not a waste of time. 80′s horror always win’s in my book, maybe because this is were most of us got started.
One of my favorite vampire movies. I grew up with this one, and recommend it to all vampire fans…
‘Fright Night’ is a 1985 Horror, Comedy & Thiller (also I think
Enjoyable
Aahhh, this movie takes me back to a more innocent time and place. It’s a teenybopper scary movie. It’s pretty scary when you’re about thirteen. I dig it. Watch it.
At first this movie feels juvenile, but it gets better. This teen driven horror/comedy has a badass vampire and some cool fx. And Roddy McDowall is great as Peter Vincent. Old school fun.
awesome, 80′s awesome gory vampire film that is worth everything, so twighlight can suck it
One of the best vampire flicks, especially for the 80s
High end vampire film, classic 80′s romp!!
I grew up with the best era of horror, the 80′s. Slasher, ghosts , gore and vampires.
This movie is in my top ten of all time.
One of the sexiest vampire ever ( before we had Bella and Cristhopher). One of the few movies i must watch with my son.
A must see
It’s a bit like Disturbia, but with vampire instead of serial killer. it has an interesting story and characters, I like the character of Peter Vincent especially. It’s pretty funny, I would put it as one of the best horror comedies of the 80, along with Return of the Living Dead and Re-Animator. It’s gory, with Some cool transformation effects (not as good as modern effects but still good enough). Overall the film is still fun to watch even today, not overly dated.
Straddles the line of horror and comedy a little too much without ever choosing one direction to go in. The “scary” moments are sometimes laughable because of the comedic tone that is set, and the comedic moments sometimes fall flat because you don’t know what are the intentional laughs or what are the “Oh man this movie was made in the 80′s” moments. More information here:
http://thewolfmancometh.com/2011/06/18/wrong-turn-2003/
A fun little vampire comedy, that many horror fans may not know yet. I just hope that the remake will not completely dissappoint.
I will admit, ‘Fright Night’ is probably one of those movies you HAD to see when you were younger, or you’re liable to just roll your eyes at the cheesy factor of it. But it remains my favorite horror movie to this day.
This movie is PURE 80′s, which could be it’s appeal for some, and turn off for others. But for it’s time, it was amazingly done.
I feel… so very alone in not liking this movie. It’s not BAD, per se… But the characters are annoying, the script feels stretched thin like someone’s dragging it out for more time, and the whole 80s bar dance scene (ugh), made it hard to enjoy. By the end I was glad it was over. Not sad I watched it, but won’t watch it again.
“Fright Night” is what 80′s horror cinema was all about; having fun without being overly dumb. To impress an intelligent audience, one had to actually WRITE a film and THINK about what made films such as this one work. I believe that “Fright Night” works because its writers were well-researched, and its director, Tom Holland (of “Child’s Play” fame) knew – at the time – how to craft a well-made work of seemingly effortless entertainment. This is now one of my favorite vampire films; and I don’t come across those too often. Perhaps that is because films such as “Twilight” plague the movie-screens of the world with PG-13 filth that dumbs down the vampire legend and lore for younger audience. But in the end, it’s still films such as this one that keep us sane and engaged in what the vampire sub-genre of horror has to offer. And as far as vampire movies go, I’d say that “Fright Night” is rather great.
The screenplay works, and therefore, so does the film; since the movie essentially revolves around how well each storytelling element works. It’s a satire, a homage to a now-lost genre, and also it’s own film all-together; which is quite glorious indeed. I loved every comedic, creepy, entertaining moment of it.
You might know the premise, and then again, you might not. So here’s the break-down; a typical high school kid named Charlie is facing problems both suitably normal and also atypical. As far as normal goes, he’s having girlfriend troubles; the girl is uncertain of his habits and hobbies, which include watching horror films as well as other people, from his house, with a pair of ol’ binoculars. One day, Charlie gets a new neighbor. Well actually, he gets two; Jerry (Chris Sarandon) and Billy (Jonathan Stark). Acting out on traditionally normal fashion to this new arrival, Charlie spies on his new neighbors and discovers them lifting a coffin into their basement. Charlie is terrified, but his mother has already been half-seduced by the handsome Jerry, and his friends – “Evil” Ed (Stephen Geoffreys) and girlfriend Amy – are a bit skeptical or his supposive “sightings”. Better yet, Charlie is completely fixated on the concept of Jerry being a real-life vampire. Perhaps he’s been watching too many late-night horror flicks. Or maybe he’s right.
After consulting the police and having no luck with foiling his neighbors’ evil plans, Charlie must turn to his favorite nighttime horror-host; Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowall), for answers. Vincent – on screen – has many times claimed to be a vampire hunter, but he doubts himself, and his show is even cancelled due to the lack of concern or interest amongst his target audience. But Charlie gives him a second chance at getting his name out and noticed; through captured and/or killing the boy next door.
Yeah, it’s simple. And yeah, sometimes it is absurd. But I loved “Fright Night” because it embraced just about everything that some might find to be “wrong” with it (clichés, familiarities, etc.), but one cannot deny that it has a heart; and it has stolen my own. It isn’t often that I see a vampire movie with such rich social commentary. The film takes the time to take a little reality check; and therefore, if there is horror, then there’s a good chance we will gladly relate to it. However, “Fright Night” is equally as interested in getting shrieks as it is laughs; and I will tell you up-front that this is a very funny film. One of the funniest vampire films I’ve seen, perhaps. One can’t shake from their memory delightful moments of human comedy such as the ones that occur before the vampire plot even takes full-form. And the vampire scenes, well, let’s just say they are ghoulishly fantastical. The make-up effects are outstanding, the score is atmospheric, and the cinematography is surprisingly inspired. Such things can almost always make a good movie, and not always a great one; but this time, I think it all works to the film’s benefit.
The film also has two very special, memorable performances too. I am of course speaking of Sarandon as his vampire Jerry and McDowall as the vampire hunter, Peter Vincent. When it comes to cinematic vampires, I’d say Sarandon’s portrayal of Jerry is pretty high up there. He’s nasty, seductive, handsome, ominous, and absolutely demeaning. He does his job considerably right. Then there’s McDowall, who gives what I believe to be the best performance in the film. He plays the late-night horror-host part very well indeed, with some dialogue that is often times both comic and personalized; no other actor could play his character quite like he does.
“Fright Night” is an old-fashioned vampire tale, and that was a part of the charm. It evokes nostalgia of the Gothic era of horror, and the modernized era as well. It’s hip, quite jolly, and consistently enjoyable; a real marvel of a movie. I’ll even go as far as to call it a classic; not only for its time, but for time all-in-all. There aren’t many vampire films that can match it in either style or grace. It gave me a fright that I will try my hardest never to forget, and since entertainment is of value these days, I am recommending the film. If you want a great vampire flick, then you’ve got it.
I saw the new Fright Night first, and I thought it was ok.
The only reason I saw the original was on account of the outcry of its fans against the new one.
While neither movie was great, the original is just plain stupid.
Yet, fans of it and other ’80s “classics” refuse to admit this, probably on account of the fact that they grew up watching it.
Nostalgia is cool, but it doesn’t make the movie good.
I can relate Fright Night to The Lost Boys. Both are hopelessly ’80s, and ridiculously stupid.
They attempt to be scary in an inexcusably cheesy way, and come off as campy and bipolar.
Fans will argue that this was the intent, but it still doesn’t mean the Movie’s good. Neither does the fact that you grew up watching it.
On a similar note, I grew up watching Starship Troopers and Mortal Kombat, but I’m under no allusion that they’re good movies.
Great vampire movie it’s one of my favorites.