Cover Art

Credits

Director: Tom Holland Starring: Sarandon, William Ragsdale, Amanda Bearse, Roddy McDowall Screenplay: Tom Holland Music: Brad Fiedel Tagline: If you love being scared, it'll be the night of your life Country: USA

Now don't be put off – if horror/comedy blends usually aren't your thing, you might just find yourself pleasantly surprised by this subtle little gem, which manages to mix witty, self-reflexive humour with some pretty satisfying special effects makeup and gags, all whilst delivering the goods with a solidly entertaining plot.

Written and directed by Tom Holland, who would later pull the same double duty with 1988's Child's Play, Fright Night tells the tale of teenage horror movie fan Charley Brewster (William Ragsdale), who is more than just a little bit suspicious of his new next door neighbour, whose arrival coincides perfectly with the disappearance, and later headless reappearance, of some local pretty ladies.

Charley's late-night voyeuristic tendencies soon reveal that, much like a creature out of his favourite late night films, the new Mr Dandridge (Chris Sarandon) has himself quite the pointy set of fangs and some rather freaky phalanges to go along with them – unusual sets of appendages that rather scream "bloodsucking creature of the night".

Unsurprisingly, the "my neighbour's a vampire, help me out" schpeel doesn't go over so well with girlfriend Amy (the so-very-not-a-teenager, Amanda Bearse), nor with buddy Evil Ed (one time genre fave Stephen Geoffreys, last seen exercising his talents in films like Butt Blazer and Latin Crotch Rockets), and needless to say, the authorities are likewise unimpressed with Charley's accusations of coffins in the basement and drained bodies in the trash. With nowhere else to turn, our hapless hero seeks the help of over-the-hill horror star and hammy television host Peter Vincent (played to the tee by Roddy McDowall), who, unfortunately for Charley, has apparently only ever got the "fear" part of his "fearless vampire killer" rep down pat. Together the bumbling duo must face Dandridge, rescue Amy from his seductive clutches and ultimately put an end to his evil, evil ways (or if nothing else, put a stop to his booming, booming voice).

Not really being alive back then I can't say for certain, but I would have imagined Fright Night being, at the time of its release, a rather refreshing change for horror fans. Made at a time when the slasher genre was in full swing and vampire films were somewhat of a dying breed, Holland's tale was an attempt to resurrect all things undead and bloodsucking in the eyes of a modern audience – and a successful attempt at that if all the movie related merchandise is to go by, ranging from comic books to video games, and including a series of those cool little paint-it-yourself plaster mould thingies which I'd consider selling my soul for (or at the very least a big toe – who needs balance anyway?).

Popular upon its release, Fright Night still rates high on the interest-holding scale today. Though it does build to its climax slowly – relying on solid story telling and good old fashioned suspense before letting loose the action – there's still lots to keep you entertained: a bit of gay subtext, some tearful man-to-werewolf bonding, the unexplainable yet mesmerising twitching and giggling of Evil, who by the end of the film will have you reaching for the Ritalin by proxy…

Once we hit the home stretch, though, Fright Night moves into more fast paced territory, managing to deliver a few good scares and a bunch of decent practical gags, not the least of which is one character's makeover complete with a truly new and killer smile (you'll think back on this and laugh, trust me).