Fright Night (1985)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Tom Holland

Writer:

Tom Holland (written by)

Release Date:

2 August 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

There are some very good reasons to be afraid...of the dark.

Plot:

When a teenager learns that his next door neighbour is a vampire, no one will believe him.

Plot Keywords:

Vampire | Teenager | Undead | Actor | Small Town

Awards:

5 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Chris Sarandon	...	Jerry Dandrige
William Ragsdale	...	Charley Brewster
Amanda Bearse	...	Amy Peterson
Roddy McDowall	...	Peter Vincent
Stephen Geoffreys	...	'Evil' Ed Thompson
Jonathan Stark	...	Billy Cole
Dorothy Fielding	...	Judy Brewster
Art Evans	...	Detective Lennox (as Art J. Evans)
Stewart Stern	...	Cook
Nick Savage	...	Bouncer #1
Ernie Holmes	...	Bouncer #2
Heidi Sorenson	...	Hooker
Irina Irvine	...	Teenage Girl
Bob Corff	...	Jonathan (as Robert Corff)
Pamela Brown	...	Miss Nina

Also Known As:

A Hora do Espanto (Brazil) [pt]
A Noite do Espanto (Portugal) [pt]
Ammazzavampiri (Italy) [it]
Die rabenschwarze Nacht (West Germany) [de]
Fright Night - Die rabenschwarze Nacht (West Germany) [de]
Kauhun yö (Finland) [fi]
La noche del espanto (Venezuela) [es]
Noche de miedo (Spain) [es]
Nyhta tromou (Greece) [el]
Skräcknatten (Sweden) [sv]
Vampire, vous avez dit vampire? (France) [fr]

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-16 (cut) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Iceland:16 | Norway:15 (DVD rating) | Netherlands:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Australia:M | France:-12 | Italy:VM14 | Norway:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Laid Studios, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

A puppet that was created for, but not used in, another Columbia Pictures production, Ghost Busters (1984), is visible in Fright Night (1985).

Goofs:

Continuity: In one scene Jerry Dandridge appears in the Brewster house. In the next shot it is revealed that he is standing in Mrs. Brewster's bedroom watching her sleep. However, in the first shot was actually filmed in Charlie's room. The Porsche poster on Charlie's wall can clearly be seen over Dandridge's shoulder.

Quotes:

[two bouncers take away Charlie and Amy]
Club Rate Bouncer #2: I got him!
Jerry Dandrige: He's mine.
Club Rate Bouncer #1: You want chicken, man, you go someplace else.
Jerry Dandrige: Out of my way!
Club Rate Bouncer #1: Move me!
[Jerry's hand changes, his eyes glow red, and reveals a set of fangs]
Club Rate Bouncer #1: LEON!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Invasion of the Scream Queens (1992)

Soundtrack:

YOU CAN'T HIDE FROM THE BEAST INSIDE

'Campy' Fright Night Fun To Watch

I incorrectly assumed this might be some dumb teen vampire flick when it came out about 20 years ago, but that wasn't the case. It was simply a very entertaining horror flick with a good mixture of suspense, comedy and good special- effects. The kids - William Ragsdale, Amanda Bearse and Stephen Geoffreys - are all excellent but the two adults - Chris Sarandon and Roddy McDowell - steal the show.

Sarandon is very cool as the vampire; cocky, arrogant and smooth. He is easily the best character in the movie. McDowell does a nice job as the reluctant vampire slayer.

The special-effects are good and the film is played strictly for fun, even with the suspenseful scenes. In fact, it reminds me of the word "camp" because it's so hokey in spots. Yet the film definitely has its scary moments. Note: I watched this 3-4 times on the tape so I am familiar with most of the film and after seeing the DVD, I swear several short scenes are missing (such as Bearse's quick shower scene). I've never come across something like this before.