Review of Fright Night (1985) by Mark W — 26 Apr 2011
Perhaps I am biased because I adored this film as a child back in the 80s, but I think Fright Night is an awesome, hilarious, and entertaining horror comedy that manages to perfectly blend those two elements in a way that few films can achieve.
Fright Night is a self-conscious horror film that parodies the genre while fully participating in it. Few films can pull this off successfully, but Fright Night manages to be witty, creepy, and hilarious.
Fright Night still feels like a horror film instead of a comedy, but it packs one laugh after another. Roddy McDowall is absolutely amazing as Peter Vincent, the host of a horror tv show. As his name suggests, Peter Vincent is a conflation of Peter Cushing and Vincent Price, and McDowall does an excellent job hamming it up as a washed-up actor who starred in films that look like those of Hammer Studios or Roger Corman.
Simultaneously, Chris Sarandon turns in an excellent performance as the seductive yet creepy vampire next door. While the film's plot is not overly original, it is executed in an original and witty fashion that makes Fright Night a classic of 1980s horror cinema.
This review of Fright Night (1985) was written by Mark W on 26 Apr 2011.
Fright Night has generally received positive reviews.
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