Review of Fright Night (1985) by Beth S — 25 Jul 2009

I can unabashedly admit that I love this film. Great, romping 80s horror at its best--complete with out-of-control percussion accompanying the villain's swagger. (See Labyrinth). Amazing music, boatneck sweaters for men, great eye make-up for gals, and an almost-abuse of smoke machines.

As with most 80s horror, Fright Night flirts with camp but escapes it by aspiring to nothing more than fun. Good fun. Fright Night may be exceptionally smart for this genre, though, because it self-consciously plays with horror conventions--keeping a running commentary going by having a Hamlet-esque film-within-the-film.

Our hero watches too much of the TV show Fright Night and ultimately appeals to the show's washed-up host for help fighting the vampire. Speaking of which, Roddy McDowall, who plays the host, (one might remember him from Planet of the Apes) gives a fantastic performance--displaying a range of emotions, despite his fairly one-dimensional role.

The same goes for William Ragsdale (our hero) and Chris Sarandon (the vampire next door). Despite an extremely simplistic script, everyone gives wholehearted performances that make them compelling to watch.

Finally, I would be remiss in reviewing this '85-er without mentioning its classic use of sexuality as a kind of sub-plot. (Indeed it acts as more than a theme--driving a great deal of the action).

One could argue that this is merely a convention of the vampire genre, but smoldering sexuality--celebrated as such--plays a huge role in most 80s horror films. Cat People, The Howling, and An American Werewolf in London will make you blush.

Unlike these three films, however, Fright Night offers us a bildungsroman--a coming-of-age-story--for our hero and his girlfriend. Their encounter with the vampire taints them--steals their innocence--but it also forges them into stronger, more self-aware individuals.

See this movie. It's a blast.