Review of Fright Night (2011) by Jackson H — 24 Oct 2012

Ah, the 1980s. Back when fashion was weird, and vampires actually scary, and interesting. This remake of the 80's vampire classic has a lot to live up to, and thankfully due to some strong performances and directed from Craig Gillespie, it succeeds.

I' am a fan of horror movies, that is a given. But to say that the genre has become stagnated with remakes and torture porn is an understatement. Fright Night in its revamped form dispels the common thought that remakes are lesser than the sum of their predecessor. We've seen horror remakes work before, who remembers Zak Snyder's reboot of the Romero classic Dawn of the Dead? I certainly to, and it is with the same amount of respect and originality that Fright Night succeeds.

If you've seen the original little has changed since last time. Anton Yelchin plays Charley Brewster, who lives outskirts of Vegas in a "nice cookie cut neighbourhood with his mother Jane (Toni Collette). Almost immediately, Charley grows suspicious of his new neighbour Jerry, who his friend Ed suspects of being a vampire.

Let's get to the performances, which is one of the film's strong suits. Colin Farrell is great as Jerry, menacing, charming and creepy. It is a performance you would'nt expect to get out of him, but it is clear he had a lot of fun with the role. Yelchin continues to carve a niche for himself in good movies, after a small role in Star Trek. Christopher Mintz-Plasse (McLovin') is always entertaining, and when he himself becomes a vampire the tension is amped between the two friends. David Tennant is also commendable for his role as faux vamp hunter Peter Vincent, but he is always good in everything, right?

Another thing that impressed me with this movie is that it doesnt try to be camp. The vampires in this film are deadly serious, Jerry is as vicious and bloodthirsty as he is charming, and when he throws his horde of converted teens and neighbours against Charley in the finale, expect lots of vampire slaying.

Fright Night is a rare horror remake that works - and works well. I was thoroughly entertained by this film, and recommend it for any Halloween marathon.