Review of Fright Night (2011) by Ron F — 11 Jan 2014

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS.

Horror movies these days are usually shitty remakes. Imagine my surprise when this good one came along. Fright Night, a horror/comedy that packs a serious punch, is one of the best horror films in recent memory and definitely the best vampire one (fuck you Twilight you suck). Boasting a good cast, witty dialogue, and a winning soundtrack, this movie is a lot of fun. Turn off your brain, kick back and relax, and watch David Tennant shoot crossbows at vampires.

Fright Night is about a teenager named Charley (Anton Yelchin, Star Trek) who, through a series of unusual events, becomes convinced that his next-door neighbor (Colin Farrell) is a vampire. This turns out to be true (as there wouldn't be a movie otherwise), and what results is a rip-roaring, action-packed horror flick in the spirit of Zombieland. Farrell clearly relishes in his role as a vampire, and although he struggles slightly to retain his American accent, it's totally worth it. He breathes life into his undead character, sniffing the air creepily for blood, keeping a creepy basement lair, and transforming Charley's girlfriend into a vampire (easily the best plot twist in any horror film for the past decade).

Final Score for Fright Night: 8/10 stars. Surprisingly high for a horror remake with little to nothing in terms of depth or intelligence, but I don't remember being this entertained by a movie for quite some time. Everyone performs admirably, especially Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Charley's nerdy friend who (more spoilers) becomes a vampire. It's a buttload of fun, and if you like horror, action, and inspired dialogue, this is the movie for you.