Remaking cult classic movies is always a challenge. Remakes can often lose the charm of the original movie—especially ones that take place within a decade like the ‘80s. However, with the remake of “Fright Night,” we have a unique situation because both films were written, at least in part, by Tom Holland. While Holland would write and direct the 1985 opener, he was instrumentally involved in the 2011 retread, and it shows. The film is updated and modernized, while still maintaining the horror and intrigue of the original. It’s also fun and still manages to be scary, no easy feat for many modern horror films.
What’s interesting is that both “Fright Night” films fared well critically (81% on Rotten Tomatoes for the 1985 film, 72% for the remake), and each have their unique atmosphere. For those that don’t know the story, a young boy in suburbia realizes that his next door neighbor is a secret vampire, who then embarks on escalating attacks on the boy once he realizes his secret is out. The original was played with a good deal of build-up and suspense, while the 2011 film kind of goes for the jugular. The film handles the vampirism angle with a bit of mythos, and a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor. It’s a mix between the uber-seriousness of films like “Interview with the Vampire” and the sporadic horror interspersed into the romance of “Twilight.” In fact “Fright Night” 2011 pokes fun at “Twilight” in several scenes and gets a few laughs.
Colin Farrell Tries His Hand at the Evil Vampire ‘Jerry’
While the original’s success really hinged on the sardonic performance by actor Chris Sarandon as the vampire ‘Jerry,’ the 2011 film balances on the shoulders of Colin Farrell, who plays Jerry this time around, and the late actor Anton Yelchin, who plays the boy-next-door Charley Brewster. The film’s director, Craig Gillespie, adds some uniqueness to this film by placing it on the outskirts of Las Vegas, taking it from the “could be any street” motif of the original. Yelchin’s Charley is kind of a cool kid this time around, a departure from the ’85 film, and his mother (Toni Collette) is more engaging and given more to do. And while Sarandon’s Jerry had a secretive, subtle monstrosity, Farrell is in-your-face and obvious. He flaunts his athletic physique and adopts a sort of gothic attractiveness mixed with a bro-type humor that just works.
“Fright Night” makes a bunch of upgrades, specifically in its eeriness. This time around it’s not random women being secretly brought into Jerry’s house at night (there is one, in a particularly harrowing scene), but mostly Charley’s classmates who go missing. It’s ominous as Gillespie shows one empty seat after another at the school, especially since we’ve seen the film’s bloody opening and what fate has likely befallen one kid already. There are some other sinister scenes as well, such as one night when Charley sneaks into Jerry’s house and finds one of his victims in a helpless state.
Colin Farrell as the “scary” vampire Jerry. (Photo: Dreamworks Pictures).
Good Chemistry Between Actors; Believable Confrontation Between Farrell and Yelchin
Apart from Yelchin, who really is a high point of the film, the film stars Imogen Poots, who plays Charley’s popular girlfriend Amy and Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Charley’s friend Ed, who Charley tries to pull away from in search of high school popularity. There’s also this “Fright Night’s” answer to Peter Vincent, the ‘vampire hunter’ in the form of David Tennant (“Dr. Who”) who is doing his best Russell Brand impression. But unlike Peter Vincent from the original, who was just a TV personality, Gillespie et al. give this one more of a backstory, and Tennant garners a lot of likability in the film’s final act.
Probably what works most about this film is that Gillespie and Holland don’t intend to make a shot-for-shot remake, but a film that can stand on its own. It surely lacks that ‘80s camp the first one had, but that’s okay. Some of the scenes make more sense, while others the film intends as straight homages.
But the whole things hinges on Farrell, and he really gives it his all. You can tell he’s having fun with the role, and sinks his teeth into it (pun fully intended). But he can also be sinister. One scene where he “lets” Charley rescue one of his victims just so she can die in the sunlight because she’s become part vampire is especially harrowing. Over the course of the film Farrell will kill dozens of people, turn into a monstrous version of a vampire, blow up Charley’s house (“I don’t need an invitation if there’s no house,” he jokes), and build an army of vampires. Subtlety is not this film’s intention.
Anton Yelchin in a scene from “Fright Night.” (Photo: Dreamworks Pictures).
A Fun Remake that Retains the Original’s Charms
All that aside, “Fright Night” is generally pleasing. The characters all have good chemistry with each other, and Farrell and Yelchin are fun to watch square off against each other. It has some humorous bits and gags, and the film’s funniest moment is a cameo by Chris Sarandon, who plays an angered and befuddled motorist.
The film seemed to fare much worse than the original with audiences, and I suppose that has a lot to do with the updated story and effects, the latter which is a lot of CGI while the original stuck to practical effects and ‘80s charm. The ending is adequately creepy though, even if it does go over the top. The third act also gives Poots some good material, and it was nice to see her not relegated simply to the damsel in distress role this time around.
All in all, “Fright Night” is a good movie. It is more agressive and bloody, and an in-your-face reboot for modern times. The cast is all likable and Farrell’s a blast to watch. With so many reboots that trounce over the original, this holds it all pretty much intact. An overall enjoyable film and a perfect pick for Halloween.
“Fright Night” is available to stream or rent from most streaming services.
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