Fright Night is a wonderful and just all around perfect campy little movie from that era we all know and love- the 80s. Sometimes I like to think of it as Back to the Future but with vampires. It makes sense if you just think about it. Charlie wears the same "life preserver" vest as Marty McFly. There is an entire wall and just overall impressive collection of clocks in both movies. In both movies the main character is trying to convince the helper person that something is the truth and the helper person doesn't believe them. And perhaps the most startling....both movies take place in 1985!!! Probably not so startling actually since they both contain the same elements and that would make sense that they both take place in the same year.... so never mind! It worked in my head.
Anyways, Fright Night is a classic vampire tale at it's best. Charlie starts spotting unusual things about the neighbor who just moved in. He sees women in his apartment get bit and then the same women turn up dead the next day. He sees a coffin being brought into the basement, and after a few close calls it's pretty safe to assume that his next door neighbor is a vampire. The problem is that no one believes him. So Charlie must find a way to convince his prudish girlfriend, his really weird and annoying friend (who is now a porn star) AND a guy who plays a famous vampire killer on TV.
Classic "teen scream" vampire movies that aren't Twilight have always been a personal favorite of mine. I attribute this to the fact that every well known rule of vampires is always followed yet- they still manage to show these rules in a different and entertaining way every single time. For instance- the standard rule of a vampire not having a reflection. In Fright Night this little rule is played out in a fantastic scene in a nightclub!!! An 80s dance nightclub. Hell yes. Our prudish girlfriend is being whisked away into realms of the unknown and sexy- by vampire lord Prince Humperdinck and she looks into the mirror and is dancing with an invisible man-bright neon lights and the standard 80s dance smoke included. It's pretty genius.
Also although I do not find Chris Sarandon very attractive- who can deny that his powers of persuasion are better than the dreaded Edward Cullen?
Step One: Sultry and Steamy 80s music.
Step Two: Get your victim into something romantic and flirty, and lay her down unconscious on a rug in front of a fireplace.
Step Three: Walk slowly towards victim with unbuttoned shirt while looking dark and mysterious.
Step Four: Take off shirt.
I mean honestly- was there ever an easier and sexier way to seduce someone? Jerry Dandridge is a master of vampire seduction- Edward Cullen should really study these 4 simple rules.
So despite Chris Sarandon being one creepy and seductive vampire- Fright Night is just all around awesome. Its my favorite kind of cheese ball movie- one that makes you laugh the whole way through but also one that secretly freaks you out. The makeup effects were actually pretty good in this. When Jerry changes into scary vampire- it is pretty scary. I also love how they utilizied the Nosferatu aspect of vampirism- long...really long scary fingers and fangs that are more complicated than just two overgrown canine teeth. The werewolf scene with the creepy best friend was also surprisingly well done
And the scene where Amy makes a full transformation...
Jesus. Even though I was expecting that face to pop up somewhere I was not prepared for that. It's just a genuinely scary face....and now it's going to haunt my dreams.
So bottom line- amazing piece of entertainment this movie is. Hilarious moments of 80s cheese and just downright silliness- coupled with steamy vampires and some actually kind of scary moments. Winner in my book. Fright Night is a perfect definition of a horror movie that doesn't have to be this amazing work of art- filled with deep and meaningful themes. It's just fun. And it's fantastic.
Oh and in case you wanted to see proof of what Stephen Geoffreys is doing now just read his list of films after Fright Night on IMDB...
- Quick Study: Sex Ed 1 (1998) (V) (as Sam Ritter) .... Woodwork Teacher
- Guys Who Crave Big Cocks (1998) (V) (as Sam Ritter)
- Halfway House Hunks (1998) (V) (as Sam Ritter)
- Gay Men in Uniform (1998) (V) (as Sam Ritter)
- Private Temptations (1998) (V) (as Sam Ritter)
- Famous Again (1998)
- Transsexual Prostitutes (1997) (V) (as Sam Ritter)
- Cock Pit (1997) (V) (as Sam Ritter)
- Butt Blazer (1997) (V) (as Sam Ritter)
- Leather Virgin (1997) (V) (as Sam Ritter) .... Pizza Delivery Guy
- Leather Intrusion Case 2: The Spider's Kiss (1997) (V) (as Sam Ritter) .... Spinner
- Black Men, White Men (1997) (V) (as Sam Ritter)
- Manhunt (1997) (V) (as Sam Ritter)
- Buff and Gay (1997) (V) (as Sam Ritter)
- Transsexual Prostitutes 2 (1997) (V) (as Sam Ritter)
- Uncut Glory (1997) (V) (as Sam Ritter)
- Motel Sex (1997) (V) (as Sam Ritter)
- Leather Intrusion Case 4: Down to the Wire (1997) (V) (as Sam Ritter) .... Punk #1
- Leather Buddies (1997) (V) (as Sam Ritter)
- The Big Screw Up (1997) (V) (as Sam Ritter)
- Leather After Midnight (1996) (V) (as Sam Ritter) .... Sam
- Latin Crotch Rockets (1996) (V) (as Sam Ritter)
- Hunk Hotel (1996) (V) .... Updyke
- Hell's Paradox (1996) .... Rabbit
- Just 18 and Gay (1996) (V) (as Sam Ritter)
- Mechanics bi Day, Lube Job bi Night (1995) (V) (as Sam Ritter)
- Virtual Stud (1995) (V) (as Sam Ritter)
- Sex on the Beach (1994) (V) (as Sam Ritter)
Yeah I put "Latin Crotch Rockets" on my Netflix queue...so what?!
Here's the dance club scene. I love how Chris Sarandon changes from vampirish clothes to an 80s dance club sweater. He is always so prepared!
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