Fright Night (1985) User Reviews (384)

"You're so COOL, Brewster!"

[A_Roode · 7/10 · 18 March 2006]

'Fright Night' is a movie that has stuck with me for years. Recently I was able to get it on DVD and have been watching it and trying to convince my friends to watch it ever since. It has it's flaws but time has been kinder, I think, to 'Fright Night' than it has been to either 'Near Dark' or 'The Lost Boys.'

Chris Sarandon is great and charismatic in his role as the new next-door neighbor. He gives a deep performance and it seems like he's having a lot of fun in every scene. William Ragsdale isn't bad either as he tries with greater desperation and anxiety to convince people that the vampire exists and win allies to help him destroy it. My favourite performance comes from Roddy McDowall. Like Donald Pleasance later in his career, Roddy McDowell could reasonably be accused of acting in anything if there was a paycheck involved; this has damaged his reputation somewhat. I think 'Fright Night' and his performance as Peter Vincent definitely falls in the plus category rather than negative. He is great at hiding behind masks and is constantly performing for the other characters. As an actor, the part required versatility, compassion and depth. Had they been able, Peter Cushing or Vincent Price would have also played the part splendidly -- McDowell's character is of course a tribute to both these actors and I think that he was simply fantastic.

So many of the moments in 'Fright Night' compete to be my favourite but I think it comes in the final third of the film. Peter Vincent has run out of masks to hide behind and becomes a very tired, very frightened and very old man. Redemption isn't out of reach -- but he's going to have to work for it.

I mentioned earlier that 'Fright Night' has aged fairly well. There is decent gore and make-up so anyone looking for that will likely be satisfied. Music can kill films and age them more quickly than anything else. It works here where it might fail in other films.

The strength of 'Fright Night' though are it's performances and the sense of fun that it has. Definitive vampire film? No, but a lot better than many, many, many of the pretenders to that title. Rewarding, fun, and worth a look.

offbeat, cool, sexy and very 80s vampire tale (my favourite yet)

[pjspeight_2k · 8/10 · 3 March 2000]

Before I first watched Fright Night, I admit I was unsure about what to think about it. All I knew about it was from what I had been told from my Dad (though his likes/dislikes are generally on par with mine, they sometimes border on plain stupid). But when I saw it to the end, I was almost totally converted.

Although the beginning is a bit cheesy and reminiscent of stereotypical horror B-movies, it soon becomes clear that this is part of what makes Fright Night so original. All the typical horror film genres are there: horror, romance, comedy (well maybe comedy isn't a typical horror element); but what makes this horror flick stand out a mile-and-a-half from the rest is that it's a very offbeat tale. It's creepily cheesy but gets away with it because it's atmosphere is so good.

All this and I haven't mentioned the acting or special effects yet. Sarandon seems to give such an effortless performance as the vampire and as a result is almost perfect. I had thought of what a modern day vampire would be like before I saw Fright Night; but Jerry Dandridge just blew all these ideas away and has to be the coolest (and I don't often use that word) and sexiest vampire ever, and is one of my favourite movie villains. Roddy McDowall can't hold a candle to Sarandon but is still very good, and Stephen Geoffreys is one of the funniest and memorable movie characters ever to grace a film screen too.

The special effects are good for 1985 and unlike where in modern films the SFX are the main point in the movie, here they add to the already present chilling atmosphere. And although on the one hand, Fright Night is quite dated, it also captures the atmosphere and the essence of the 80s. The soundtrack is excellent for the film, but paradoxically not very memorable (apart from one or two good songs).

[I wish I'd been born before 1981 (maybe 1961) so that I could have lived in the late-70s and 80s, and would have memories of the best music from that time, and not the boybands/Beatles clones/dance ditties (not decent tunes mind) we have now.]

All in all an (almost) perfect film: watch it and you'll (most likely) enjoy it and watch it again and again.

The first horror movie i've ever seen

[mmalsamie · 7/10 · 24 December 2019]

Classic, good vampire movie. Maybe not a great one, but still one of my favourites.

They had Scream in the 90s, some of us had Fright Night in the 80s

[Krug Stillo · 31 May 2003]

A Classic! Spawning a whole new subgenre of vampire movies e.g. Vamp (Richard Wenk, 1986), Near Dark (Katheryn Bigelow, 1987), Bram Stoker's Dracula (Coppola. 1991) and Blade (Stephen Norrington, 1998), Fright Night is very similar to Count Yoga – Vampire, but is a brilliant film in its own right. If you can get past those eighties fashions and mannerisms this is a timeless treasure.

Charlie Brewster (Ragsdale) is the student/horror film fanatic accusing his super-suave next door neighbour, Jerry Dandridge (Sarandon) of being a bloodsucker. He begs cowardly, unemployed has-been horror veteran, Peter Vincent, ‘The Great Vampire Killer' (excellent performance by McDowell) to help him stake the Vampire. Cue lots of laughs, scares and some genuine unforgettable sequences. Fright Night predates the Scream trilogy by over a decade and does a much better job of combining the chills and jokes with tongue in cheek all the way. Like the homoerotic Interview with the Vampire (Neil Jordan, 1994), there's a subplot concerning Brewster loosing interest in his girlfriend and obsessing over the good looking man next door.

Brad Fiedel (The Terminator & Serpent and the Rainbow) and Tangerine Dream (Firestarter & The Keep)'s soundtrack here is also perfect and almost steals the show. Tom Holland, who had previously gained recognition and flashed his genre credentials for his screenplays for The Beast Within (Philippe Mora, 1982) and Psycho 2 (Richard Franklin, 1983), would go on to give us the charismatic killer doll, Chucky, in the original Child's Play movie, also starring Chris Sarandon.

The Fright Night sequel followed in 1987, but was too similar to its predecessor and lacked the intense, roller-coaster feeling. It's still worth seeing though, for McDowell and Ragsdale's return to the characters, I for one, will mostly remember them for. Stephen Geoffreys also deserves a mention for his OTT performance as Charlie's manic best friend, Evil Ed.

So much better then the remake.

[deatman9 · 7/10 · 27 October 2012]

This is another one of those examples where the classic is way better then the original. The remake completely changed the story line I would not even really call it a remake.The acting in this one is good and the special effects are actually creepy instead of that CGI crap. Really is a great classic horror.

This movie is about a young guy named Charlie Brewster. While spying on his neighbours one day he sees things to lead him to the suspicion that his new neighbour is a vampire. He is scared for his life while everyone else is scared for his sanity.

I have loved this movie since I was a kid it used to be scary then but now its just funny and enjoyable. Must see for horror fans if not might not enjoy it so much.

Its as 80's as 80's can get

[damianphelps · 7/10 · 29 September 2020]

The 80's dropped a few movies of this ilk that blended horror themes with comedy (House being another good one). Plants its tongue firmly in its cheek and just focuses on being entertaining. Its really good fun.

Chris Sarandon is absolutely fantastic in this and the rest of cast contribute well.

Keep an eye on your neighbour, you never know who lives next door?

Still a Goodie

[Tweetienator · 7/10 · 14 April 2021]

I liked Firght Night in 1985 and still like it - Fright Night is a nice little joyride, for a better rating I miss some serious gore, but well, you can't have everything, and not everyone is a gorehound like me. But Fright Night got solid acting, good effects, some moments of fun and a little horror, and an interesting story to tell. Still a good contribution to the vampire genre. Recommended if you like the movies style of the 80s, compared to modern production standards Fright Night is now a (golden) oldie and looks here and there a little outdated.

Welcome to Fright Night!

[marydrippingblood · 10/10 · 25 August 2004]

I will start off by saying that I am a gigantic fan of Fright Night. It all started when the film made its premiere on HBO. The one part that stuck in my head (besides Sarandon's looks) was "Evil Ed's" transformation from wolf to human. Scared the crap out of me. Well, a couple years later, hitting sixth grade, I found the video at a video store and fell in love with it all over again. A friend and I began huge fans, buying Fangoria magazines and collecting the comic series. I remembering making my parents rent the movie for me so I could watch from evening till seven in the morning! Phew!

Now, some girls would have crushes on things like, New Kids On the Block. Not me! I was infatuated with Chris Sarandon's seductive performance as Jerry Dandridge. Hey, any woman would be nuts not to find this man hot. Definition of tall, dark, and handsome. He could of bit me in a neck and I would of never cared.

As I am at the age of 27, I still have my first and only copy of the film that was boughten for me on my 12th birthday, a tad worn but still plays. I have more of a appreciation for the movie. For all the actors and actresses.

I have the movie memorized, word for ward, even if I go like a year without watching it again. But recently I began to realize that the 20th anniversary for this great horror classic is coming around the bend. I had started a script myself, which I know will fail to be noticed, for such a special occasion. Bringing back all the characters from part one and two, except Peter Vicent since no one but Roddy MacDowall could do the part.

I just want everyone to know that Fright Night is the definition of the perfect eighties Horror film. It is original with it's characters, setting, and the all around story itself. But it also shows the hard work that had gone into it to create those undoubtedly, scarier then crap Dandridge, Evil, Amy, and Billy Coal transformations. Chris Sarandon himself stated it was hell to do the make up for the movie but his character was worth it. I would rather see a film with special make up effects then with the modern computer animation special effects. More work and artistic, hands on talent went into movies like Fright Night. That's why Fright Night stands out as a eighties classic vampire flick.

I personally would like to thank all the actors for the gift of entertainment when making the film. Also the brilliant minds and talented men and women who worked on the film. Fright Night is a movie that has fond memories for me in my child hood. Chris Sarandon will always be my first movie star crush. Dang, he is still hot today! I can't help but still imagine Jerry Dandridge as my perfect, eye candy neighbor.

I would recommend anyone to view this movie. Appreciate it as a art form of entertainment with the taste of horror mixed in there. Enjoy it and love it!

One final statement.....

LONG LIVE FRIGHT NIGHT!!!!!!!!!

Stands the bloody test of time.

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 30 July 2021]

Coming before "The Lost Boys", this vampire movie deals with a group of teenagers (led by William Ragsdale) who contact aging horror star Roddy McDowall (now a syndicated TV movie host) to help them deal with the vampire next door (Chris Sarandon in probably his most famous role) who is obsessed with young Amanda Bearse (not my first ideal choice for a modern version of Minna) and prevent him from turning their neighborhood into a bloody mess. This is probably one of the best horror films of the 1980's because it pays tribute to the Dracula legend without completely copying it, and everyone in the cast seems to be having a great time playing it out while taking it all seriously.

One of the teens turns into the equivalent of Renfro while McDowall emulates Van Helsing as if it was a combination of "Lost in Space's" Jonathan Harris, Peter Cushing, Vincent Price and even Karloff, his fey character delightfully campy yet never a caricature. Stephen Geoffrey as the unfortunate teen who becomes a vampire chews up everything here (including what is nailed down) and is deliciously funny although his final scene is very sad. You can't have a non-bloody vampire movie, but this never becomes disgusting. In fact, you can watch this before you go to bed and probably not have nightmares. This is one few 1980's horror films that had a sequel that was nearly as good. The suspense is over-powering, and while I snobbishly rated it a 5 after my first viewing, I rank it much higher now.

The move that modernized the vampire!

[waywarddrifters · 10/10 · 20 June 2023]

Before "the Lost Boys," before "Near Dark," and long before "True Blood" and "Twilight," this was the film that took the best parts of the old tropes right towards the 21st century.

Holland shows his love of the genre with every scene. The writing and direction are superb, the editing is perfect, and the cast can't be beat! Chris Sarandon might be the all-time best "vampire next door" ever, as no one could have done what he did with this role. The rest of the cast is outstanding too - with not one weak link.

Add to all the an amazing soundtrack, and some standout special effects, and you've got yourself a winner.

80's classic? Check! Horror classic? Yep! One of the best vampire movies ever made? Absolutely!

An amusing teen vampire flick

[RachelLone · 6/10 · 11 November 1999]

Charlie Brewster (William Ragsdale), a high school boy who was a huge fan of the vampire TV show "Fright Night", noticed that something was wrong with his new neighbors...and later he even saw one of the guys was trying to suck a woman's blood... Charlie felt that he must have stopped the vampire from killing more people, he contacted the police, and he told his mother and friends about it, but nobody believed him. So he went to Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowall), who hosted "Fright Night", "the great vampire killer"...

This is a special vampire movie because the story happened in the modern time instead of centuries ago. It looked rather old-fashioned to me the first time I saw it on television, but the more times I watched the film, the more I loved it.

Two memorable scenes: when the vampire "Jerry Dandrige" (Chris Sarandon) was dancing with Amy (Charlie's girlfriend, played by Amanda Bearse) and later when Jerry was about to vampirize Amy. Both of the scenes were highly seductive.

One big difference between this movie and other vampire films- crosses don't necessarily work on vampires, unless you have total faith- said Jerry and Evil Ed.

A true classic horror vampire flick better than remake!

[ivo-cobra8 · 10/10 · 8 November 2015]

Fright Night (1985) is an awesome true classic vampire horror film that is written and directed by Tom Holland him self. I love the remake, but I just love the original much better. In here you have monsters, a real vampires and werewolves in it.

Chris Sarandon did a wonderful job as Jerry Dandridge a vampire by night. I love the make up and I love how they were portraying a vampire in this movie. Evil Ed (Stephen Geoffreys) is a turned werewolves at the end of the film and he is staked by Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowall).

Fright Night (1985) is one of my favorite vampire horror flicks, I love vampire movies and this film is for me. The remake is a good film, but they aren't portraying real monsters and werewolves like they do in this movie. I am pretty sure if the new movie would portrayed such a monsters, werewolves like in here, I am pretty sure the movie would be better! The end was perfect and awesome how Charley and Peter are fighting Jerry, I love how Vincent and Charley are smashing in all the basement windows, allowing the sunlight to hit Dandridge. Using a mirror, they reflect the sunlight and finally manage to kill Dandridge by blasting him with the rays and he bursts into flames and within seconds his body is reduced to dust and bones. That scene was awesome!

I love Roddy McDowall as Peter Vincent the great Vampire Killer! Seriously this movie kick ass! Roddy McDowall kicks ass in this slasher vampire film! I love everything about this film, that it is in it! My all time favorite vampire movie ever, a classic, the remake doesn't even come close to matching it. Chris Sarandon was perfect as Jerry Dandridge the next door neighbor vampire, nothing will ever change my mind about this one, no vampire movie since this one has ever matched it, movie or series!! Fright Night is a ultimate classic a classic film that I will always cherish it to death! The special effects are great in this one. This film not only has vampires, werewolves and monsters in it, it also has a virgins, it has Roddy Mcdowell in one of his best performances. It has Prince Humperdink/Jack Skelenton as the baddie. It is quotable, self-aware way before Joss Whedon/Kevin Williamson, and funny as hell. The weakest link, although she still gives a very good performance, is Amanda Bearse AKA Marcy Darcy from Married with Children as the sexpot (could be bonus if you are so inclined), object of desire. It's hard not to look nor listen to her, without waiting for an Al Bundy insult, but there is some consolation when she "turns". Watch it and love it, this is what comedy-horror is all about.

This is a great movie. I wouldn't say it scared me to death but it's good and creepy, it's one of those movies you can watch over and over again. GREAT FILM! Our heroes are a motley group of characters, the straight-laced boy next door who no one believes, the bookish girl crush who is coveted by all, the monster-fan geek, and a most wonderful touch with Roddy McDowall playing a washed-up horror actor similar to character actors such as Peter Cushing/Christopher Lee/Vincent Price. Bottom of line I love this film, it is one of my favorite Vampire horror slasher films, I also love the remake, tough it even can't hold a candle to this film.

Meet Jerry Dandridge. He's sweet, sexy, and he likes to sleep in late. You might think he's the perfect neighbor. But before inviting Jerry in for a nightcap, there's just one thing you should know. Jerry prefers his drinks warm, red and straight from the jugular! It's Fright Night, a horrific howl starring Chris Sarandon as the seductive vampire and William Ragsdale as the frantic teenager struggling to keep Jerry's deadly fangs out of his neck. Only 17-year-old Charley Brewster (Ragsdale) knows Jerry's bloodcurdling secret. When Charley can't get anybody to believe him, he turns to TV horror host Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowall), who used to be the "Great Vampire Killer" of the movies. Can these mortals save Charley and his sweetheart Amy (Amanda Bearse) from the wrathful bloodsucker's toothy embrace? If you love being scared, Fright Night...will give you the nightmare of your life. That is the main plot in the remake they don't even mentioned Jerry's last Surname.

Fright Night is a 1985 American horror film written and directed by Tom Holland and produced by Herb Jaffe. It stars William Ragsdale, Chris Sarandon, Roddy McDowall, and Amanda Bearse.

I love this film to death! It is my favorite best horror slasher film, the rating I am giving tot his film is 10/10. This film deserves it! Tom Holland thank you for so beautiful wonderful horror vampire film, big cheers and thank you!

Revenge of the 80's: The homo-erotic horror film.

[Captain_Couth · 7/10 · 29 June 2004]

Fright Night (1985) was a horror film based upon the ever popular vampire genre. A nosy "kid" cast an wandering eye on the new neighbors. The suave handsome man and his weaselly looking buddy strike an eerie nerve within him, making his skin crawl. He's knows something is not right with the new people next door. Foolishly, he begins to snoop around the old house and discovers things that he shouldn't have.

Charlie Brewster is his name, his best friend is a high school outcast named Evil Ed. His girlfriend (Amanda Bearse) doesn't want to go any further with Charlie than second base. What's a "kid" like Charlie to do? Especially when he discovers the horrible secret of his neighbor. Can he live with the fact that a creature of the night lives in his neighborhood?

Fright Night is not like most other horror films. It's different in a way (like Nightmare on Elm Street 2). It explores the homosexual themes without being very explicit or stereotypical. True two of the co-stars are openly gay (but not at the time) and Chris Sarandon makes an excellent bi-sexual vampire. Fright Night is also the last hurrah for the great Roddy Mc Dowell, his role as the "legendary" Peter Vincent was superb. A true 80's classic. Followed by a lesser sequel Fright Night II. It's okay but not as good as part one.

Strongly recommended.

What was up with the Vampire's personnel assistant? That was one strange dude.

Hardly a fright in sight nor a laugh and a half

[Muldwych · 4/10 · 11 September 2007]

Wonderful! Clever! Funny! Original! Yes, these are just some of the words I can't apply to "Fright Night", a very lame attempt to fuse horror and comedy together, that has all the suspense and chills of 'The Flintstones Meet Rockula And Frankenstone', and humour silly enough to impress Elvira.

It doesn't help that the film contains all the standard vampire clichés - wooden stakes, crosses, the seductive power of vampires, etc. You're almost led to believe these are being satirised, yet at other times they are taken seriously when it's time to dispatch the undead. I've never been entirely successful at taking vampires seriously, and throwing the clichés at me is more likely to elicit a groan than a gasp. To be fair on 'Fright Night', I would imagine that a lot of its fans saw it when they were kids, which no doubt left a strong imprint that paints it in shades of rose. Trying to watch it once you're beyond the age when McDonalds is considered gourmet food is only going to have less impact. I can certainly list off personal favorites that fall into this category. Ironically, I did watch 'Fright Night' as a kid, but somehow, whatever effect it had on me didn't stay along for the ride two decades later.

I will give a thumbs up though to the special effects. Good creative practical wizardry beats cgi any day, and 'Fright Night' delivers the best 1985 had to offer. I also enjoyed seeing Amanda Bearse in something other than 'Married...With Children', giving a wonderfully 'earnest' performance. Indeed, all the acting was competent enough, although Stephen Geoffreys' 'Ed' made me realise Dustin Diamond's 'Screech' *isn't* as irritating as you can get. Chris Sarandon is no Christopher Lee, but he does know how to combine 'evil dead' and seductiveness effectively.

Overall, while I certainly wouldn't call 'Fright Night' a dead loss, it fails to sufficiently amuse or frighten. However, the production values are excellent for the time.

Welcome tooo Frrright Night .... for real!

[SoroushX · 6/10 · 7 May 2017]

"Fright Night" starts with an absorbing and rather fantastic plot idea. A vampire, that triggers a pleasant association with historical tales of Count Dracula and his dark, creepy castle in the heart of Transylvania, here in the middle of an urban area undoubtedly leads to a fantasy undertone and manages to add a touch of humor every once in a while.

The first scene unconsciously brings to mind Roman Polanski's much underrated masterpiece "The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967)" and with Roddy McDowall's remarkable resemblance to Alfred (Roman Polanski's character in the aforementioned movie), this comparison is further intensified. the movie begins with a comedy scene where two high school sweethearts are making love in the middle of watching a late-night horror movie. This scene is immediately followed by a horror one in which two men are seen carrying a coffin into the basement of the next-door house. This subtle shift of tones between comedy and horror has proved to be quite effective and as said before has a strong resemblance to Polanski's cinematic tour de force.

however, it goes without saying that "Fright Night" is hardly comparable to Polanski's flick in terms of the plot, humor and the incredible Transylvanian mood that the latter has to offer. But watching it at 2 o'clock after midnight was an enjoyable experience thanks to the spirit of America's 80's movies that never lets you down.

A fun horror comedy, with good special effects.

[tomimt · 7/10 · 31 March 2007]

'Fright Night' is, when you look at it, a horror comedy with every cliché of the genre in it. And that's the whole idea I guess.

The story begins as a kind of a 'Rear Window' take, when young Charley (William Ragsdale) notices his new neighbor is carrying a coffin in his cellar. Soon after that he learns, that a woman he saw going into the mans apartment has been found dead. He starts to believe, that the man is a vampire, but of course no-one believes him, so Charley has to ask a horror specialist, Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowall) to help him before it's too late.

Out of the cast MacDowall does the best job. After him comes, of course, the vampire, Chris Sarandon, though in the end it's pretty much the cause of the good special effects. Young Amanda Bearse does a nice role as a mandatory virgin girlfriend. The most annoying cast member has to be Stephen Geoffreys as "Evil" Ed, as he does his bit a bit too extreme.

The special effects of the film are great and have been taken the stand of time relatively well. The transformations are very fluent and gruesome. Surprisingly enough the movie isn't, even though it's made in the heart of the 80's, in your face screaming "look this is the 80's". Of course there are the clothes and the music and the hairdo's, but somehow they aren't in your face, like they were in 'The Lost Boys' for example.

'Fright Night' is perfectly good way to spend a couple of hours, if you want to see some horror and some comedy. Well directed film, with good enough cast.

One of the best vampire movies from the 80's

[moviebuff72-223-265524 · 7/10 · 27 June 2023]

Fright Night is a good horror film. It's not scary but well made. It has enough violence to make a true horror bugf happy. It also has a good story. It's well made, written and acted. It's hard to believe thos movie is almost 40 years old. I remember seeing it heavily edited on broadcast television before I got a chance to rent it. Television cut out good stuff. I think the most interesting character is the vampire. Mr. Sarandon was convincing as the neighbor from hell. William Ragsdale along with Roddy McDowell played their parts to the hilt. I recommend watching this in the dark with someone who loves old movies as much as you do.

There's something about FRIGHT NIGHT that everybody seems to love.

[insomniac_rod · 10/10 · 23 August 2004]

Is it the 80's cheesiness (fashion, clichés, music)? It's impressive F/X? The story? Who knows. Time made justice to "Fright Night", one of the best vampire movies ever and probably the best of the 80's. When it came out in 1985 the Slasher genre was on it's highest peak and as Peter Vincent said to Charlie, "his generation prefers movies where a masked looney kills virgin innocents" (or something like that). When nobody cared about Vampires "Fright Night" came out with a tremendous potential on it's story, actors, and make up; the basic elements that a Slasher movie needs. The result is an entertaining, chilling, and very well done horror movie better than expected.

*SPOILERS* Charlie Brewster an average boy finds out that his neighbor is a vampire. He has doubts until Jerry Dandridge his vampire neighbor appears on his bedroom and threatens him to death. Nobody believes Charlie and after a series of events not only his life is in danger but also his girlfriend's. Charlie finds in Peter Vincent, t.v.'s popular "Vampire Killer" character his only hope to save his girlfriend. In order to accomplish what he wants, Charlie and Peter Vincent will face the deadly Jerry Dandridge, his guardian Billy Cole, and their attacks.

ACTING. You can't go wrong when a great actor like Mr. Chris Sarandon carries the entire movie on his back with his performance. His character, Jerry Dandridge completely steals the show. Sarandon made the character. Roddy McDowall as Peter Vincent is a pleasure to watch. His character has an admirable quick evolution in the movie. First he's the vampire killer t.v. character that after meeting a REAL vampire knows what fear is like. Then after dealing with fear, he recovers faith and that makes him stronger in every aspect. William Ragsdale is good as Charlie Brewster, the teen main character in the movie. The boy that discovers that his neighbor is a real vampire but nobody believes him. Good character. Special mention to Stephen Geoffreys as Evil Ed for being one of the weirdest but likable characters ever to appear in a horror movie. His performance is truly evil and humorist. A nice touch. Amanda Bearse (from Married with Children fame) is also a good addition to the cast, she delivers an o.k. performance. Jonathan Stark as Billie Cole, Jerry's guardian, delivers a solid performance. This is one of the best casts that you can get from an 80's horror movie.

DIRECTION. The 80's craziness was never this creepy. Tom Holland makes a terrific job this time. This man is behind key horror movies from the 80's like "Child's Play" and the surprisingly good "Psycho II" among others. His camera work in "Fright Night" is great. He knew how to combine perfectly the 80's feeling (something that nobody has ever described for it's madness) with the Vampire movies basic rules.

The idea of watching a Vampire movie from the 80's could make you think the worst but luckily it's a great idea. Excellent job Mr. Holland.

F/X/SCORE/CINEMATOGRAPHY. The f/x and make-up are very ahead of it's time. You can't get better gore effects! The scene of Evil Ed's death (when he's a werewolf) is amazing. On it's time I'm sure that it shocked more than once. Also, Billy Cole's death and the ending are great scenes that will please the horror audience's eyes. Great use of gore and f/x. Enough said. The score is great. The 80's pop metal and club music fits perfect with the feeling of the movie. The club scene is something you haven't seen. In the tense and thrilling scenes the music works perfect. The cinematography is pretty good. The use of lightning on dark settings is very good. Watch the DVD version for a different experience. I love the lines from the movie. I can assure that "Fright Night" is something you haven't seen. Don't get fooled by the 80's big hair, laughable fashion, and clichés. The movie stands alone. Be prepared for a real FRIGHT NIGHT!

One of Those 80s Horror Films You Will Love

[gavin6942 · 7/10 · 21 August 2007]

When a teenager (William Ragsdale) learns that his next door neighbor (Chris Sarandon) is a vampire, no one will believe him.

What do you do when a vampire moves in next door and starts killing people? Well, if you are Charlie, you get your friends and a local B-movie actor to help you stop the vampire. But of course it is not going to be easy, because your parents and the police are not going to believe you. Such is life...

"Fright Night" is an 80s horror film, not unlike "Monster Squad" and "The Lost Boys". It has that feel where kids (or teenagers) are capable of fighting monsters while parents look the other way. Heck, throw "The Gate" in there, too. Similarities exist between this and "Lost Boys" -- the vampires, the mother's involvement with the local vampire leader, a close friend or family member turning evil...

And we get this from Tom Holland, who has a sketchy record. Sure, he has got this and "Child's Play" (both excellent). But "The Langoliers"? And "We All Scream For Ice Cream"? Holland has a strong connection to Stephen King, and for some reason seems to bring out the worst of King's work. Luckily, this is a notable exception -- one of the defining films of the 1980s horror scene. And that is how Holland became a "master of horror" (a title he earned, but is quickly losing).

This film is full of odd things. Christopher Sarandon (an amazing actor) is constantly changing clothes, and in one occasion wears a very metrosexual turtleneck. He keeps eating apples (although I do not know why). One of the main characters, Evil Ed, looks like Beavis (from "Beavis and Butt-Head"). And there is a hero named Peter Vincent (an obvious homage to Peter Cushing and Vincent Price).

There is a lengthy dance club scene, with a really cool mirror effect. Dance clubs are so 1980s. Think "Adventures in Babysitting" or even "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II" (early 1990s, when the fad was still wearing off). It was the thing to do -- have the action move into a musical environment to showcase a band. And I love it every time a film does this, so thank you "Fright Night" (although the scene does run a bit long).

The effects in general are good, and I have o give a lot of credit to the person who designed the monsters. The werewolf creature (actually a vampire in wolf form) is great, the vampire bat is pretty good, and just the regular vampire makeup is better than average. I did not find it scary, but I certainly did not think it was cheesy.

If I had to say anything negative, I would concede the running time is a bit long and some scenes could be trimmed a few seconds or a minute to pick up the pace. The music and clothing also dates the film, but that may not necessarily be a bad thing.

The 1980s were the time for horror. Watch this one. Get this and "Monster Squad", put in some butter lovers' popcorn, grab some A&W root beer. Maybe invite your significant other or a group of friends over. This is a casual party movie, and one I think the whole family can love if that is your preference. Another 1980s horror trait -- good horror without the excessive nudity or violence. I dare any film maker today to make such a film.

He must've been a Vampire Fruit Bat.

[ElijahCSkuggs · 9/10 · 13 January 2008]

Fright Night, Lost Boys and Near Dark are the holy trinity of 80s vampire flicks. And arguably three of the best vampires movies of all-time. Just recently I returned to this piece of 80's horror gold and I have to say, I enjoyed it just as much as the first time I saw it.

Fright Night is about a kid named Charlie Brewster who accidentally discovers that his new neighbor, Jerry Dandrige, is a vampire. The movie is about Charlie and friends setting out to destroy the vampire. But Mr. Dandridge is no slouch and is more of a threat to them, then they are to him.

Besides being one of the best 80's horror films, I think it's also one of the best movies of the entire 1980s. The movie is full of great performances, especially Chris Sarandon as Jerry Dandrige and Roddy McDowall as TV Vampire Slayer Peter Vincent. It has fantastic make-up effects that are sorely, sorely missing from today's horror flicks. And it also combines a great feel of horror with a realistic touch of comedy and drama. The best and funniest aspect to the movie for myself is how they portray the vampire character. I won't spoil it for you, but the guy enjoys wearing very "tata" clothes, eats "fruit" all the time, and has a live-in roommate. This movie is classic! Fright Night has a sequel that some say is equally as good, but I wouldn't be one to say that. But, I do enjoy the sequel and definitely think it's worth a view. If you're a fan of horror and vampires, this is a must see flick. Welcome to Fright Night baby!

Fun Night...

[MovieAddict2016 · 12 February 2004]

Fright Night

Enjoyable horror film about a young kid who thinks his next door neighbor (Chris Sarandon) is a blood-thirsty vampire, so he enlists the help of a TV vampire expert to help him exploit his neighbor's dirty little secret. Scary, fun, and surprisingly witty and self-referential in the vein of self-aware comedy-horrors such as "Scream," this nice piece of motion picture is bloody, sensual, and often times quite funny. Good special effects for the time.

*** 1/2 / *****

A fun and entertaining film about a teenager finds out that the newcomer in his neighborhood is a vampire

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 12 April 2023]

It's Dracula-versus-the-teens time when Charley Brewster (William Ragsdale) and his grirlfriend (Amanda Bearse) suspect that his new neighbor Jerry Dandridge (Chris Sarandon) descends from Count Vlad's line . He calls in the host , Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowall) , of "Fright Night show" , the local late night , horror-flick series , to help de-ghoul the neighborhood . But they have a problem when the vampire discovers their schemes and nobody believes them anyway . There are some very good reasons to be afraid...of the dark!. If you love being scared, it'll be the night of your life !.

A farrago of cartoonish exaggeration including razor-sharps talons, mouthfuls of fangs and eyes like like burning coals , knowing humour and 80s camp , it it should start to work, and yet , strangely , it does , thanks to the assured handling of writer/director Holland and three performances in particular : William Ragsdale as the resourceful student Charly , Roddy MacDowall as the timid vampire killer and while Chris Sarandon is properly seductive as the bloodsucker. It displays intriguing homoerotic overtones and giving a blatant equation of desire and hunger . The dark cinematography by cameraman Jan Kiesser and music by Brad Fiedel help , covering an ambitious range from piano-murdering , suspense-raisers , through disco fodder and the special effects are worth a look , as well . Thanks to this movie, writer Tom Holland gained more notoriety, however, as a director . His directorial debut was this popular 1980s Vampire film, "Fright Night" (1985) which, at the time, was said to have been responsible for redefining the sub-genre, influencing later films like "The Lost Boys" (1987) and "Near Dark" (1987). The film was a box office hit and garnered three Saturn Awards and one Dario Argento Award. Fright Night (1985) has since gathered a cult following amongst horror fans.

The motion picture was competently directed by Tom Holland . He is an American director and screenwriter of horror and thriller films. Tom often casts Chris Sarandon, William Forsythe and his son Josh Holland. Also frequently has himself and/or Stephen King in cameos. His early writing projects include "Class 1984" (1982) and the Robert Bloch- inspired "Psycho II" (1983), the latter starring Anthony Perkins as the menacing psychopath, Norman Bates. For his next project, "Child's play" (1988), Tom again cast Chris Sarandon , this film was a Number One box-office hit in America and a worldwide success, despite controversy over its thematic content. Tom then went onto direct two films based upon adaptations of Stephen King's novels: "Langoliers" (1995) and "Thinner" (1996). He also took a cameo role in the Stephen King miniseries "Apocalypse" (1994). Tom's other projects have included "Hulk" episode 'Another Path', "Steven Spielberg's Amazing Tales" (1985), three episodes of "Crypt tales" (1989), and the prestigious "Masters of Horror" (2005) anthology. In 2009 Tom took a starring role in "Hatchet II" 2010) alongside Kane Hodder and Tony Todd.

Followed by a sequel , "Fright Night 2" (1988) by Tommy Lee Wallace with William Ragsdale, Roddy MacDowall , Traci Lin , Julie Carmen . This sequel to the 1985 release deals with the harassed guy from the original movie learns slowly that the vampire's sister and her entourage have come to roost around his college. A few innovations there are , notably Julie Carmen's spectacular usurpation of Roddy McDowall's show go for nothing , but Tommy Lee Wallace's direction lacks flair play and intelligence that Tom Holland brought to "Fright Night" . Not quite as good as the first part , but acceptable.

One of My Favorite Vampire Movies Ever

[claudio_carvalho · 9/10 · 6 December 2004]

While with his girlfriend Amy Peterson (Amanda Bearse) in his bedroom, the teenager Charley Brewster (William Ragsdale) sees a coffin being transported to the house on the next door. A couple of days later, he concludes that his neighbor Jerry Dandrige (Chris Sarandon) is a vampire, who is committing some recent unsolved murders. Charley decides to look for help first his friend Evil Ed Thompson (Stephen Geoffreys), since the policemen do not believe on his accusation. Jerry is upset and promises to kill Charley. Later, he meets Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowall), a middle aged man, who is a vampire killer in a television show but does not believe on vampires in the real life. Amy and Ed seek out Peter Vincent, and the group tries to prove to Charley that Jerry is not a vampire.

'Fright Night' is one of my favorite vampire movies, indeed a cult-movie in Brazil. I do not know how many times I have seen this film in my life, but yesterday I saw it on DVD for the first time and I was not disappointed, since the Brazilian DVD offers two choices (widescreen and fullscreen). There is just a trailer in the extras, but it suffices. Chris Sarandon is incredibly funny and sexy in this role; the movie has a perfect combination and timing of the genres of horror and comedy; the 'Van Helsing' of the story, Peter Vincent, is a fantastic joke with the names of the great Peter Cushing and Vincent Price; the special effects were state of art in 1985. My vote is nine.

Title ('Brazil'): ' A Hora do Espanto' ('The Fright Hour')

Note: on 14 January 2012, I saw this wonderful film again.

"You're so cool, Brewster!"

[utgard14 · 7/10 · 15 September 2015]

The '80s doesn't get a lot of respect from film snob types because it didn't have enough navel-gazing dramas or three-hour epics in desperate need of an edit. Sure, there are some, but not enough to please the elites. In my opinion, it was a phenomenal decade for movies that were just damn entertaining, whether they be comedy, action, horror, sci-fi, or whatever else. Fright Night is one of these '80s greats. Smooth direction, fun special effects, smart script, good score, and a wonderful cast. William Ragsdale, Chris Sarandon, and Amanda Bearse are all terrific here. However, the scene stealers are Roddy McDowall as actor Peter Vincent and Stephen Geoffreys as Evil Ed, the lead character's best friend with many of the movie's most memorable lines. It's a classic horror-comedy that's been highly influential on many movies and television shows since, not the least of which is Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Definitely should be on any list of "must see" '80s movies. Followed by a sequel and a watchable but pedestrian remake.

Forgettable, In My Opinion

[mitchell5954 · 3/10 · 29 August 2014]

Fright Night in a nutshell is essentially a horror/comedy about vampires. If you want a cheesy fun horror movie to watch with your friends you might like this. However, I was not too fond of this flick to be honest. There are better horror/comedies out there like Shaun of the Dead or Zombieland. There are certainly better vampire movies out there. If you want a fun vampire movie then watch John Carpenter's Vampires or Blade 1 & 2.

The story is very simple. A high school kid named Charlie Brewster soon learns that his new neighbor is a vampire. He tries to get help but no one believes him. The vampire realizes he's on to him and threatens to kill him. He is then forced to get the help of "vampire hunter" Vincent from the TV series Fright Night.

The film does some things right. It has some good-up effects and the effects when the vampires die is good also. The score is decent. Also, the acting isn't that bad.

However, the film has many issues. The biggest problem is the character. I didn't find myself caring about a single one. The main character, Brewster is so bland. The rest of the cast are just assholes and on the whole not interesting at all. The only character I slightly like is the so-called exterminator Vincent, but even took a while for me to warm-up to. The interaction between the characters, I thought, was very poor. There is nothing to the villain either. If I don't care about the character than I don't care what's happening ultimately.

I also thought the film was a bit too long. There are many scenes that I thought were unnecessary and just dragged out particularly the final battle. That final confrontation could've ended like three times but they kept dragging it out. I didn't really care anyway so I just wanted it to end.

Overall, I found fright Night a forgettable movie. Like I said earlier, if you want a fun time waster to watch with your friends then you might enjoy this. Maybe I'm alone in this because there are many people who enjoy this film. You can decide for yourself.