The rumors of a fright night remake have been floating around the internet for years. Now it seems they have happened thanks to Dreamworks. It stars Collin Farrell as Jerry (he's even on a dirt bike), the new member of a small quiet suburban community. He moves in next door to Charley play by Anton Yelchin. Instantly Jerry's wit and charm makes him loved and trusted by everyone, including Charley's mom and girlfriend. Charley's finds his him not as convincing and is determined to find out what's up with his new neighbor friend. Turns out Jerry, is a creature of the night... a blood thirsty god-dam blood sucking vampire. Charley is in for it now as Jerry doesn't like anyone knowing his secret.Collin Farrell is a great choice, I always liked his intensity as an actor and this role would require someone who can stand on their own. The trailer looks pretty bad ass and you can see it here. With the exception of the questionable computer effects (I miss when they actually made monsters with make-up and blew up cars with explosives) I saw McLovin in the trailer as Charley's high school friend. Now granted, I haven't seen this move, but remember, it's a remake, welcome to Hollywood, circa 2011.
Let's step back for a minute to 1985, the original Fright Night (Notice how we always have to say that these days, original, ol skool, classic... I'm getting old). If your a child of the 80's like me, and a product of the local video store you instantly fell in love with the box art for this movie. That how most movie's were discovered then, no internet, just amazing box art that would draw you in and fork up the 2.99 for an evening's viewing. Not all of them panned out, (Not of This Earth, starring Traci Lords) but Fright Night definitely did.Fright Night had the perfect mix of horror-comedy that was so alive back then. A perfect balance of scares and laughter that kept you on the edge of your seat, and racking up late fees so you could watch it a few more times before it went back.
In the original the Jerry (the vampire) was slick, cunning, sly and a bit of an 80's porn star. Played by Chris Sarandon he was a perfect dark prince. He could woo you with his vampire skillz or kill you with his blood lust, his choice.
Charley was played by Williams Ragsdale who gave the right mix of boyish charm and blissful curiosity. He had the look of a Sixteen Candles audition reject. He now still works in television with series as recent as Justified.
And then there was Stephen Geoffreys who played Charley's high school friend as now seen as McLovin in the remake. Geoffreys was awesome and next to Jerry easily the most memorable character in the film. He was the perfect nerd that would never get the girl but was so fun to watch try. He later became the star of another of my favorite 1988 horror flicks directed by Robert Englund, 976-EVIL as the same type of character. Now he is a gay porn star... really.
And who can forget the soundtrack. Give it a listen. It still plays heavy rotation on my ipod, had to finally thow out the cassette.
The original Fright Night was the perfect mix of scare and comedy, so rare today. Everything is so serious, even our entertainment. We can't take the realism out of anything for the fact it may not be cool or hip to the youngsters who might have their attention span redirected by a video game or a Stephen Geoffreys porn film on the internet. Remember Hollywood, entertainment is an escape, that's why we watch.
I am looking forward to the remake, really, really, really. I just hope in modern Hollywood we can start to do more than just recreate the past, and create original stories in the present. Fright Night looks cool, but will never be as cool as 1985.In theaters: August 19th, 2011
