Disc Reviews

Fright Night (1985) Blu-ray Review

• 27th Mar 2017

Made in 1985, Fright Night sits right in the middle of the 1980s. It is a horror film very much of its decade with lots of gore, melting bodies, prosthetics and terrorised suburban High Schoolers. Yet it also consciously wanted to look backward in a positive way. The film’s director, Tom Holland, who’s first film as a director this was, is a big fan of the classic horror film and in particular the horror monsters. The landscape of the late 1970s and early 1980s had been one of bogeymen and stalk and slash horror films. Holland was keen to return to the monsters that he grew up with and in the case of Fright Night, vampires. For many years before Fright Night there had been fewer vampire films, with only the TV movie Salem’s Lot (1979) as a stand out. With Fright Night Holland was able to give the 80s look and spin with plenty of classic horror references, almost to the point of parody. Following the films success there was a slew of 80s vampire movies including The Lost Boys (1987).

The central figure in Fright Night is Charlie Brewster (William Ragsdale), a typical suburban teenage High School student who lives alone with his mum and is dating a girl called Amy (Amanda Bearse), with all the usual horny teenager hormones racing. However, with his fumbling lack of ability to bed his girlfriend he becomes distracted by his new enigmatic neighbour, Jerry Dandridge (Chris Sarandon) moving in. After the mysterious disappearance and discovered bodies of women are found brutally murdered Charlie starts to believe that his new neighbour is responsible. He doesn’t trust Jerry who is doing weird things like blocking out the light from the windows in his house and starts to suspect that Jerry might be a vampire. He even calls the police who laugh at Charlie’s vivid imagination. However, Jerry is becoming irritated by Charlie. Charlie seeks the help of TV horror star Peter Vincent (played by veteran Hollywood actor and former ape Cornelius in the Planet of the Apes films Roddy MacDowall). Vincent, a tired has been also laughs off Charlie’s help. One night Charlie’s best friend ‘Evil’ is vampirised. Charlie also learns that a vampire needs to be invited round before he can threaten the household. Tick. Charlie’s desperate Mum invites Dandridge round for coffee. Now he feels threatened. Needless to say that Amy becomes vampirised as a kind of Bride of Dandridge and Charlie convinces Peter Vincent to help him fight back against the vampires.

There are many references to the horror films of yore. One can’t help feel that the producers here were unable to secure the likes of Vincent Price, but never the less did pull a massive coup with having Roddy MacDowell co-starring. He represents Hollywood past, a child star since the 1940s and here playing a fake Van Helsing type of character with a name like Peter (Cushing) Vincent (Price). He was very much the father figure on the set among these young cast and crew on the film. Fright Night is a cult film and has maintained that station. Popular on its release its cult status has grown with its very 80s soundtrack and look with the kind of gory effects that magazines like ‘Fangoria’ used to love and would be dripping off their glossy pages.

The Eureka! release is bursting with extras as is typical with the label. Some of the extras could have been expunged but others are fascinating viewing such as the tribute to the career of Roddy MacDowall. Elsewhere the cast and crew speak about their experiences making the film and only goes to show the films importance as a comedy horror on its release. Werewolves had already enjoyed a revival in the early 1980s with a number of films and this film marked the time for the classic vampire film.

Chris Hick