“Fright Night” movie 1985: A cult classic of the vampire genre

Fright Night is a 1985 horror film directed by Tom Holland. It stars William Ragsdale, Chris Sarandon, Roddy McDowall, Amanda Bearse, Stephen Geoffreys, Jonathan Stark, Dorothy Fielding, and Art Evans. When a teenager discovers his next-door neighbor is a vampire, he seeks everyone’s help. Let me explain the Fright Night Movie 1985.

On the 37th anniversary of the original film, I state how the feature became a cult classic of the vampire genre and how a remake can influence the legacy, for better or worse. Let’s take a look.

Charley Brewster (played by Ragsdale) is a typical teenager. During the mornings he attends school and at night he spends most of his time in his house, where he resides with his mother, Judy (Fielding).

One evening as Charley watches TV, he glances over the window at the new neighbor, Jerry Dandrige (Sarandon). Suddenly, he witnesses how Jerry sinks his teeth into the neck of a woman.

In addition, the news stations keep broadcasting missing women, never to be seen again. Therefore, he reaches the verdict: his neighbor is a vampire. However, as he breaks the news to his mother, she believes it is a “speck of his imagination.”

So, he turns to his girlfriend, Amy (Bearse), and his friend, Evil Ed (Geoffreys) for support but they also brush off his allegations. Hence, he takes it a step further and gets the police involved.

“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if a horror movie fan became convinced that his next-door was a vampire? If I was that kid, what would I do?“

Tom Holland, writer & director of Fright Night Movie 1985

But when Officer Lennox (Evans) pays a visit to Jerry’s house, he can’t find anything suspicious except that he is a regular civilian living with his roommate, Billy Cole (Stark).

So, who do you turn to when nobody believes you? That’s when Charley seeks help from Peter Vincent (McDowall).

A self-proclaimed vampire hunter and TV hostess of the show “Fright Night.” Reluctant at first, Charley and he join forces to fight against the vampires. Will they succeed? What is the outcome of all the characters?

Upon its release on August 2, 1985, “Fright Night” performed the best horror film of that year. As decades have passed, it has become a cult classic in the vampire genre.

In the 1980s, technology was not as advanced as today. Yet the entire visual effects team masterminded each of the scenes perfectly.

For example, the transformation scenes are well-executed. Indeed, as a viewer, it almost felt as exciting as watching Michael Jackson’s Thriller (1983) for the first time.

Unsurprisingly, in cinema, it is often the case that remakes emerge. Mostly, to introduce the film to a new generation and to test new technological software. But if the original film is a classic, can a remake match or even top it?

Original films vs. Remakes is a delicate subject. On one hand, it introduces the feature to a new generation but it can also tarnish the original’s legacy. What do you think of “True Grit”?
⬇️https://t.co/jXILf9KBlw#truegrit #movie #remake

📷Paramount Pictures (2010) / + MMM. pic.twitter.com/0WLWPW7kNQ

— MusicMoviesandMe (@MusicMovies_Me) June 12, 2022

Its remake “Fright Night” (R.I.P. Anton Yelchin) arrived in 2011 but fell short. To avoid tarnishing the original legacy, the following list should provide a guide for studios.

1. The cast needs to be adequate: That is not just casting the most popular actors at the time.
2. The director must pay homage: To the original script, and of course with room for improvement.
3. The release date: A few decades must have passed before being taken into consideration for a remake.

Following the three essential points listed above, only then can a remake close to matching the original. Very rarely, the remake can top the original.

That is the case of “True Grit” arriving in 1969, and its remake in 2010, respectively. To conclude, “Fright Night” definitely paved the way for the future of vampire cinema.

Check out the following transformation scene and don’t miss the chance to watch Fright Night Movie 1985!

1. “Fright Night” movie. Directed by Tom Holland (Columbia Pictures, 1985). ↩︎
2. “Fright Night” movie. Directed by Tom Holland (Columbia Pictures, 1985). ↩︎
3. “Fright Night” movie. Directed by Tom Holland (Columbia Pictures, 1985). ↩︎