A teenage horror fan becomes convinced that his new neighbour is a vampire, but when nobody believes him, he turns to the washed-up actor who once played a vampire hunter on television.
Tom Holland's Fright Night is a great mixture of horror, comedy and atmosphere. His direction grounds the supernatural story in an ordinary suburban neighbourhood, giving it an appealing seemingly on-location feel.
Jan Kiesser's cinematography looks fantastic, shifting from warm suburban interiors to dark and sinister nights. The film also benefits from outstanding practical effects, with Richard Edlund overseeing the visual effects and Steve Johnson and Randall William Cook responsible for creature design. The vampires and transformations, particularly Jerry and Amy's creepy vampire forms and the memorable bat and wolf sequences, remain excellent examples of 1980s effects work.
In true '80s fashion, the teens are played by twenty-somethings that add to the charm. William Ragsdale is excellent as Charley Brewster, with Amanda Bearse equally effective as Amy Peterson. Stephen Geoffreys brings plenty of energy to the ill-fated Evil Ed, while Jonathan Stark's Billy Cole makes an effective Renfield-type servant. Chris Sarandon is perfectly cast as Jerry Dandridge, combining charm and menace to make him a scary, seductive vampire.
Roddy McDowall is superb as Peter Vincent, the sceptical, washed-up television actor who has spent his career pretending to be a vampire hunter before being forced to become the real thing. His performance provides much of the film's heart and humour.
The affection for classic vampire cinema is evident throughout, from crosses and mirrors to bats, wolves, coffins and the rules of the undead. The soundtrack and Brad Fiedel's (The Terminator) score complements it beautifully, moving between suspense, and unmistakable '80s energy.
It also sits comfortably alongside the horror-comedy of House, which followed later in 1985, while exploring territory that The Lost Boys would develop two years later. Both films feature self-aware teenage characters, a single mother, a head vampire and a mixture of vampire mythology and humour. Holland's film, however, has a distinct identity and never loses its affection for classic vampire cinema.
Fright Night remains an exceptionally enjoyable 1980s vampire film. Bloody, funny and atmospheric, it combines strong performances, practical effects and confident direction without losing sight of the horror. A slice of '80s cinema that still holds up.
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