What Do The Critics Say?
"Craig Gillespie: who's making a rather tangential break from his last movie; delivers a fun, fangtastic romp that, straddles the line between terrifying and titillating with comfortable ease. Farrell encapsulates the terrifying, unsettling and permanently coiled ferocity of a predator permanently on the hunt and, while Collette, Yelchin and Poots all run around and/or look terrified to entertaining effect, it's David Tennant who steals the show. Welcome return to the vampire flick that aims to scare as readily as it entertains."
Matt Risley DAILY EXPRESS
"Like the fondly imagined original, the gags are funny without taking the edge off the scary moments. Farrell has more fun than he seems to have had in a long while, showing a perfectly judged blend of charm, seasoned with succulent menace. Colin Farrell's star may have dimmed, but he still brings a megawatt glow to this cheerfully trashy remake of the 1985 vampire classic."
Adam Smith RADIO TIMES
"This is a cheerfully cheesy remake of a 1985 horror film, which was mainly memorable for its cheeky hints that homosexuals and vampires have a lot in common. It is entertaining, thanks to superior CGI effects and, most of all, Farrell's knowing and understated performance. An unpretentious, old-fashioned romp like Fright Night comes as a refreshing change. It’s left amusingly vague as to which frightens our leading man more: Farrell’s fearsome fangs or his potent, strutting virility that has the girls swooning."
Christopher Tookey DAILY MAIL
"Fans of the 1985 original inevitably might look to fault such a reboot but here they need not worry. The campness of old is long gone, of course, yet this revisit makes some sense: at least as an antidote to Stephenie Meyer's world. Vampires used to be fun, saucy and oh so terribly naughty. Craig Gillespie understands that and goes for broke. Does this need to be in 3D? Of course not. And neither did it really need to be remade. But it has: and it's fun. Fang-tastic fun, in fact."
Ed Gibbs THE SUN HERALD
"Farrell, in the part played by Roddy McDowell in the original, is urbane, charming and exudes animal sexuality and threat. But it's Tennant who sticks in the mind with a much juicier role as a boozy, egomaniac who's forced to toughen up when vampire Jerry comes knocking. Believe it or not, this version of Fright Night is actually better than the original: packing in just the right amount of laughs and chills from a cast you'd expect to be above this sort of thing."
David Edwards DAILY MIRROR"
"It sticks to the comic horror genre template, down to the radically liberal character of Peter Vincent, one of those eccentric rocker types always played by a snooty but wayward English actor. Tennant fires up all his scenes either with high camp delivery or sardonic quips."
Andrew L Urban URBAN CINEFILE
"Why is the whole thing so watchable? Farrell is extremely good value. So is Toni Collette as the sex-starved but sensible single mom of high-school hero Charlie. As for David Tennant: let's just say the former Dr Who makes an impression as the dissolute Las Vegas vampire expert to whom Charlie turns for help. He seems delighted to have the chance to ponce around in leather and curse profusely, performing a sort of skit on Russell Brand."
Charlotte O'Sullivan THIS IS LONDON
"Colin Farrell is finally having fun again. After spending far too long trying to prove himself a serious actor the Dublin-born star is letting his hair down. Now he’s flashing his fangs as a vampire in Fright Night, a jaunty remake of the 1985 horror-comedy that gives Farrell his juiciest leading role in years, literally. Sporting the comically anodyne name of Jerry, the actor plays a buff bloodsucker who can’t get enough of his new neighbours in a sleepy suburb of Las Vegas. Beautiful, brainy and determined, Amy’s the most likeable character in the film, and certainly brings out the bloodlust in Jerry."
Henry Fitzherbert DAILY EXPRESS
The Inside Story
Given our current cultural fascination with vampires, the timing was perfect for a reimagining of "Fright Night", the beloved Tom Holland, 1985 horror film classic. As Producer Alison Rosenzweig ("Windtalkers") and Executive Producer Michael Gaeta, who are big fans of genre films, vampire movies, and this one in particular, said, "We had been tracking the rights to the property for a couple of years, and when we realized that they were going to become available, we pounced." With their shared enthusiasm for remaking "Fright Night", the duo brought the project to prolific producer Michael De Luca ("Priest" & "The Social Network"). A genre aficionado and a savvy filmmaker, it didn’t take him long to recognize the significance of the property. De Luca, Gaeta and Rosenzweig presented the idea to DreamWorks, and from there, the project began to quickly move toward production. "The people at DreamWorks really responded to the concept and also were fans of the original film," De Luca ("I Am Sam") says. A prominent producer with an enviable list of feature-film credits to his name, De Luca’s reputation among filmmakers is one of admiration. As Producer Rosenzweig enthuses, "To me, there is no finer producer than Michael De Luca. He knows genre better than anybody I’ve ever met, and he has an almost photographic memory for all things genre-geeky. I so respect that. We were flattered that he agreed to work with us and we obviously adore him. Not only is he an incredible producer, but he’s an incredible person too." An aspect of the story that also appealed to the producing team is that "Fright Night" is a tale of a young man’s coming of age. "There’s a life-cycle issue here that everyone can universally identify with," Executive Producer Michael Gaeta says. "Charley’s journey from adolescence to becoming a full man and a hero is something that resonates with people because I think everyone has been through that process. It’s an examination of watching a boy not only turn into a man but discovering who he is and who he wants to be." "Charley is a former geek who’s in denial that he ever was a geek," Rosenzweig says in agreement with Gaeta’s assessment of the character. "He’s shunning his old friends and trying to incorporate himself into the hip crowd. He becomes a man when he confronts the vampire and has to try to defeat him." Adolescence is a crossroads for everyone. It is a time when one begins to define who they are. "Charley is in turmoil about the choices he’s making about his friends and his relationship with his mother, and he’s trying to figure it all out," Director Craig Gillespie ("Lars and the Real Girl" & TV'S "United States of Tara") says. "Oddly enough, the vampire helps focus Charley and makes him aware of what’s important in life." "The challenge with every vampire movie: and there have been a lot throughout Hollywood’s history; is how do you do something original and put a distinctive spin on a subject that’s been around for centuries in fiction?" De Luca poses. The answer, of course, begins with the screenwriting. A good story will always attract writers who are eager to use their creative imaginations to bring an idea from thought to form. Rosenzweig notes that "Fright Night" is, "one of those titles that has so much awareness among people who love these kinds of movies that we received many calls from very good writers who wanted to be part of this project." Among the pool of exceptional talent was screenwriter Marti Noxon, who is perhaps most widely known for her enormous success as a writer and producer on the hit television series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", among other series and feature films.
De Luca recalls: "Marti Noxon’s agent suggested her as a candidate for screenwriter, and we thought, great, but she’s already done the vampire thing with 'Buffy', so she probably wouldn’t be interested. Happily, she ended up being very interested. Marti came in and pitched us basically the story that we’re shooting. She had a very fully developed pitch." Noxon understands that in real life, there are situations that can quickly evolve from very dark to very funny. That was the concept for “Fright Night” that she and the director and producers were striving for. Gaeta notes: "I think that when audiences see the product of Marti’s imagination, they’ll find a lot of scary dark things but also beautiful and wonderful things too. She had a really great fix on exactly what the tone of the story should be and the importance of the relationships among the characters. She gave the script that extra emotional depth that she’s so good at dramatizing. It was really a lot of fun all the way through her interpretationt." The filmmakers knew from the start that they wanted to maintain the basic story and the delicate balance of comedy and horror of the original film. That was one of the important aspects of the project that Gillespie ("Mr Woodcock") loved about the screenplay. "There are really horrific moments that are very scary and also very human moments. It wasn’t just a straight genre film. Marti managed to balance thriller, humor and horror." Humor and emotional moments aside; the horror-thriller element in the film is certainly not to be denied. This vampire is not a lovesick, conflicted being: he is an insatiable, unstoppable predator; like the shark in Steven Spielberg's iconic, 1975 film, "Jaws". Screenwriter Noxon explained: "At a time when vampires are part of the mainstream for moviegoers and TV watchers, some of the shock value and mystery surrounding vampire practices is gone. There’s a sort of romantic vampire that's common in the culture right now. We went away from that. We are very true to the spirit of the original film." Colin Farrell ("In Bruges"), who was cast as Jerry the Vampire revealed: "There are none of those romantic leanings. This vampire is just a killer. He’s over four hundred years old. He’s probably a little bit bored when we find him, but he feeds. He just feeds. He exists." Farrell ("Phone Booth" & "The Way Back") admitted he was, at first, skeptical about remaking this classic film because he holds the original in such high regard. "I was eleven or twelve years old the first time I saw "Fright Night". I don’t want to say it’s sacrosanct, but in a way it is and it’s kind of perfect in its own form. So I was frustrated when I read Marti’s script, because it was so good, I really wanted to do it! Just like the original, it seemed to straddle the line between horror and a kind of sweet 'tongue in cheek' comedy." "I was so excited that we could get him,” says Gillespie, when asked about casting Farrell in the complex lead role. "I couldn’t think of anyone more perfect. As written, Jerry’s an incredibly charismatic personality, but there is a sinister aspect to him too. I thought Colin would embody that perfectly." With the feature-film blockbusters "Star Trek" and "Terminator: Salvation" among his credits, Anton Yelchin was cast in the pivotal role of Charley, the teenager confronted with an evil force in the form of his vampire next-door neighbor. Yelchin was the filmmakers first choice for the role of Charley because of the actor’s ability to create rich performances that give more weight to his characters. Yelchin was excited about giving greater dimension to Charley. "I like the relationships in the story. Charley versus Jerry, Charley and his girlfriend, Charley and his friend Ed who he has shunned are all interesting elements. With Craig Gillespie at the helm, we got to develop the nuances of all the relationships." Another of Charley’s important relationships is with his mom, Jane.
Six time AFI and 2007 Screen Actors Guild Awards winner Toni Collette, who had worked with Gillespie on the Showtime series "United States of Tara" recalls her eagerness to join the "Fright Night" cast. "I love working with Craig Gillespie. If I’d been offered this film and there was another director, I really don’t know if I’d have taken it, but I trust him wholeheartedly. I think he’s going to make the film scarier by making it real and honest. But you know, I don’t get to play a vampire or be seduced by one." "I was very excited to get Toni for this role," Gillespie notes. "She’s able to blend humor and drama, which is such a tricky dance to do, and she does it beautifully. Also, you feel an instant bond between Toni and Anton, which made my work easy." The part of Las Vegas magician/illusionist Peter Vincent, David Tennant, a classically trained British actor whose role as the Tenth Doctor in the BBC series "Dr Who", gained him worldwide acclaim. "We were really excited to get David Tennant for this role," Gillespie says. "He hasn’t done a lot of work in the States, and this is such a great platform for him. He has excellent comic timing and also comes from the dramatic arena." Four time National Television Award (UK) and four time SFX (UK) Awards winner Tennant ("Dr Who"), says he found the reimagined story to be an old-fashioned monster movie, with a twenty first century sensibility. "This character’s just delicious. He’s onstage doing this huge show, which is slightly preposterous and yet absolutely rooted in the kind of things you might see if you went to see a magic show in Vegas. It’s great to get to play a character that has that scope and then gets to do things that are pretty extreme and extraordinary." Finding the right young actress to play Amy: Charley’s beautiful and popular girlfriend; took some time. After searching far and wide, they finally discovered the perfect mix of youth, beauty, a certain innocence and great acting skills in British actress Imogen Poots ("Jane Eyre"), who recalls: "When I first read the screenplay, it was exciting because there’s a real combination of horror and humor. It’s not a purely gruesome film. It has real character. Amy's relationship with Charley is sweet. As the story unfolds, they’re obviously on this adventure together. It’s really about what they learn about one another, and themselves." Ed is the boyhood friend being betrayed and left behind socially by Charley. The character is so iconic for fans of the original movie that the filmmakers felt they needed a new version that pays homage to its predecessor and also stands on its own. The filmmakers tapped Christopher Mintz-Plasse ("Kick-Ass" & "Superbad") for the role. "Although this is a remake of a really popular movie, it’s totally new and amazing because Craig, our director, is keeping the eerie, smoky, creepy vibe of the original version. And Marti Noxon, the screenwriter, did an incredible job. She really went deep into the relationships." Three-dimensional filmmaking has grown up. It is no longer simply about visual trickery as "Fright Night" viewers will quickly discover. One of the most prominent authorities in the world of 3D technology is Max Penner ("My Bloody Valentine 3D") of Paradise Effects, who began working with the technique almost twenty years ago. A noted pioneer of modern 3D, he is also the go-to stereographer in the motion picture industry. "I control how deep the 3D space is and where it is placed in relation to the screen plane. This is achieved by using a 3D beam splitter rig that is a combination of two cameras and/or two sensors and two matched sets of optics that work synchronous and view images from two different points, very much like human eyes."
What's It All About?
 Charley, a high school senior is on top of the world, running with the popular crowd and dating Amy, the most coveted girl at his school. In fact, he’s so cool, he’s even dissing his best friend, Ed. Trouble arrives when Jerry moves in next door. He seems like a nice guy: at first; but there’s something not quite right, and no one, including Charley’s mom seems to notice! After observing some very strange activity, he comes to an unmistakable conclusion: Jerry is a vampire preying on the neighborhood. Sadly, he can’t get anyone to listen to him: not even his mom or his girlfriend. He decides to take Jerry on himself and rid his suburban neighborhood of a terrorizing menace. Unable to convince anyone, he turns to popular Las Vegas illusionist and self-proclaimed vampire expert Peter Vincent for help and advice before taking matters into his own handsl. But the cunning Jerry has other ideas.
The Verdict
"Feeling a little listless? Avoiding going out in the sun? Looking a little pale lately? Chances are, you're probably dying to sink your fangs into a damn good vampire film. No, not those limp-wristed excuses for a vampire film they call the, "Twilight" series. If you're a true lover of the bloodsucking 'vampire genre', comparing any of the "Twilight" films to something like "Fright Night", is akin to asking a Vampire to turn vegetarian. Sure the "Twilight" films make big money (thanks in the main to dedicated fans of Stephenie Meyer's books), but unless you are watching them through rose coloured glasses, they are bloody awful, totally lame and so utterly predictable. Not so, "Fright Night", which thankfully provides the perfect mix of fun and fear. And it keeps you guessing as to its outcome. While a fair portion of the credit for this film must go to the excellent SFX, CGI and use of 3D, the biggest portion of praise must go to the films cast, and in particular: Golden Globe winner Colin Farrell ("In Bruges") who is wicked as Jerry the Vampire; former 'Dr Who', David Tennant, who is just sensational; Anton Yelchin as the doubting Thomas who finally must face up to the truth; the always watchable Christopher Mintz-Plasse who once again takes his character to another level; Toni Collette as the totally hot mum Jerry has his eye on; and finally, British actress Imogen Poots (who can next be seen as Blanche Ingram in "Jane Eyre"), who isn't in it just for her good looks. It would be amiss of me not to mention both 2009 & '10 Writers Guild of America Award winner Marti Noxon ("Mad Men"); director Craig Gillespie (if you haven't seen "Lars and the Real Girl" get it on DVD); Editor Tatiana S Riegel ("Pulp Fiction" & "There Will Be Blood") and, composer Ramin Djawadi ("Iron Man" & "Mr Brooks"). They are the glue that holds "Fright Night" together. The best thing for audiences is, that thankfully, you don't have to be a big Vampire/Horror fan to enjoy "Fright Night". A smart mix of laugh out loud moments, wry humour and a terrific storyline gives it wider audience appeal. A vampire named Jerry? It's true! 4 1/2 STARS."
Who Is Playing Who?
Colin Farrell
Anton Yelchin
Toni Collette
David Tennant
Imogen Poots
Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Dave Franco
Reid Ewing
Will Denton
Sandra Vergara
Emily Montague
Chris Sarandon
Grace Phipps
Chelsea Tavares
Lisa Loeb
Brian Huskey
Charlie Brown
Marya Beauvais
Kent Kirkpatrick
Eb Lottimer
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Jerry
Charley Brewster
Jane Brewster
Peter Vincent
Amy
Ed
Mark
Ben
Adam
Ginger
Doris
Jay Dee
Bee
Cara
Victoria
Rick
Doctor
Mrs Grenada
Teacher
Adam's Dad
The Production Team
Directed by Craig Gillespie
Screenplay by Marti Noxon
From a story by Tom Holland
Based on the 1985 film "Fright Night" written by Tom Holland
Produced by Michael De Luca/Michael J. Gaeta/Alison R Rosenzweig
Executive Producers Ray Angelic/Josh Bratman/Lloyd Ivan Miller
Original Music by Ramin Djawadi
Cinematography by Javier Aguirresarobe
Film Editing by Tatiana S. Riegel
Casting by Jo Edna Boldin & Allison Jones
Production Design by Richard Bridgland
Art Direction by Randy Moore
Set Decoration by K.C. Fox
Costume Design by Susan Matheson
Run Time 106 minutes
Rated MA15+ [AUST]
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