By Robert Rinaldo
Entertainment Editor
“Fright Night” is a 3D horror comedy film directed by Craig Gillespie. It is a remake of the 1985 Tom Holland film of the same name. The film stars Colin Farrell (“S.W.A.T”), David Tennant (“Dr. Who”) and Anton Yelchin (“Terminator Salvation”).
The film focuses on Charley Brewster (Yelchin), a teenager who discovers that a new neighbor named Jerry Dandrige (Farrell) is moving in next door to him. Charley later learns that Jerry is a vampire and seeks the help of a Las Vegas magician and supposed expert on vampires (Tennant) to kill Jerry. Critics praise the film for its updated terror and comedy, even claiming it to surpass the original.
The original film is considered to be one of the greatest vampire movies of all time, so a remake would almost seem unnecessary. Fortunately, “Fright Night” proves that it can stand along side its predecessor, providing a surprisingly entertaining experience.
Farrell and Yelchin shine in their roles without trumping the rest of the cast. The characters provide genuine laughs at many points and you really feel sorry to see certain characters die. “Dr. Who” fans will really appreciate seeing Tennant as the estranged vampire expert as he almost steals the show, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (“Superbad”) continues to show off his comedic chops in this subtler role.
Whereas the original is more memorable for its campy style of horror, the remake boasts a grittier, darker and overall more effective tone to convey the horror the characters experience. As an added bonus, the comedy does not compromise the overall feel of the film unlike “Jennifer’s Body.”
While “Fright Night” excels in overall tone and acting, it is not without its flaws. Aside from the four main stars, the supporting cast is more or less forgettable. While the film avoided flooding the cast list with A-ranked actors, the supporting actors don’t really add anything worthwhile to the story of the film.
The special effects are also hit or miss. While the vampire effects are quite nice, some of the computer-generated blood effects are painfully obvious. A remake with certain effects almost as cheesy as the original doesn’t look too good. The 3D effects are unforgettable, apart from a couple moments. These instances become even less effective in 2D, but it is easy to forget such moments to enjoy the rest of the film.
“Fright Night” is an interesting horror film. It is an unnecessary remake to a classic that still holds up today, and yet the end result is actually much better than expected. The overall tone fits much better in this version and the performances from Farrell, Yelchin and Tennant are entertaining. Even with the flaws it is a surprisingly enjoyable film.
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