Fright Night (2011) starring Anton Yelchin, Colin Farrell, David Tennant, Toni Collette, Imogen Poots, Christopher Mintz-Plasse directed by Craig Gillespie Movie Review

Fright Night (2011)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Anton Yelchin in Fright Night (2011)

Fright Night a New Generation

Charley Brewster (Anton Yelchin) is a typical teenager except during class he becomes aware that students are dropping off which after school geek Ed (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) brings it to his attention he agrees to look in to it. One thing leads to another and he becomes suspicious of his new neighbour Jerry Dandrige (Colin Farrell) who he thinks is a vampire. Trouble is no one else believes him and so enlists the help of Peter Vincent (David Tennant), a Las Vegas magician who also claims to be a vampire hunter.

As I mentioned in my review of the 1985 version of "Fright Night" I had watched it for the first time out of context, as in 30 years after it was made and it didn't blow me away like it did for those who saw it as teenagers back in 1985. It is why I thought that maybe the 2011 remake would entertain me more with its more recognizable stars but alas it only worked at about the same level as the original. In truth I probably needed a remake done in 1995 for it to have worked for me but that is the purpose of this remake, to make an old movie work for a new generation and I am sure it did.

Colin Farrell in Fright Night (2011)

How can I be so sure? Well we have some familiar young actors playing to type. As such early on we have Christopher Mintz-Plasse giving it full on nerdery, we also have Anton Yelchin giving it plenty of awkwardness. Further down the cast list there is also Dave Franco playing it as they typical high school jerk whist there is also Colin Farrell playing a pasty faced charmer with a glint in his eyes and a seriously menacing. Whilst some of the performances annoy me I can see how young audiences would enjoy it especially Farrell's performance which is one of the movie's real highlights. One of the other highlights is David Tennant as the Russell Brand like Peter Vincent.

The thing is that "Fright Night" just isn't that scary with much more of the emphasis placed on the humour and so whilst it has some scares it is lacking. Oh it has some nice special effects but again they seem to be used more for fun and for frights such as when Charley sees the fridge open but there is no sign of Jerry although that does lead to another spectacular split second scene.

What this all boils down to is that "Fright Night" the 2011 remake was as entertaining as the original for me but that only means it was a good movie which I am sure a younger audience will appreciate and enjoy more that I did.

Tags: Vampire Movies


LATEST REVIEWS