More than a quarter century after the release of Tom Holland’s Fright Night, Craig Gillespie determined it was time to develop a remake. Like the 1985 original, Charlie Brewster (Anton Yelchin) becomes suspicious of his new neighbor, Jerry (Colin Farrell). When Charlie’s ex-best friend, Evil Ed Lee (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), tells him that Jerry is a vampire, Charlie’s world is turned upside down. He, his girlfriend, Amy (Imogen Poots), and his mother, Jane (Toni Collette) must face the harsh reality that their neighbor is not only a vampire, but, in every way, a serial killer. Their lives are completely upended, but they will have their chance to end the demented monster haunting their neighborhood.
The casting choices made by Allison Jones help create a beautifully developed story full of terrifying images, impeccably scripted one liners and comedy that pairs wonderfully with the dark story. Yelchin is unassuming, meek and mild mannered, and, while his role in Fright Night grows stronger and more self-sufficient as the story progresses, Yelchin is able to fill every fiber of Charlie’s being and brings him very much to life. In similar fashion to the original, Jerry is portrayed by someone quite large in Hollywood. Farrell, like Chris Sarandon (who makes a hilarious cameo about halfway into the film), is seductive in all the right, creepy, ways. He is appealing to the female viewers and intimidating to the males. He possesses every quality necessary to deliver on audiences' hopes for the character. Humor plays a huge factor in the Fright Night remake, and Mintz-Plasse’s main purpose is to deliver this humor. Around this time, Mintz-Plasse starred in films such as Superbad and Role Models. His clout is growing, and his presence in the film helps to deliver comedy in ways that most horror films would not even dream of including. Raunchy, sophisticated and relevant humor (mostly thanks to Mintz-Plasse) helps to develop the story much further than just horror could have.
Extensive changes are made to the character of Jerry the Vampire. Compared to Sarandon’s portrayal of the character, Farrell’s version depicts the antagonist as more than just a vampire, or a demented creature. He falls under the category of rapist, stalker, sexual predator and serial killer. Adding these dimensions to the character, and making him more than just a fictitious monster allows audiences to bridge the gap between vampire and the real world. Tom Holland (writer and director of the original Fright Night) joins Gillespie and writer Marti Noxon to script a film that is not so separate from the real world. They make connections to the horrors of the real world, tapping into pre-existing fears that circulate the minds of potential viewers.
The writers, director Gillespie and the cast develop a far more in depth story that relates to the real world much more than the original Fright Night. Young, budding talent graces the screen and creates a sense of camaraderie and dedication as Charlie and Amy attempt to end the horrific wrath of vampire Jerry. The dark themes of rape and death parallel reality and create depths of horror that reach the audience. The 1985 Fright Night is compelling in its own right, and, for the times, is successful in scaring audiences. Gillespie’s 2011 remake takes the story further and ups the ante, making for scary, relevant fun.
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