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Chris Sarandon, William Ragsdale, Amanda Bearse, Roddy McDowall, Stephen Geoffreys ... see more see more... , Jonathan Stark , Dorothy Fielding , Art Evans , Robert Corff , Chris Hendrie , Prince Hughes , Irina Irvine , Nick Savage , Heidi Sorenson , Steven Hilliard Stern , Ernie Holmes , Jackie Burch , Pamela Brown

A teenage horror film addict is shocked to discover that his new next-door neighbor is a vampire in this delightful mix of horror and comedy. The problems only grow for young Charley Brewster (William... read more read more... Ragsdale) when he expresses his thoughts about fanged new neighbor Jerry Dandridge (Chris Sarandon). His girlfriend, Amy (Amanda Bearse), thinks Charley is avoiding their relationship issues, his single mom thinks Dandridge (Chris Sarandon) could be a potential boyfriend, and his buddy "Evil" (Stephen Geoffreys) just thinks Charley's losing it. Worst of all, Dandridge and his nasty assistant, Billy Cole (Jonathan Stark), are on to Charley's wild notions -- and have plans to pay him a late-night visit to silence him. With no one to help him, Charley turns to the one man he knows has faced the wrath of the undead and lived, the fearless vampire killer Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowall). A washed-up actor who has just been fired from his job as the host of a late-night horror show, Vincent is not about to believe in the rantings of an impressionable teen. However, lured by Amy's cash offer, he agrees to help her convince Charley that Dandridge isn't a vampire. There is just one problem: Dandridge is a vampire and when Amy falls under his evil spell, its up Charley and Peter to drive a stake through their potential romance. ~ Patrick Legare, Rovi

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71% liked it

45,974 ratings

Critics

93% liked it

29 critics

R, 1 hr. 46 min.

Directed by: Tom Holland

Release Date: January 1, 1985

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DVD Release Date: January 19, 1999

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Stats: 2,220 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,220)

  • MizturY0da
    May 21, 2012
    MizturY0da
    three stars
  • aSpaceCowboy
    November 29, 2011
    aSpaceCowboy
    Other than Stephen Geoffreys horrible performance and some very cheesey 80s makeup effects this film was a hilarious horror thrill ride that's a delight to watch over and over again!
  • skeletonking101
    November 14, 2011
    skeletonking101
    A brilliant blend of comedy and a special effects horror show. The idea of bringing the Vampire into modern day standards back in the 80s sounded like it would fail miserably, but this film pulled it off, and quite possibly my favorite of all horror movies I've seen. The effects ... read moreare incredibly well done for the time, and it is quite possibly the most innovative horror movie of its time in the effects department.
  • fb733768972
    September 14, 2011
    fb733768972
    This film represents horror classics in a huge way, with twists and surprises that will have you begging for more. As a new neighbour moves in next door, the main character (Charlie Brewster) takes it upon himself to spy, causing his curiosity to spiral out of control. When he re... read morealizes that his neighbour is in fact a vampire he is going to do whatever means necessary to take him down. This film is scary, real, and had my jaw on the floor. The visual effects are extremely terrifying and the story is frighteningly original, but there is one thing that turns me slightly off from calling this film a masterpiece. There are a few scenes where the actors don't seem to give it their all and the seriousness becomes a little cheesy. All-in-all, Fright Night is a true horror classic and I love it!
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    September 7, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Fright Night has the reputation of being one of the best vampire films of the 1980?s, maybe of the genre. Long before The Lost Boys, Near Dark and The Hunger, there was Fright Night. A little horror gem with such a simple story that it makes it that more enjoyable. Fact is, is th... read moreat Fright Night strips away anything really original or unique, however, director Tom Holland pulls it off with great precision. What makes Fright Night a lot of fun, is the characters, the story, Brad Fiedel's incredible soundtrack and Nostalgia of the 1980?s. I mean these were the years where vampire films mattered. Vampires were evil and charming. Fright Nigh delivers all that. Many people have said that this film looks dated. I reply, "so what?" the film manages to still be entertaining and fun after all these, and that's what counts in the end. Hell, mostly every film made in the 80?s are starting to show their age. Doesn't mean they still can't be fun. Fright Night is one of my personal favorite vampire films for that matter. Not only that, but its one of the best horror films of the 1980?s. Seeing this for the first time, I was blown away. Tom Holland's direction on this flick is super, the writing brilliant, the characters enjoyable to watch on the screen. This is one vampire flick that deserves to be treasured. Fright Night is a fun ride throughout. There's a great blend of comedy and horror that's sure to satisfy. Amanda Bearse, Roddy Mcdowall, William Ragsdale all deliver in this fine vampire film. But obviously the best performance of all is Chris Sarandon as Jerry Dandridge. This is a phenomenal Horror yarn that you shouldn't miss. To those that say that they don't want to watch Fright Night because it's a "cult" film, you're probably an idiotic person who wants to watch Twilight instead.To those who say that the film looks dated, well nearly every film of the 80?s looks dated, so tough luck. Oh well, at least fans of the film aren't missing out, because revisiting this again and again, makes it worthwhile and makes us fans remember that vampires were once evil creatures of the night.
  • cosmo313
    September 7, 2011
    cosmo313
    I enjoy horror movies, so it really came as a shock to me when I realized recently that I had somehow managed to get through life without having seen this before. Maybe it was the release of the remake that reminded me. Who knows?

    Anyways, because of the recent remake, and beca... read moreuse this isn't the most obscure film out there, I can be pretty snappy with the synopsis, which is this: a teenager named Charley believes that a vampire named Jerry Dandridge has moved in next door. He ends up being correct, but when no one believes him, he decides to get help from an elderly actor who played a vampire killer, but now hosts a horror television show, akin to Ghoulardi or Elvira. Charley believes that, even though this guy is an actor, he can at least give some insight into how to deal with his problem.

    What I really loved about this movie is how it is really reverent to the genre, and is filled with all kinds of tributes, references, and homages. The actor, Peter Vincent, is named about Peter Cushing and Vincent Price, and comes from the Hammer vein of horror pictures. There's some tweaking with the vampire mythology, but there's also a lot of keeping up the status quo of the mythology as well.

    This film has great pacing, a slow build with lots of suspense, great atmosphere and art direction, and a good mix of wicked humor and scares. It's got some pretty nifty and effective special effects and makeup, too. Where it really shines though, is in the characters and the acting. William Ragsdale is pretty good as Charley, doing a terrific job at playing a guy who knows he's right, but really struggles to get support. Chris Sarandon is very suave and creepy as the villain Jerry Dandridge, being both seductive and malevolent. Amanda Bearse suffers from a bit too much "80s hair", but she's got believable chemistry as Charley's girlfriend and Jerry's obsession (she resemles his long lost love). Stephen Geoffreys is really annoying as Ed, and is the main reason this isn't getting a higher grade, but thankfully he's just a side character. The highlight though, is Roddy McDowall as Peter Vincent. He's just a really great and memorable character. He's well rounded and developed, and he's the most compelling one of the bunch. They could have just played him off as a caricature, but instead they take him serious and the movie is all the better for it.

    I'm a little hit or miss with 80s movies. I'd like them a lot more if I was a bigger fan of 80s pop culture, but generally I judge them on a case by case basis. This is one of the better ones, and it holds up moderately well. I can see why in the remake they tweaked Vincent's characters since tv horror hosts aren't (unfortunately) culturally relevant anymore. Anyways, this is a really fun and entertaining film, and you should give it a watch. It's good stuff.
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    August 27, 2011
    DragonEyeMorrison
    Fun and clever take on the genre and cliches of vampire movies. Chris Sarandon is the man.
  • kiriyamakazou
    August 26, 2011
    kiriyamakazou
    Fright Night is simply 80's vampire movies at their greatest. It goes along with The Lost Boys in terms of horror, gore, and fun. No depressing, sparkly, romantic crap here. Here we see Ragsdale discover his neighbor is a vampire. Of course nobody believes him and he's soon drive... read moren mad. Luckily he forms an alliance with a reluctant TV vampire hunter. As I said, Fright Night is a fun movie, which always raises a chuckle, but it also has some disgusting effects. I'm talking real practical stuff, with some of the most painful deaths and transformations you can imagine. This stuff is so much more creative with prosthetics and the like. Computers can easily make a body melt, or turn a wolf into a man, here some truly creative visuals make these things a reality. Sarandon is excellent as the charming vampire, and it's nice to see him go along with trying to prove he isn't a vampire. It shows him as a man that would rather keep his secret than enter a battle to the death. Ragsdale does the usual not-believed-kid routine, but he makes it work. McDowall stole the movie for me. He plays an out of date TV star given a chance to live out his pretend life. The threats are real, and the climax steadily grows. You do have to suspend some belief in terms of how the characters respond, but if you love the 80's, vampires, and movies that knew how to be fun no matter what their subject, you need to see Fright Night.
  • fb100001050230219
    August 24, 2011
    fb100001050230219
    An extremely entertaining horror film. Exciting, creepy and funny and boasts great performances from Chris Sarandon and Roddy McDowall.
  • fb100000145236770
    August 21, 2011
    fb100000145236770
    So the remake to "Fright Night" came out this weekend, and I really wanna check it out. But before I watch it, I decided to revisit the original, which was one of my favorite horror movies growing up. The story is simple, a teenager finds out that his neighbor is a vampire. Th... read moree movie features great performances by everyone top to bottom. Chris Sarandon is awesome as "Jerry" the vampire. He has this just "dickhead" quality that makes you hate him and really want to see Charley kill him. Humor and horror often mix, but rarely as good as it does in this movie. There are many laughs(some great one liners), and a couple good jolting moments. Now, it's been like 25 years since this came out and it's age shows. The effects are cheesy, the music is synthesized 80's all the way, but the story is still great. Being a child of the 80's, I still find "Fright Night" to be one of the best vampire movies ever. I think the remake looks great(even though horror remakes usually suck), but I doubt it will have the lasting appeal and charm of the original. If it's a Saturday night, the lights are out, and you need a good horror movie then put this classic in. You won't be disappointed.

View All Fright Night Reviews

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
September 26, 2007
Variety Staff, Variety

Chris Sarandon is terrific as the vampire, quite affable and debonair until his fingernails start to grow and his eyes get that glow. Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Its tone is never exactly comedic and its horrific touches are more disgusting than scary. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Fright Night is not a distinguished movie, but it has a lot of fun being undistinguished. Full Review

Richard T. Jameson
August 21, 2011
Richard T. Jameson, Parallax View

Fright Night is a tidy little contemporary variation on the vampire horror movie. Full Review

Nick Schager
April 21, 2011
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness

Makes up for a dearth of scares with cheeky self-referentiality. Full Review

Steve Crum
February 17, 2008
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Underrated horror film is modern classic.

September 26, 2007
Film4

It is McDowall who makes this film better than it should be with his performance as the ham actor. Full Review

Ian Nathan
September 26, 2007
Ian Nathan, Empire Magazine

The teen horror that was way before its time in the comedy parody stakes. Full Review

September 26, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide

A minor classic of the genre, this is a memorable addition to the vampire tradition in the horror film. Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.
July 13, 2007
Felix Vasquez Jr., Film Threat

This horror classic brings together great talent for an entertaining, and spooky vampire tale; helped inspire "Disturbia."

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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    • Peter Vincent: Welcome to this fright night...
    • Amy Peterson: (after seeing Charley get startled by his window) Is something wrong?
    • Charley Brewster: Nothing.
    • Evil Ed: (after his eyes shine red outside Charley's window) Oh, you're so cool, Brewster!
    • Peter Vincent: (on his TV show) This is Peter Vincent back once more with you...as host of Fright Night. I thought I'd let the vampires rest for a little while. Right, Charley?
    • Amy Peterson: (trying to trick Charley) What's wrong? Don't you want me anymore? (Charley pulls out a crucifix and she hides her face; crying) It's not my fault, Charley. You promised you wouldn't let him get me! You promised!
    • Jerry Dandridge: (after he hears a scream from upstairs, where vampire Amy is sleeping) I think she just opened her eyes.
    • Peter Vincent: (runs into Charley's house for help, and thinks he found Charley's mother in bed) Thank God. The phone wires have been cut.
    • Evil Ed: (jumps out from under the bed covers, all vamped out) I know I did it!
    • Peter Vincent: (scared) Where is Charley's mother?
    • Evil Ed: Well, apparently she's working nights. But she left a note (pulls out a note and reads it) Hmmmm hmm. His dinner's in the oven!
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Fright Night : Watch Free on TV

Fright Night Trivia

  • Charlie spies on his new creepy neighbor Chris Sarandon who happens to be after his girlfriend Amanda Bearse & has to call Roddy McDowell for help. Evil stops by too?  Answer »
  • Marcy Darcy (Married With Children) played William Ragsdale's girlfriend in this horror/comedy, which also had Vince Price in it?  Answer »
  • What movie starred Chris Sarandon as a vampire?  Answer »
  • In what movie did Amanda Bearse play a vampire's love interest?  Answer »
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