There has been a lot of hate shown for the remake of Fright Night but really ladies and gentlemen, this film is nowhere near as bad as people have made it. I think most of the haters have missed the fact that director, Craig Gillespie (TV’S My Generation & United States Of Tara) has tried to make this a tribute to B-Grade horror, yes there are parts are laughable and yes there are some real moments of over-acting, but that is what B-Grade horror is all about… and for the most part Fright Night holds its own.
For those unfamiliar with the film Fright Night centres around Charley (Anton Yelchin – The Smurfs, The Beaver) a one-time loser who has re-invented himself and his now dating the beautiful, Amy (Imogen Poots – Jane Eyre, Christopher And His Kind). Desperate for her not to see him as a loser he is not happy when his ex-loser-friend, Ed (Christopher Mintz-Plasse – Marmaduke, How To Train Your Dragon) starts to talk to him. Especially when it is to say that the reason that kids have been disappearing from the local High School is that Charley’s next door neighbor, Jerry (Colin Farrell – Horrible Bosses, London Boulevard) is a vampire. However, when Ed’s words become prophetic Charley finds himself not only having to protect himself but also Amy and his mum, Jane (Toni Collette – The Gradual Demise Of Phillips Finse, TV’S The United States Of Tara).
The biggest fault with this film is that it really doesn’t use its 3D to the full effect, but apart from that it is a worthy horror film. There are moments of true tension and Gillespie even manages to slide in some humor along the way, and also thanks to the script provided up Buffy The Vampire Slayer’s very own Marti Noxon (I Am Number Four, TV’S Mad Men). It’s obvious this humor and the B-Grade tribute that has confused people because yes Colin Farrell is hammy (um…he’s supposed to be) and when Ed is turned he is a pretty annoying vampire, but I’m sure if you speak to Noxon she’ll tell that is exactly what she was aiming for.
As I just mentioned some credit must be paid to Farrell and Mintz-Plasse for allowing themselves to play roles they must have known they would receive some criticism for, but you must also save some for Anton Yelchin. This guy just gets better with every film that he does. And while his performance here is nowhere near as good as his one in The Beaver, he does a fine effort here as well. Imogen Poots also seems to enjoy her part, although Toni Collette unusually takes on a smaller role, perhaps as a thanks to Craig Gillespie whom she worked with on The United States Of Tara.
Fright Night certainly isn’t going to win any major awards, but it does achieve what it sets out to do. It is a remake and tribute to B-Grade Horror, and on that level it certainly works. There are a few frights along the way, but just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Year: 2011
Director: Craig Gillespie
Stars: Anton Yelchin, Colin Farrell, Toni Collette, David Tennant, Imogen Poots, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Classification: MA15+
Runtime: 106 mins
Rating: 
Out on DVD/Blu-Ray 25th January 2012