FRIGHT NIGHT
US, 2011, 106 minutes. Colour.
Anton Yelchin, Colin Farrell, Toni Collette, David Tennant, Imogen Poots, Christopher Mintz -Plasse.
Directed by Craig Gillespie.
Back in 1985, Tom Holland wrote and directed a vampire film (not so prolific then as they are these days on the big screen and on the television screen) which some consider a classic of sorts, Fright Night. William Ragsdale was the schoolboy who discovered his next door neighbour, Jerry (Chris Sarandon) was a vampire. He enlisted the aid of an eccentric showman, played with relish by Roddy Mc Dowell. There was a sequel, less successful, a couple of years later.
Powers that be have decided that it is time for another version, and in 3D.
As vampires movies go, it is not bad (except for an excess of tiresome crass language which usually indicates quick and lazy writing). This time the setting is suburban Las Vegas, homes and schools, the desert roads, with a visit to a casino and one of those extravagant show theatres.
The question is: how seriously should it be taken? It is a B movie plot with an A cast.
This time Anton Yelchin is the boy. He is a good actor (Star Trek, The Beaver). His vampirised friend is played by Christopher Mintz -Plasse. Of all people, Jerry is played by Colin Farrell (who also tried his hand at black comedy as one of the Horrible Bosses). Toni Collette is the boy’s mother and Imogen Poots his girlfriend, Amy.
The plot is much the same as before. Boy is alarmed at vampire next door, tries to protect his mother and Amy, sees what Jerry is up to and is hounded and pursued by Jerry. (And, stopped on the road, they are crashed into by Chris Sarandon with Colin Farrell doing to him what Sarandon did to others in the original: joke appreciated by horror buffs).
While Roddy Mc Dowell tended to steal the show in the past, how will this one do it: as well or better? In fact, they have hired TV’s recent Dr Who and the West End’s Hamlet, David Tennant, to send up the wilful, spiteful, egotistical and alcoholic Las Vegas magician who is an expert on vampires. He is made up to look like a gaunt Russell Brand (perhaps Brand was going to do the part but could not) and proceeds to channel Brand’s eccentric, in your face, style of comedy. He does it very well.
The plot is really a bit thin and familiar, so the interest and entertainment come from seeing this kind of cast, fangs and all.
1. The original film as a classic? This film as an update? Audiences and 21st century interest in vampire films and television series?
2. A B-budget story, an A-cast? Audiences taking it seriously or not? Chris Sarandon in the original – and his guest role as victim in this remake?
3. The setting in Las Vegas, a place for vampires, the transient population, working during the night and sleeping during the day, paralleling vampires? The Las Vegas suburbs, the school, the desert, the casinos? The theatrical events in the casinos? The musical score?
4. The introduction, the vampire, the devouring of the family? Fear? The transition to the Las Vegas show, Peter Vincent and his performances?
5. Charley, his story, his father leaving, devotion to his mother, in love with Amy, but shy, moving with the boys in order to make a good impression, breaking his friendship with Ed? Wanting to be popular? His behaviour? Ed and his discussion about the vampires, wanting to visit the house – and Charley forgetting to turn up? The phone call, his going? The sinister aspects – and Ed being transformed into a vampire?
6. Colin Farrell as Jerry, the nice next-door neighbour, pleasant with Jane, discussions, removing the garbage? In his house, feeding, killing the victims, eating the apple, drinking the beer, watching the TV?
7. Ed, character, transformed, his appearing later with the delivery, the confronting of Charley, his being destroyed?
8. Charley and his fears, at school, with his friends – and the irony of his friends being vampirised by Jerry? Spying on Jerry, in his house, seeing him attack the girl, trying to save her, her destruction? Jerry confronting him, warning him?
9. Charley and Amy, their past, friendship, his boarding up the house, putting up the crosses, trying to protect his mother, his mother’s disbelief? Jerry outside the house, taunting him – and the need for the vampire to be invited in?
10. The build-up to the climax, Jerry, the destruction of the house, the fire, the escape, Charley and his mother with Amy in the car, Jerry and his pursuit in the car, the crash with the victim and his being vampirised? The mother being taken to hospital?
11. The story of Peter Vincent, his personality, the Russell Brand style, performance, his moods, the rehearsals, demanding on Ginger, her doing all the work, Charley and his going to the casino, getting the identity card, wanting the interview, talking with Peter Vincent, Vincent not believing him, leaving the photos, his being ousted? Ed and the delivery, the confrontation?
12. Peter Vincent, his character, style? His seeing the picture, contacting Charley? Charley coming from the hospital? With Amy, the casino, seeing Jerry in the casino and his taking Amy?
13. Jerry in the casino, the confrontation with Peter Vincent, the revelation about Peter Vincent’s past? Jerry, Amy, the blood? Charley not allowed in because he was underage?
14. Charley going to the shop, buying all the gear to confront Jerry? Taunting Peter Vincent about cowardice? Going to the cellar, the range of vampires, unearthed, the attack? Peter Vincent’s arrival, Jerry and his past, taunting him? Jerry and the talk about the four hundred years? Charley and the fire, Amy and the attack, the deaths, Amy being saved?
15. Life resuming as normal? How serious the vampire film – and how humorous the spoof?
