Spooptober Day 4: Fright Night

Starring: Chris Sarandon, William Ragsdale, Roddy McDowall, Amanda Bearse, and  ̶S̶a̶m̶ ̶R̶i̶t̶t̶e̶r̶ Stephen Geoffreys
Written and Directed by: Tom Holland (Not THAT one)

Fright Night is a movie that holds a very special place in my heart. I may have mentioned before how Encore, HBO, and Starz would have free trials. This is one of those movies I would always watch when we'd get a free movie channel preview. Then my mom bought the VHS tape with that horrible cover.

It wasn't in Portuguese, still, it sucks.

When I started building up my DVD collection, it was one of those movies I felt was necessary to buy. It's a bit like Summer of 84 because it's about a kid who suspects something about his neighbor. However, this time, the neighbor might be a vampire?

There's no use building up the tension, yes, his neighbor is a vampire. This is obvious within the first few seconds of the film where Chris Sarandon is carrying the coffin with one hand. However, the practical effects in this movie are great. I also love how steeped in the vampire mythos this movie is.

In Dracula, the best guide to modern vampire mythos, it is established that vampire can become fog, bats, and dogs. The vampires in this movie become all three. Chris Sarandon is unbelievably charismatic in the role of Jerry Danridge and Roddy McDowall is absolutely loving his role as Peter Vincent.

In short, if you dig vampires, check out Fright Night if you haven't already.