leeper@mtgzz.UUCP (m.r.leeper) (08/15/85)
FRIGHT NIGHT
A film review by Mark R. Leeper
Capsule review: When a handsome young vampire moves in next door to a
teenager, the horror begins. This just slightly tongue-in-cheek horror film
does deliver what you pay for if you give it time. This is the first true
vampire film released to theaters in quite a while and it is worth seeing.
Film reviewers have been talking about the return of the Western this
summer and have almost completely overlooked FRIGHT NIGHT, the first real
vampire film in a good long time. Usually when a film is written and
directed by the same person and you have never heard of him, you should not
expect too much from the film. WEIRD SCIENCE was directed by its relatively
unknown screenwriter and he deserves to remain relatively unknown. Tom
Holland, who wore both hats for FRIGHT NIGHT, is neither as polished a
writer or director as this film needed, but he managed to put enough
pleasure in this film that some of its rougher edges can be overlooked.
The story, which could as easily have come from a low-budget 50's film,
is about Charley Brewster, a teenager who discovers his new neighbor is a
vampire. Once the vampire (played by Chris Sarandon) knows he has been
discovered, it becomes a duel between the two. Charley enlists the aid of
TV horror show host and horror actor Peter Vincent (a cross between Peter
Cushing and Vincent Price?), played a little too broadly by Roddy McDowell.
Holland, who previously scripted PSYCHO II, seems as willing to plant
tongue in cheek as his vampire plants teeth in neck. At times, the humor
gets away from him and threatens to destroy the horror, but luckily there
is enough horror in the film so that it is not overpowered by the humor.
Richard Edlund (who was one of the more familiar names of the army who did
the special effects for STAR WARS) has created a number of interesting
effects for FRIGHT NIGHT, not all of which are completely believable.
Don't be fooled by the title into thinking that this is a quick,
slapped-together horror film. FRIGHT NIGHT delivers a few chuckles and
several gasps and in general makes it all work. Rate it +1 on the -4 to +4
scale.
Mark R. Leeper
...ihnp4!mtgzz!leeper