Fright Night (2011)

Fright Night had two big strikes against it before it even got out of the gate. # 1, it's a remake, therefore there is already a certain amount of people against it (small, maybe, but always vocal). # 2, it's another release in the ridiculously played out vampire genre. Seriously, after the last of the Twilight movies are released, Hollywood needs to let vampires rest for a good decade. But regardless of those two things, it still manages to be a decent movie.

Colin Farrell is the movie's drawing point, as far as I'm concerned. Just as Chris Sarandon was the main attraction of the original Fright Night (for me), Jerry Dandridge once again steals the show. Farrell is up to the task, and he takes the movie to another level than it would have been if he wasn't in it. Also adding to the likability factor, again mirroring the original, is the role of Peter Vincent. When I first read that they were changing Vincent from a late night horror TV host to a Cris Angel style Las Vegas magician, I groaned. But clearly they either knew what they were doing, or David Tennant took the role to places they didn't imagine. While I wouldn't say he's as good as Farrell, there are others who are convinced that he steals the show.

But how about the kids? Anton Yelchin stars as Charley Brewster, and he's probably one of the better choices for the role. Charley is a bit of a nerd, but here he seems to be going through a Patrick Dempsey in Can't Buy Me Love stage, which makes him slightly annoying to me. Christopher Mintz-Plasse, the current go-to nerd for playing nerds, works his magic on Ed, Charley's childhood best friend who is currently on the outs. I enjoyed his blackmailing of Charley to get him to hang out with him, but I think they missed the boat on exploring a more interesting dynamic between these two. My biggest beef with the movie is that everything happens too quick.

It's a capable entry in the never ending era of remakes. We can either groan about every single one that comes out, or try to enjoy them for what they are: modern updates on childhood favorites. Some of them are atrocious, some of them are awesome, and some of them fall somewhere in between. It's best to just let them be, and if you don't think your childhood is being raped by all of these things, give them a chance to impress. You may be surprised.

RATING: 3/5