Fright Night

Fright Night is a supernatural horror-comedy film from 2011 starring Anton Yelchin, Colin Farrell, and David Tennant. The movie is a lively and highly entertaining redo of the 1985 original, directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Marti Noxon.

The plot navigates through a series of interesting twists and turns. It invites viewers into the life of Charley Brewster (Anton Yelchin), a popular high school student in suburban Las Vegas. The setting of Las Vegas effectively underpins the superficial lifestyle Charley and his mother Jane Brewster, played by the multifaceted Toni Collette, have acclimated to.

Charley's hard-won popularity and socially aspiring mother are easily threatened when Jerry Dandrige (Colin Farrell), a singularly charming yet ominous character, moves into the house next door. He has that mysterious aura of a man with a dark secret, and Farrell, with his playful and intense persona, fits into his role seamlessly. His portrayal of the charismatic yet terrifying vampire is spot on, which makes for some truly chilling scenes.

As strange events start occurring, Charley begins to suspect that Jerry is not what he seems. His old, nerdy friend Ed (played wonderfully by Christopher Mintz-Plasse), whom Charley has distanced himself from due to social status, strongly believes in Jerry's vampiric nature and warns him about it. This, however, leads to a rift between Charley and Ed. The film shines in the part where Charley tries to maintain his high school cool while also grappling with what he severely suspects is a vampire living next door.

Charley soon finds himself out of his depth and turns to a self-proclaimed vampire hunter and Las Vegas illusionist, Peter Vincent (David Tennant). Tennant’s character provides a much-needed comic relief. He’s an ill-equipped, self-serving man with an over the top persona. His character graph elevates from a cynical magician to a somewhat Unlikely hero who is forced to face his past and help Charley confront his own fears.

Throughout the film, the script wonderfully balances between high school teen drama and vampire terror. On one hand, viewers can relate to the protagonist's daily life, challenges, and evolution while encountering the inevitable awkwardness of teenage years. On the other hand, the viewers are kept on the edge of their seats as the eerie reality of Jerry's true identity unfolds.

The special effects in Fright Night are commendable. They add to the horror and are skillfully used to optimally elevate the suspense levels without overly shadowing the narrative or the performances. The 3D does feel like a bit of a gimmick at times, but it adds a fun layer to the viewing experience, especially during the more intense action scenes.

Another notable part of the film is the screenplay by Marti Noxon, which ensures an engaging narrative flow. It is quirky, smart, and knows how to efficiently blend scares with laughter. Furthermore, Craig Gillespie's direction is also praiseworthy as he skillfully intertwines elements of horror, drama, and comedy throughout the movie that keeps the audience hooked from start to finish.

In essence, Fright Night challenges the conventional horror genre through its unique approach, combining high school drama with vampire mythology. It takes what could easily have been a mere gory, scary flick and infuses it with layers of humor, teenage romance, and a fresh take on vampire lore.

Yelchin, Farrell, Tennant, and the rest of the cast bring commendable performances that add depth to the story. They flesh out relatable characters facing supernatural events, making the far-fetched narrative seem incredibly convincing and engaging.

All in all, the 2011 remake of Fright Night offers an enjoyable cinematic experience for lovers of horror-comedies. It fuses old school vampire mythology with contemporary suburban life and sprinkles it with laugh-out-loud moments, making it a must-watch on a suspenseful and fun-filled movie night. The unique way it subverts the genre's typical tropes and cliches, backed by strong performances from a talented cast, places it among the more memorable horror comedies of the decade.