One of the most keenly anticipated films of this summer is undoubtedly Craig Gillespie’s remake of the 1985 classic Fright Night. Rather than simply a reworking of the original film, Fright Night 2011 has been updated with plenty of additional material to ensure that while remaining true to the spirit of the original; it’s also a film that will stand-alone as an outstanding example of the comedy/horror genre.
The new Fright Night movie will hit cinemas in late summer and the story once again revolves around Charlie Brewster (played by Anton Yelchin), a high school senior who is on course for a bright future. Popular and dating one of the most beautiful girls in school, life seems good for Charlie that is until a new neighbour moves in next door.
Jerry Dandridge (Colin Farrell) impresses everybody at first with his easy charm but Charlie feels that something is not quite right about his new neighbour. After observing some highly unusual activity, Charlie realises that Jerry is a vampire and despite attempts to convince others, nobody believes him. With Jerry’s attentions now turning to Charlie’s mother and girlfriend, the predicament leaves Charlie with the daunting prospect of saving his mother, and girlfriend by dealing with Jerry alone.
Key to making a successful sequel, especially for a film that is as popular as the original, is a strong cast and crew and Gillespie has achieved just that. The fresh-faced Anton Yelchin, perhaps best known as a young Chekov from Star Trek, is perfectly cast as the initially naive Charlie Brewster. Imogen Poots smoulders as Charlie’s girlfriend Amy and British fans will be delighted to see former Doctor Who star David Tennant making an all-too-rare appearance on the big screen.
The film however tends to focus on the performances of two characters and while Yelchin is superb as the wide-eyed Charlie; it is Colin Farrell who provides the perfect combination of handsome Gallic charm and blood-sucking, cold menace to bring the character of Jerry Dandridge to life. In developing the character, Farrell made a conscious decision to portray his version of Jerry in a very different way to the first performance by Chris Sarandon in the original Fright Night.
“There was an emotional life in Chris Sarandon’s Jerry Dandridge, there was a sense of longing, there was a sense of loneliness and isolation,” revealed Farrell. “He was looking for love, he was looking for his counterpart...In this [the new film] that wasn’t there”.
“I wanted to have a little more sexual omnipotence,” stated Farrell. “He was designed in a really brutal way; he’s a brutal character and a sexual predator and somebody who is nothing if not a survivalist with little to no emotional life.”
Gillespie’s Fright Night has already drawn expectant glances from fans who have been impressed with the quality of the pre-release movie trailers and there are many hoping that this most recent of Hollywood remakes, will provide a memorable bite all of its own.
Fright Night hits cinemas on August 19 2011.