Fright Night (1985) - Blu-ray Review

5 beers

Even if you don't believe in vampires, sucking your way though town just got a hell of a lot classier.

When you are 17-years-old, condoms aren’t the only protection needed when attempting to survive a FRIGHT NIGHT! That’s right, thanks to Eureka Entertainment (with a region free release), a cult classic from the 1980s lives to feast again. Fright Night, the original, is a howling good time under the full moon. Complete with its own host, this film – full of great practical effects (can anyone forget that GREAT wolf to human transformation?!?!?!?) and lots of tasty flesh – remains a forward-thinking horror-comedy that does not disappoint.

Writer/director Tom Holland’s Fright Night is a certified cult classic. From the “Peter Vincent Vampire Killer!” opening to the bloody finale, this horror film definitely does not bite. At all. Sure, the film would be less without Roddy McDowall’s hammy portrayal of a has-been horror actor now delegated to Fright Night host, but – when it comes to teen-themed horror – you simply cannot go wrong with this bloody feast.

 

"remains a forward-thinking horror-comedy that does not disappoint."


 

Starring William Ragsdale as Charley Brewster, the high school student with sex and spying on his neighbors on his mind, and Chris Sarandon as Jerry Dandrig, who has all kinds of sexy women over at his house all hours of the night, Fright Night is a horror comedy that has all sorts of twisted naughty naughty’s on its mind. And thanks to composer Brad Fiedel’s synth score, there is a ripe atmosphere that suggests, yes, your neighbor can be a vampire, too!

Charlie has reached a new low. After an unsuccessful night of trying to sex up his girlfriend, Amanda Bearse as Amy Peterson, his attention focuses to his strange new neighbors and his best friend, Stephen Geoffreys as Edward "Evil Ed" Thompson, who can’t stop laughing at the situation and at Charlie’s really bad luck. Getting attacked in his bedroom? Righteous!

Bats flying overhead. Fangs in the window. Missing women. And Jonathan Stark as Billy Cole, the vampire’s roommate, keeping watch. All Charlie can do is involve the police, Art J. Evans as Detective Lennox, and pray that no one invites this vampire into his home. Too late, though, because his mother, a very fun Dorothy Fielding as Judy Brewster, already has “the hots” for this toothy neighbor and is sitting with him in Charlie’s living room. Wow. That was fast, Mom!

So, who can Charlie turn to in order to help him out with his bloodsucking problem? His best friend? No. There is but one who can help and, after watching him bloody his face with one vampire killing after another, horror host Peter Vincent comes calling. Charlie doesn’t believe in hockey mask-wearing serial killers; he believes in vampires and it is up to him to prove to Mr. Vincent that his neighbor really does sleep in a coffin.

Overflowing with nearly five hours of supplemental items, including a 2-hour Fright Night documentary, Eureka Entertainment proudly presents Tom Holland’s Fright Night in a definitive Dual-Format edition. It is now available to own.

Welcome to... Fright... Night! For real.

 

Fright Night (1985) - Blu-ray Review

MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime:
106 mins
Director
: Tom Holland
Writer:
Tom Holland
Cast:
Chris Sarandon, William Ragsdale, Amanda Bearse
Genre
: Horror
Tagline:
There are some very good reasons to be afraid...of the dark.
Memorable Movie Quote: "Mr. Vincent. I've seen all of your films. And I found them... very amusing."
Theatrical Distributor:
Columbia Pictures
Official Site:
Release Date:
August 2, 1985
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
December 13, 2011
Synopsis: A horror obsessed teenager discovers that his next door neighbour is a murderous vampire. He tries to convince the police, his family and friends but to no avail. He decides to take matters into his own hands.

 

Fright Night (1985) - Blu-ray Review

Blu-ray

Blu-ray Details:

Home Video Distributor: Twilight Time
Available on Blu-ray
- December 13, 2011
Screen Formats: 2.40:1
Subtitles
: English SDH
Audio:
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; Music: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single disc
Region Encoding: Region-free playback

Eureka Entertainment’s 4K digital restoration of Tom Holland’s film is spotless. There are no unfocused elements at all! With an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, the new HD transfer doesn’t disappoint. Colors are bright and fluid – with reds bright and bold and commanding – and shadows are detailed throughout the running time. There’s not a smudge on this print. It’s also not fuzzy which is something rare when you are dealing with entertainment from 1985. The original stereo PCM soundtrack is presented with a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio upgrade.

Supplements:

Commentary:

  • None

Special Features:

Loaded to the gills and spread across two discs, the Collector’s Edition of Carrie is a thing to celebrate.  All the interviews on the second disc are new and provide a lot of information on the making of the movie and its legacy.  With interviews from Lawrence Cohen, Mario Tosi, Paul Hirsch, Harriet B. Helberg, William Katt, Nancy Allen, Betty Buckley, Piper Laurie, Edie McClurg and P.J. Soles, and Pino Donaggio, the filming of the movie is covered from beginning to end and certainly will not disappoint any fan of the movie.  With new cover art, this 2-disc set is a must-own.

Disc One (Feature Film)

With three extended supplemental items, this release is perfect for fans of this cult classic. Up first is a new 2-hour 2016 documentary about the making of the movie. Following that is a 2016 retrospective with cast and crew. Rounding out the release is another new item with cast and crew interviews.

  • You're So Cool, Brewster!
  • What is Fright Night
  • Tom Holland: Writing Horror

 

 

 

Fright Night (1985) - Blu-ray Review