Two Cents is a Cinapse original column akin to a book club for films. The Cinapse team curates the series and contribute their “two cents” using a maximum of 200-400 words. Guest contributors and comments are encouraged, as are suggestions for future picks. Join us as we share our two cents on films we love, films we are curious about, and films we believe merit some discussion. Would you like to be a guest contributor or programmer for an upcoming Two Cents entry? Simply watch along with us and/or send your pitches or 200-400 word reviews to cinapse.twocents@gmail.com.
The Pick: Fright Night (2011)
No one hates remakes as much as horror fans… or so it seems. It’s really just a vocal minority, because once you start talking to gorehounds and horror nerds, you’ll find that most of us appreciate a good remake and are willing to admit that some of them are as good as or better than the original films. This month, we’re spending spooky season with some of our favorite remakes. Each week one of us will present a remake we thing surpasses its predecessor and invite the ridicule, love, agreement, hate, or whatever comes our way.
This week, I’m kicking it off with 2011’s Fright Night. For me, Anton Yelchin was one of the most talented young actors I’d ever seen and every film where we get to experience him is a gem. And – while he is likely my favorite thing about this film – the rest of the cast, the way the story is told, even the sometimes janky effects… all work so well for me. The original Fright Night is a gem in and of itself, but I genuinely prefer this take on the story. What I love most about the two films is that they do things differently enough that I can fully adore them both. For me, though, this film just hits the sweet spots a bit more for me.
Stay tuned tomorrow for our second selection, the US version of Haneke’s Funny Games, as this one was actually due out last week and that is this week’s actual selection. And if you are reading this Thursday and want to share thoughts on Funny Games, it’s not too late to email them to cinapse.twocents@gmail.com.
The Team
Ed Travis
Through a covid-induced haze I revisited both of the Fight Night films, and what an utter joy that experience was! Both iterations of Fright Night are legitimately awesome – gateway horror par excellence. There’s a pedigree to the OG film, and a nostalgic feeling. You’ve got horror legend Tom Holland writing/directing, Chris Sarandon and Roddy McDowall starring, and hell, even a Brad Fiedel score. The story itself is a wonderful mix of coming of age teenage drama intermingled with legitimate horror, sexual tension, and suburban angst. It makes you laugh, fills you with dread, and has you cheering for our teen hero to outwit the ancient evil next door.
Then, virtually every possible decision made to update the story in 2011 was a home run. As great as the original cast is, the remake surpasses it. Colin Ferrell more than fills the shoes of Sarandon’s ill-named vampire “Jerry”. Gone-too-soon lead Anton Yelchin as Charlie reminds us what a generational young talent he was. Imogen Poots takes over for Amanda Bearse’s Amy and adds some dimensionality and agency to the sexual awakening element of the story. Then throw in David Tennant in the McDowall role of famous vampire hunter Peter Vincent who turns out to be a coward who needs Charlie to awaken his latent heroism. Then add the legendary Toni Collette as Jane, Charlie’s mom? (And Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Evil Ed and even a small Dave Franco role?!) The cast is all bangers, and the movie brilliantly skewers the Las Vegas lifestyle and tweaks and perfects the narrative brilliantly.
I’d like to say that “Evil Ed” is a fascinating twist/tragic take on the “best friend” in high school horror. Ed in both versions is an outcast/frenemy to Charlie, and takes a dark path that leads to tragedy. Evil Ed in both films elevates the emotional stakes, increases the threat of Jerry, and amplifies the horrific consequences. Ed is a tragic and pivotal character. (You can put that last sentence on my tombstone).
I hate to do it, but I agree with Mr. Harlan that Fright Night 2011 exceeds the original. The only caveats I’ll add are that BOTH are excellent and this revisit only made me love them more. And finally, I’d say some of the VFX in the remake don’t hold us as well as the more fun practical effects of the original. But the killer cast of the remake and the clever updates edge it out in my estimation.
Spencer Brickey
2011 was one of those odd transition years for cinema. The major blockbusters were slowly starting to move away from the specific Bush era bombastic shoot ‘em ups, and move towards the early years of the juggernaut that was the superhero era. Disney was still stumbling around trying to find their “boy” franchises (before the MCU purchase), and a lot of new series, like The Apes series and the later Fast & Furious films, were trying to get their legs under them while more than a few tentpoles took their final bow, like Twilight, Harry Potter and Pirates Of The Caribbean.
One of the weirdest transitions was horror cinema. After nearly a decade of working its way through the subtextual traumas of 9/11 and the War on Terror, horror was in a weird shift point. The real mean spirited “torture porn” of the aughts didn’t really mesh as well in the Obama years. So, we got a lot of horror films that fall into a weird space of being both clearly designed to be something far meaner, but toned up for an audience more primed for fun at the movies.
Look no further than 2011 Fright Night. On the surface, it’s a pretty standard update to the 80s classic, really only shifting a few aesthetic choices around, but still following Charlie Brewster as he tries to vanquish the vampire next door. You’ve got his trusted girlfriend Amy, his loser friend “Evil” Ed, and the cowardly-then-courageous Peter Vincent.
All the ingredients are there, and for the most part, it leans more into the “new” era of horror at the time. There’s quips! There’s CGI fights! There’s talks about what it means to be yourself, even if you’re a dweeb! There’s baby face Dave Franco! There’s a soundtrack that was pulled directly from my freshman year of college, mostly listened to at house parties drinking Four Loko!
But, once you actually get into it, it’s very clearly cut from a whole other, more vicious cloth. The center of the darker edge is Jerry (played by a sorta/kinda slumming it Colin Farrell), who is a much crueler, vicious incarnation of the local neighborhood vampire. While Chris Sarandon played Jerry in the original as a classical “alluring” vampire, both witty and charming, Farrell plays Jerry as an out and out serial killer, only willing to keep the facade of decency just long enough to get the upper hand. Farrell’s Jerry builds a prison within his home for his victims, keeping them for extended periods of time to feed. His attacks are brutal, usually wiping out entire families in one go, with an opening home invasion set piece to prove it. Jerry is described early on as “the shark from JAWS”, and it’s a pretty apt comparison; Jerry is an apex predator, ripping through anyone and everyone.
Fright Night seems to be a part of two worlds; a script that was pretty clearly written for an era of horror that was meaner, darker and more brutal, but was then filmed in a time when audiences wanted their leads to crack wise, have big fights, and win the girl in the end. It’s an interesting film, that swings back and forth between cheeky and mean as hell, and I can say that I mostly dug it. It’s the film that introduced me to Pumped Up Kicks; automatic 3 stars.
Austin Vashaw
I never got around to watching the Fright Night remake, although (or maybe because) I like the original. But Justin’s right – it’s a great time.
The cast in general is pretty great, especially Anton Yelchin (RIP) as Charlie Brewster, able to portray both the geeky and bolder sides of Charlie’s profile really effectively. Colin Farrell is effective as his “cool good looking older guy” vampire neighbor, though the character is played too menacingly from the start. His evilness is never really in question; I wish he was a little more chummy and likable so we could have a chance to be disappointed by the truth.
I was not looking forward to the revision of Charlie’s ally Peter Vincent – from a classic Hammer-esque actor and horror host inspired by Peter Cushing and Vincent Price to a smarmy Vegas entertainer – but it still kinda works. And while Christopher Mintz-Plasse makes a perfect Evil Ed, it seems they somewhat sidelined the character compared to my memory of the original.
Like the original, it’s a fun horror movie with a big finish and some inherent humor. For some reason I thought this was PG-13 so I let my 8-year old watch it with me – he’s intimidated by scary movies and skittish about watching them, but also starting to get kind of curious. Anyway this ended up being his first late-night R-rated horror movie in the dark with Dad (he’s seen Sleepy Hollow and Signs but in a friendlier setting). Anyway he says he didn’t like it, but I think he secretly did.
Justin Harlan
I mentioned up front that I believe Anton Yelchin was one of the most talented young actors, not only of his generation, but that I’d ever seen. I’ve discussed with many folks, maybe even on this site, that he has the most powerful and convincing facial expressions and voice tones in recent memory, especially for an actor that likely hadn’t even begun to show his full potential. While this isn’t the film I’d point to as my greatest proof of this thesis, it certainly makes its case. I truly still mourn the loss of Yelchin, both because he was such a talent and because he was said by anyone who met him to be a wonderful human being.
However, Yelchin is only one of the elements here that make this film work so well. The cast is phenomenal. From Colin Farrell’s blend of sexy and brutal to McLovin’s take on Evil Ed and everything in between, it all works so well. My favorite of the bunch, besides the late great Mr. Yelchin, is David Tennant’s Peter Vincent. He makes me laugh every time he’s on screen and is such a compelling huckster showman type. To be fair, Tennant is such a wonderful and underdiscussed actor who shines in nearly everything he does.
I am happy that the team enjoyed my pick and, with that, my work here is done. I came ready for a fight and was pleasantly surprised by everyone’s enjoyment, even agreement with my premise that its superior in some cases.
“It takes a real man to wear Puce.”
Next Month: Revenge of the Remakes
All month, we are celebrating spooky season with something a little different. Our staff chose some remakes that we enjoy as much or more than the originals. Each week, one of us will plead our case and we’d love to have you chime in to tell us if you think we’re crazy or we have a point. Or just chime in to share your thoughts on the film! Hope to see you all month long!
