Movie Review - Fright Night (2011)

The remake of Fright Night is a fun, thrilling ride. It's faithful to the original, adding some inventiveness and cleverness, and while it may be a retread, jumping on the Hollywood bandwagon of vampire movies and TV shows, it isn't diminishing as a movie. As one character succinctly puts it, this isn't Twilight but instead Jaws.

Anton Yelchin (Terminator Salvation and Star Trek) plays Charlie Brewster, a former geek who is trying to be one of the cool kids and hold onto his incredibly attractive girlfriend, Amy, played by Imogen Poots. Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Superbad and Kick Ass) plays Ed, Charlie's former best friend who believes that Charlie's new neighbor is a blood-sucking vampire.

Colin Farrell (Alexander and Minority Report) co-stars as that blood-sucking vampire with the unlikely name of Jerry Dandridge. Jerry has allegedly been around for hundreds of years but has now decided to make Las Vegas his new home. As odd as it sounds, the transient nature and nightlife of Vegas makes it a perfect nest for Jerry.

Without wasting any time, director Craig Gillespie jumps into the terror and doesn't slow things before transitioning into some serious action. All along the way, Farrell is deliciously evil, sexy and sinister. He's a guy of which you're scared for a multitude of reasons.

David Tennant (Doctor Who) has a good time as Peter Vincent, the man who puts on a vampire stage show in Vegas who may or may not have encountered the real thing.

Four Stars out of Five.
Rated R for bloody horror, language and some sexual reference.
Running Time: 1 hr. and 46 mins.