Fright Night (1985) Classic Movie Review 307

Today’s film was directed by horror icon Tom Holland, was scored by Brad Fiedel, who made the music for The Terminator (1984), was the first vampire film to spend over a million dollars on special effects, and paid tributes to 1979 “Salem’s Lot” miniseries and Dracula (1931).

Hello to all of the classic people that are returning. I am glad you are back. I want to welcome any new visitors. Today on Classic Movie Review, we are taking on Fright Night (1985).

Actors – Fright Night (1985)

Returning

Chris Sarandon was great in the role of vampire Jerry Dandrige. Josh and I talked about Sarandon in The Princess Bride (1987) conversation.

My favorite archaeologist chimp, Cornelius, AKA Roddy McDowall, was vampire hunter and former actor Peter Vincent. McDowall was first covered in Planet of the Apes (1968).

New

Amanda Bearse was the female lead, Amy Peterson. Bearse is best known for playing next-door neighbor and headache for Al Bundy in “Married with Children” 1987-1997.

William Ragsdale played the discoverer of vampires, Charley Brewster. Ragsdale was best known for “Herman’s Head” 1991-1994. The show was actually pretty good, as several voices in his head were acted out.

Stephen Geoffreys played Evil Ed, toady to Charley. Geoffreys continued to appear in film and stayed heavily in the horror genre.

Jonathan Stark was cast as Billy Cole, a vampire familiar with super strength. He moved into the production end of television.

Christopher Lee was included as Dracula from archive footage.

Story – Fright Night (1985)

Charley Brewster (William Ragsdale) is in the bedroom with his girlfriend Amy Peterson (Amanda Bearse). The pair are making out on the floor while the television blares a retro horror film. The horror show is called Fright Night and is hosted by has-been actor Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowall). Vincent is noted for playing Van Helsing-type roles.

Charley pushes his girlfriend too far, and they have a small fight. Amy gets into the bed and begins undressing. Charley is distracted by movement in the yard of the abandoned house next door. Using binoculars as an homage to Rear Window (1954), he sees two men carrying a coffin. Billy Cole (Jonathan Stark) carries the front with two hands. At the same time, Jerry Dandrige (Chris Sarandon) easily cares his end of the coffin with one hand.

Upset and humiliated by being ignored, Amy storms out of the room. Charley follows her downstairs past his mother, Judy Brewster  (Dorothy Fielding). Charley is still looking out the window and lets Amy leave, angry and alone.

Charley tells his mother that he saw someone around the old house, and she tells him that a new owner is moving in. The television news reports on a murder victim that was just discovered.

The following day at school, Charley is with his toady Evil Ed (Stephen Geoffreys). Ed has spiked hair and a twisted sense of humor. Amy comes by and expresses her displeasure with the previous night’s events.

Charley returns home in a classic Mustang that no single-parent kid could afford. A leggy blonde Hooker (Heidi Sorenson) asks Charley if his house is 99 Oak. He directs her to the derelict house next door. Charley asks his mother if she has seen the new neighbor. She replies that he has a live-in carpenter and is probably gay. Charley says he doesn’t think so.

That night, Charley is studying in his room when he hears a female scream. He stares at the dark house next door but does nothing else.

The next day at school, Amy comes to Charley to make peace. It is all going well until Charley becomes distracted by a report of a known hooker having been murdered. Evil Ed thinks the murders are funny, and Amy smears food in Charley’s face. Evil says, “Oh you’re so cool Brewster.”

After school, Charley begins poking around the derelict house. He is spotted by Billy Cole, who is inside painting over the windows. Cole is the perfect 80s villain with the shag haircut and the snotty attitude. He makes sure to call Charley a kid a couple of times. Cole shews Charley away from the house.

That night, Charley watches horror films and eats junk food until he falls asleep. He wakes in time to see Dandrige about to bite the neck of a teenage girl (Irina Irvine). However, Dandrige sees Charley and slowly pulls the shade closed with his long fingers and sharp nails. Charley wakes his mother and tells her what he saw. Of course, she doesn’t believe him. Outside, Cole is loading the body into their Jeep.

Charley goes outside to watch. They give a vampire-eye view as Dandrige flies down from the roof. Dorothy comes outside and yells for Charley. Dandrige throws a half-eaten apple at Charley’s feet. He runs back inside. 

Charley tells the story to Amy, and she doesn’t believe him. Charley contacts the police, and Detective Lennox (Art Evans) travels to the derelict house with Charley. Cole answers the door and invites the detective inside. Charley pokes around and sees an old portrait that looks like Amy. Cole offers to show the bags he carried out before. Charley wants him to search the basement. When he says there is a coffin and Dandrige is a vampire, the detective gets mad and leaves.

Cole stares down Charley as he drives to Evil’s house. Charley tells the story of the vampire, and Evil only laughs. Evil gives a good class on fighting vampires, beginning with a cross. In what I believe is a tribute to Salem’s Lot, he says you must have total faith in the cross. He then goes through garlic, Holy Water, and that a vampire can only enter a house when invited by the owner.

Charley is at home preparing for the expected vampire attack when his mother calls him down to meet Dandrige, whom she has invited into their house. Dandrige doesn’t have extended fingers or nails. Dandrige lets Charley know that he will be dropping in.

Later, Dorothy and Charley are asleep when he hears footsteps on the roof. Charley takes the cross and searches the house. He finds that it is just a branch rubbing against the window. Dandrige appears in Dorothy’s room but walks to Charley’s room. He whistles “Strangers in the Night” as he closes the door.

Charley returns to his room and begins watching Dandrige’s house. Dandrige grabs Charley from behind and tosses him across the room. Dandrige holds Charley up by the neck. He gives Charley a choice to forget about him, but Charley pulls out the cross. Dandrige twists Charley’s arm until he drops the cross. A picture of Amy goes out the window and is impaled on a fence picket. Dandrige is about to kill Charley when Chrley stabs the vampire’s hand with a pencil. Dandrige yells out in pain.

Dandrige is now a totally disfigured vampire. Dorothy knocks on her door, and Dandrige flies out the window. They hear Dandrige crashing around outside in anger. Charley relaxes by watching vampire movies. Dandrige calls Charley on the phone. He vows that he will finish the trouble Charley started tomorrow night. The noise outside was Dandrige destroying Charley’s Mustang.

As Charley hangs up the phone, he hears the voice of Vincent on the television. Vincent says vampires are real, and he has fought them in all forms. Vincent stakes a vampire in a movie.

In the morning, Charley waits outside the studio until Vincent comes outside. Vincent has just been fired, and Charley tells him he believes in vampires and wants Vincent’s help to kill one. Charley gets very aggressive as Vincent drives away.

After school, Evil and Amy arrive at Charley’s house. He has spent the day turning his room into a Mexican-style shrine with candles, crosses, and statues of saints. There is garlic, also. He is busy making a pile of wooden stakes. Charley tells that he is planning to kill Dandrige. The news reports that another body has been found. Amy recommends he get help from Vincent. Amy tells him he can’t kill the vampire alone to stall him. Amy and Evil go to Vincent’s apartment to get help for their friend.

Vincent is at a low point, having been fired and receiving a notice of eviction. Amy and Evil arrive at the apartment. All three of them think Charley has gone insane. Vincent agrees to help in exchange for a $500 savings bond from Amy. Evil recommends that Vincent use a vampire test to show Charley that Dandrige is not a vampire. They decide to use the mirror test, and Vincent still has the prop from the movie where he gave a vampire test.

At 6:00 P.M., Evil calls Dandrige to set up the test. He agrees to drink tap water that they will pretend is Holy Water. Dandrige asks them to come after 6:00 P.M. the following night.

Vincent is late for the meeting. The four enter the house armed only with Holy Water. Cole happily admits the former star and the three youths into the house. Dandrige comes down the stairway while eating an apple. Dandrige is struck by Amy’s appearance.

Charley asks about Dandrige’s coffin. Vincent tells him to not be rude. Vincent offers the fake Holy Water to Dandrige. Dandrige drinks the water with no problems. Charley is not convinced and pulls a cross. Vincent takes the cross from Charley. Cole and Dandrige lightly threaten Charley’s friends, Evil and Amy.

Dandrige invites Evil and Amy to visit anytime. Vincent opens his small mirror and sees that Dandrige has no reflection. He now knows that Dandrige is a real vampire. Dandrige is very suspicious as Vincent ushers out the youngsters. Outside, Vincent tells what he has seen. Charley and Evil walk Amy home.

In the derelict house, Dandrige comments to Cole about Amy looking like a woman he has known in the past. Dandrige steps on a fragment of glass dropped from Vincent’s mirror, knowing his secret is out.

Evil doesn’t believe vampires are real, so he cuts down a dark alley. Evil screams and pretends he has been bitten. As Evil leaves the other, the vampire’s point of view is shown as Dandrige flies down behind Evil.

In most scenes where Dandrige is hunting, he wears an old-style raincoat that gives the illusion of a cape. I have to counterpose this with Sarandon’s royal cape in The Princess Bride (1987), which he wrapped around himself when he was afraid.

Dandrige slowly follows Evil as the latter keeps tripping over garbage cans. When Dandrige catches Evil, he tells him he will no longer be an outcast or picked on. Evil goes to the vampire willingly.

Charley and Amy hear Evil scream but think Evil is making another joke. When the power goes out, Amy and Charley run away. They are boxed in by Dandrige, who keeps appearing in front of them. They climb through a window and run through a crowded disco until Charley finds a payphone.

Vincent is hiding in his apartment when Evil arrives, asking to be let in because he is being followed by a vampire. Vincent freely admits the new vampire Evil. However, it should have taken three days before Evil transformed. Evil sprouts fangs and attacks Vincent. Vincent pulls a cross and brands an X on Evil’s forehead. Evil says the Master will punish Vincent for what he has done. Vincent uses the cross to drive Evil out a window.

Of course, the police don’t believe Charley. Charley vows to protect Amy. Charley calls Vincent as Dandrige disco bops across the dance floor. Dandrige draws Amy to him using his vampire powers. The two dance as Charley tries to convince Vincent to help. Amy is entirely under Dandrige’s power as their dirty dancing continues. Amy sees that Dandrige doesn’t cast a reflection. Charley tries to stop Dandrige. The vampire is too strong and tells Charley to bring Vincent to his house, or he will never see Amy again.

Charley grabs Amy just as two bouncers approach. One bouncer uses the term chicken to refer to Amy as a girl too young for Dandrige. Dandrige grows his claws and kills the bouncer. Dandrige grows fangs and red eyes before killing the other bouncer.

Charley and Amy are separated during the stampede, and she is grabbed by Dandrige. Evil laughs at Charley as he rides away in the Jeep driven by Cole and containing Amy and Dandrige.

Charley rushes to Vincent’s apartment. Vincent makes him hold a cross before he is allowed to enter. Vincent is packing to leave. He doesn’t care that Dandrige is holding Amy and that Charley truly believes in the failed actor.

Amy wakes in Dandrige’s bed wearing a revealing white dress. Dandrige puts on seduction music on his tape deck. Amy sees a portrait that looks like her. Dandrige says it is someone he knew long ago. Dandrige begins undressing as he gets into bed with Amy. They kiss a bit, and Amy reveals her neck. Dandrige gives her a chomp.

Charley goes to the derelict house alone. He sees some scary bushes and squeaky shudder. Charley is surprised when Vincent arrives with his complete vampire-killing kit. For Cole, Vincent has brought a gun.

Vincent and Charley approach the house, and the front door opens for them. Vincent keeps trying to convince himself that he is a great vampire killer. In one of the most fantastic vampire moves, Dandrige walks along the balcony railing, scraping the paint away with his little finger as he walks.

Dandrige says, “Welcome to Fright Night, for real. Vincent pulls a cross. Dandrige crushes the cross, saying it will not work without faith. Charley’s cross drives Dandrige back, but Cole arrives and knocks Charley over the railing. Vincent runs away.

Vincent goes to warn Dorothy about her son and the vampires. However, Evil is hiding in her bed. Vincent runs from Evil but trips on a table. Evil turns into a red-eyed wolf and attacks Vincent. Vincent used a broken leg from the table to stab the wolf. The wolf morphs back into Evil as Vincent watches in horror. He feels sorry for the dying monster.

Dandrige places Charley in a locked room where Amy is transforming into a vampire. He leaves Charley a skate to kill his girlfriend when she fully turns before morning.

Vincent pulls the table leg from Evil and heads to the derelict house. We are going to mention House of Frankenstein (1944) later.

Vincent finds Charley and frees him from the room. When Vincent looks at Amy, Dandrige knows he is in the house. Vincent says, based on movies, they can save Amy if they kill Vincent before dawn. Cole is blocking the stairs. Vincent shoots him in the head. Dandrige comes from behind, and Charley stops him with a cross. Cole rises from the dead like a zombie. Vincent empties the revolver on the creature. However, Cole keeps coming. Cole lifts Vincent, and Charley stabs him with a stake. The creature drips green slim and dissolves before their eyes.

Charley and Vincent go to Amy, who is further along in her conversion. Dandrige crawls down the wall outside and almost grabs Vincent through a window.

Dandrige commands Amy to wake and kill the intruders. Charley heads to the roof to look for Dandrige. Vincent now confronts the full vampire, Amy. He stops her with a cross because he now has faith.

Dandrige jumps through a picture window and confronts the vampire hunter. Vincent tells Charley to stay back as he uses a cross to hold Dandrige at bay. Vincent’s newfound faith holds back the vampire. The clocks begin to chime that the sun is rising.

As the first ray of sunlight enters the house, Dandrige transforms into a large hairless bat thingy. The bat attacks Vincent, but Vincent holds a stick in the creature’s mouth. Charley helps Vincent and is bitten on the arm. When more sunlight hits the bat, it flees to the basement. They split up. Don’t split up.

Amy comes in as a vampire. During the transformation, she has gotten hair extensions and breast augmentations.

Vincent finds the secret room containing Dandrige’s and another coffin. Dandrige’s coffin is locked from the inside.

Charley stops Amy with a cross, but she whines in her cute voice until he drops the cross. She then attacks.

Vincent gets the coffin open. Dandrige awakes and begins to fight. In the struggle, Vincent misses the vampire’s heart. Dandrige pulls the stake from his shoulder and throws it. The stake hits a painted window and lets sunlight into the room.

As Dandrige attacks Vincent, Amy continues after Charley. Charley begins breaking windows, letting in more light. Vincent breaks mirrors to add to the light. Dandrige tries to get in his coffin, but Vincent cuts him off. Charley jumps past the vampire and opens a window. Dandrige explodes through the wall as flames begin to consume him. He calls for Amy, but Charley holds her back from the fire. Dandrige dissolves into bones and vanishes. Amy is freed from the curse.

Sometime later, the derelict house is for sale. Amy and Charley are making out in his room while Fright Night plays on the television. With his job back, Vincent thanks Charley for making him believe again.

When the horror film starts, Charley turns off the television. He stares out towards the derelict house. Amy asks, and Charley says nothing is wrong. Red glowing eyes are shown in the derelict house, and the voice of Evil says, “Oh you’re so cool Brewster.”

Thanks

Conclusion – Fright Night (1985)

When I first watched this movie, I thought the voice of Evil Ed was just a zinger for the ending. However, if it was, it seems Vincent would not be back on his show, having driven a table leg through the heart of what would appear to be an ordinary boy. The police might take an interest.

If we go back to House of Frankenstein (1944), where Boris Karloff as Doctor Gustav Niemann pulls the stake from John Carradine’s chest to reanimate the second-best Dracula ever, the question arises: Did Vincent turn Evil back into a vampire, continuing the saga? It certainly explains why no problem related to bodies or missing neighbors existed. Let me know what you think in the comments.

You have probably already realized that vampire killer Peter Vincent’s name is a mashup of great horror actors Vincent Price and Peter Cushing.

Tributes to “Salem’s Lot” 1979 include the main stairway ending at a large stained glass window, the final fight taking place in the house basement at sunrise, and a senior and junior vampire hunting team.

iMDB.com stated that this movie could be an updated version of Dracula (1931) with Charley as Harker, Amy naturally as Mina, Evil as the female Lucy, Cole clearly as Renfield, Vincent as Van Helsing, and Dandrige as Dracula.

The above envokes some often-asked questions about the film, such as: was Evil Ed an outcast because he was a homosexual, and did Dandrige and Cole have a relationship as they embraced during the movie. If Dandrige was obsessed with Amy because of someone from the past, he didn’t take very good care of her, for example, locking her in a room with Charley and a wooden stake while she was transforming into a vampire.

I mentioned that Dandrige whistled “Stranger in the Night” during the story section. Sarandon said he tried to use “Whistle While You Work” but could not get permission from Disney.

There have been other remakes of this movie. These movies include Fright Night (2011), which is not as good as today’s film, and two Bollywood films titled Wohi Bhayanak Raat (1989) and Kalpana House (1989).

Now for the sex. The hooker that visited the derelict house and was killed by the vampire was the Playboy Playmate of the Month for July 1981. She had a short-lived film career.

I mentioned in the story section that Amy received breast augmentation as she became a vampire. While filming these scenes, she was fitted with a prosthetic breastplate. She has been reported to have brought this to horror conventions so fans could feel it while she signed autographs for them. 

The only real issue I have with this movie is that William Ragsdale was 24, and Amanda Bearse was 27 as they played teenagers. It showed.

Charley is said or yelled 62 times during the film.

World-Famous Short Summary – New neighbors cause friction

Beware the moors.