THE PLOT THUS FAR
A teenager suspects that his new neighbor is a vampire.
WHAT WE THOUGHT
“Fright Night” comfortably slides into this weird area that represents where American Horror resides now. The 2011 version is able to comfortable blend the strained relationship between Evil Ed and Charley Brewster, but it tries to do it in a way that almost feels out of place. LARPing is true nerd activity, but it’s handled in this weird bastardized Hollywood version of Youtube accessible youth. Add onto to that, this sense of having to push a female lead that’s way more capable than the male. Sure, gender politics and desire for conformity have become defined than in the Reagan years, but it almost seems like someone’s trying to force a vision down our throats. This all changes when we meet our villain.
Colin Farrell steals the show from his first moment onscreen and never relents with his performance as Jerry. Playing up the usual psycho sexual angles that Chris Sarandon relished in the original film, Farrell makes the character something that far surpasses the urbane white pimp of the original performance. Sarandon’s Jerry almost seemed too good for the world, like a cool cat desperately hoping that his prey would eventually live up to his expectations. Colin Farrell is a vampiric tomcat on the prowl for young poon and cheap thrills. When we watch Colin toy with Charley, as he tries to help his go-go dancer neighbor escape the vampire’s grasp…it’s a thing of beauty.
The prowling and animalistic attitude behind Farrell’s Jerry is enough to make you forgive the various downfalls of the film. Toni Collette showing up and trying to be the fun mom who wants to relate to the young people. Anton Yelchin trying to break into his neighbor’s house while using a phone app. It’s clever, people! He’s a young nerd, so technology is his only connection to nefarious intentions. Everyone laugh and relate to the shenanigans. Then, there’s Christopher Mintz-Plasse’s take on Evil Ed. While Stephen Geoffreys OWNED all as the original Ed, the once and future McLovin makes no effort to break past his schtick established in 2007. It was fun to see Lisa Loeb getting work as his on-screen mother, but that’s about all that’s memorable with Evil Ed 2011.
The Blu-Ray comes with an extra DVD copy. The A/V Quality is astounding with a 1080p transfer and a reference quality DTS-HD 7.1 master audio track. The Blu-Ray also gets a ton of deleted and extended scenes as exclusives. You also get a music video, featurettes and a look at how to make a funny vampire movie. If that wasn’t enough, you also get the full version of Squid Man. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase.
RELEASE DATE: 12/13/2011
