Posts
2011, 08-17:
Review of film: “FRIGHT NIGHT”
“Tongue-In-Cheek” HUMOR About “TEETH-in-NECK” activity
In 1985, the original “FRIGHT NIGHT” movie was released, followed 3 years after that by a “PART 2” sequel...
... This new film is a “re-imagining” of the basic COMEDY – HORROR story of an area (of Las Vegas) worried that someone in the neighborhood might be a “VAMPIRE”...
... Charley Brewster (ANTON YELCHIN) lives with his single real-estate seller mother Jane (TONI COLLETTE) in a suburban section that has lots of DESERTED homes (due to the crumbling economy & price-collapses in the housing market)...
... High-schooler Anton happily helps a pretty older neighbor lady Doris (EMILY MONTAGUE) with some work she needs done near her front yard...
... When he goes home to his house, he talks to his mom Toni about how a new next-door neighbor (they hadn’t met) keeps leaving his front yard a MESS (re a garbage bin & the like)...
... Anton keeps being called by an old friend named Ed (CHRISTOPHER MINTZ-PLASSE), who he purposely AVOIDS being around nowadays, especially when Chris tries contacting him...
... Chris is a “nerdy” guy who Anton could “deal with” when they were younger (both dressing up & playing like “SUPERHEROES”) -- but who hasn’t “GROWN-UP” much emotionally...
... In Anton’s opinion, Chris’ disinterest in more “mature” things (like girlfriends) tends to make Anton look “BAD” for hanging-around with him...
... In school, two of Anton’s “newer” friends – Mark (DAVE FRANCO) & Ben (REID EWING) -- make FUN of Chris & put him “down”, which Anton readily “goes along” with (to Chris’ displeasure)...
... Anton has a cute girlfriend named Amy (IMOGEN POOTS)-- tho he seems somewhat “hesitant” when she keeps making “ADVANCES” to him & encouraging more “romantic” contact...
... Anton’s mom Toni soon meets their new next-door neighbor Jerry (COLIN FARRELL)-- &, since he’s sexy-looking, she has some “ATTRACTION” to him...
... That does not make Anton very “happy”, & he “CAUTIONS” his Mom that it’d probably be best to keep a “DISTANCE” from him...
... At one point, Chris expresses a thought to Anton that Colin might be a “VAMPIRE” -- which Anton strongly doubts initially...
... But, when an old mutual guy friend suddenly doesn’t show up at school, Chris insists that Anton come with him to LOOK for him at his house...
... Anton is very UNEAGER to do any such thing-- but Chris threatens he’ll spread-around an old movie of the two of them playing around as “SUPERHEROES”. Fearing for his “image”, Chris reluctantly agrees to join Chris, who carries a “STAKE” with him into the friend’s house...
... We in the audience had already seen what had HAPPENED to their mutual friend: like the rest of his family, he’d been in-effect KILLED -- by a vampire that we eventually learn IS indeed COLIN!...
... Chris at one point talks about a Las Vegas VAMPIRE-FIGHTER magician entertainer named Peter Vincent (DAVID TENNANT), who can be seen on TV at times...
... When Chris & Anton find evidence of “foul play” re their friend, Anton becomes very UPSET about being near Colin, & -- without giving “details” to her – warns his mom Toni (& eventually girlfriend Imogen) to stay AWAY from Colin...
... Anton keeps in mind Chris’ words about how a vampire supposedly can’t enter an occupied house unless he’s “INVITED” in-- which Anton carefully AVOIDS doing when Colin asks Anton to “loan” him some BEER for a date with a woman...
... Anton’s deeply upset when he learns it’s neighbor EMILY who Colin has invited over-- &, when he doesn’t see her “leave” Colin’s house, he “anonymously” reports Colin to the POLICE... Colin “charms” the Police into leaving-- but sees ANTON “watching” things, & surmises he’s the one who’d called the cops...
... What will happen when Anton sneaks into Colin’s HOUSE & tries to FIND & hopefully rescue Emily?...
... What will transpire when Colin goes after CHRIS to “convert” him to “HIS” (in-the-DARK) side?!... And what will Colin do to nosy Dave & Reid?...
... Will Anton be able to convince supposed “Vampire-Fighter” David to HELP him in devising effective ways to try to COMBAT Vampire-y Colin?...
... Will Anton be able to keep his mom Toni & girlfriend Imogen AWAY from Colin?...
... Will Colin tend to go “AFTER” troublemaker Anton & those he cares about-- &, if so, what will HAPPEN to them?!...
... I was pleased to see that this is what I call an “old-style” horror movie (unlike “FINAL DESTINATION 5”): there’s real CLEVERNESS in how they handle the “ACTION” scenes-- such as “INFERRING” what’s happening in the blood-spattered attacks rather than feeling a need to graphically-SHOW each “element” of them in “true Gore”...
... There’s a lot of “tongue-in-cheek” HUMOR about the “TEETH-in-NECK” activity that goes on regularly in this movie....
... Colin has “FUN” with his “evil” glances & actions towards others, Chris is appropriately “NERDY” & also “menacing”, & Anton is enjoyably “understated” & often outwardly “calm” as he tries to HIDE the upset & fear he’s regularly experiencing...
... I’ve complained a good deal lately about how the “tag” of a movie being in “3-D” is often just mainly an advertising “COME-ON” to charge extra MONEY for effects that simply AREN’T WORTH the surcharge...
... This film is one of the rare ones that uses the 3-D EFFECTIVELY— from “depth”-adding elements (like ‘For Sale” signs), to Special Effects like EXPLOSIONS (with little “flaming ashes” swirling around “at” you), “DISINTEGRATIONS” of people, car crashes, FIGHTS, etc...
... It’s not often that I find a “horror” type movie I LIKE-- but I QUITE liked this one on an overall basis, thanks to its fine special effects, good casting & acting, clever WRITING & enjoyable HUMOR...
... When it’s “silly”, it’s MEANT to be that way (rather than being “stupid”)... Accordingly, for creating a “FUN” experience, I rate this film at 7.75 out of 10 stars...
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