Honestly, it's not entirely clear why most horror critics and fanboys hated 2011's Colin Farrell-starring Fright Night remake so much - its far from A Nightmare On Elm Street 2010 bad. But thats just the way it goes when youre revamping a film as beloved as director Tom Hollands 1985 original, starring Chris Sarandon as a charming bloodsucker who moves next door to nerdy high school kid (William Ragsdale). A fan of late night monster movies, the gullible and easily shook teenager detects his new neighbors undead ways, and, naturally, nobody believes him - until its too late, of course. Holland clearly approached this material from a real horror lovers standpoint, taking all of Fright Nights genre elements quite seriously. That Holland honors the genre while also staging all of Fright Nights supernatural moments with a cheerful smile on his face gives the flick a timelessly fresh quality. Thankfully the movie keeps its self aware charm in the 2011 updated version. An unnecessary remake perhaps, but also a knowingly updated one, with strong work from everybody involved that's just as much fun as its predecessor.
Jesse Gumbarge is editor and chief blogger at JarvisCity.com - He loves old-school horror films and starting pointless debates. You can reach out at: JesseGumbarge@JarvisCity.com
