Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Which is your favorite - the original 'Fright Night' or the 2011 remake?

I watched an entertaining horror comedy movie the other night, the 2011 remake of the 1985 classic horror movie, “Fright Night,” and I’m sure that more than a few of you will find this remake as entertaining as the original, if not more.

Released on Aug. 19, the latest version of “Fright Night” was directed by Craig Gillespie and starred Colin Farrell in the roll of Jerry Dandrige, the vampire next door.

For those of you unfamiliar with the plot of the original and the remake, it’s about a charismatic vampire who moves into a vacant house next door to a high school kid and his single mom. The high schooler eventually learns that there’s a vampire next door, but nobody believes him - at first. After his best friend is turned into a vampire, the high school kid seeks out the reputed vampire expert, Peter Vincent, in hopes that he will help get rid of his undead neighbor.

The 2011 version of “Fright Night” is set in Las Vegas, and the vampire uses a cover story that he’s a nightshift construction worker on The Strip. He supposedly works on a job site at night, which is why he sleeps all day in a big house with blacked out windows.

One of the most interesting things about the remake was Collin Farrell’s appearance in a vampire role. According to the Internet Movie Database, Farrell took the role because he needed the work, but he almost lost the part to Heath Ledger. Ledger had been considered for the role, but that came to an end when Ledger died in January 2008.

Another interesting character in the movie, arguably my favorite character, is “Evil” Ed Lee, who is played in the remake by Christopher Mintz-Plasse. Many of you will be familiar with him because of his roles in such films as “Superbad,” “Role Models” and “Kick Ass.” Stephen Geoffrey played his counterpart, Edward “Evil Ed” Thompson, in the first movie, providing audiences with one of the more memorable performances from the film.

The Peter Vincent character is one of my favorites from both films, but I actually prefer the original version’s Peter Vincent of the two. He was the host of a late night horror movie show and came across as a second rate Abraham Van Helsing. The character in the remake is a Las Vegas magician who bears a striking resemblance to Criss “Mindfreak” Angel.

Anton Yelchin played teenage protagonist Charlie Brewster in the remake and was very believable. Many of you will be familiar with him from his appearances in such movies as 2009’s “Star Trek,” “Hearts in Atlantis” and “Along Came a Spider.”

If I had to pick a favorite between the 2011 and 1985 versions of “Fright Night,” I’d probably say that the remake is my personal favorite. This isn’t to say that the 1985 version wasn’t good. It won a Saturn Award for Best Horror Film. It’s just that I liked the updated, fresh take on the story provided by the remake.

In the end, what did you think about the remake? What did you like or dislike about it? Which was your favorite, the original or the remake? Why? Let us know in the comments section below.

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