Fright Night (1985)

After watching Coherence last night, I decided to kick back and watch something I had not seen in quite a while. In fact, I’m not sure if I have watched this one during the last 25 years. That movie is the original 1985 entry Fright Night.

Plot/ For young Charley Brewster, nothing could be better than an old horror movie late at night. Two men move in next door, and for Charley with his horror movie experience, there can be no doubt that their strange behavior is explained by the fact that they are a vampire and his undead day guardian. The only one who can help him hunt them down is a washed-up actor, Peter Vincent, who hosts Charley's favorite TV show, Fright Night.

As I mentioned, it had been some time since I watched the original version of Fright Night and I am glad that I decided to do that. This film is even better than I remembered it and is definitely light years ahead of the remake from a few years ago. Watching this was like taking a trip down memory lane for me. Having grown up in that era, I can relate to a lot of what is transpiring with the setting, soundscape, dialog, and even some of the thoughts that were discussed. When you couple that with some tremendous performances from an outstanding cast, awesome cinematography and direction, and a perfect mixture of dark atmosphere, creepiness, and special effects that were ahead of their time for 1985. Yes, some of the fashions seem dated and there is the typical cheese-factor that was prevalent in the 1980s, but other than that, this movie is one of the best vampire flicks of the decade. In the end, if you have not seen this one you are missing out. It is a perfect example of why classic horror films should not be remade, as there was no chance the reboot could live up to the bar set by this one. It’s on Shudder, so check it out!

End of Days (1999)

Having watched a wide variety of flick over the past few days, I wanted to get back to something closer to my After the Static project. While that is zombie/outbreak themed, there are some religious/apocalyptic overtones inside the book. With that in mind, I decided to watch the 1999 action/horror flick End of Days.  

Plot/ At the end of the century, Satan visits New York in search of a bride. It's up to an ex-cop who now runs an elite security outfit to stop him.

I remember seeing this when it came out and even after watching it again, I can say that my initial thoughts will still ring true: viewers will either love or hate this film. Really, there is no in between, especially with the religious overtones that are woven throughout the movie. For me, this was an entertaining flick that I still find intriguing. The storyline, while uneven, is interesting, the performances and effects are decent, and the dark cinematography works well with the soundtrack and the theme of the movie. Yes, some of the characterizations could have been darker, some of the scriptings were uneven, and it was highly implausible, but that is what makes movies like this engaging. In the end, this one will be polarizing due to many different factors including actors, religious beliefs, and tone; but, at the end of the day, it is just a fun and mindless good versus evil flick that should be seen.

The Exorcist III (1990)

With it being Thanksgiving, it was nice to be able to relax, and look forward to the future. Yes, there will be some rough times ahead; there is hope that change for the better could possibly happen. After taking a couple days away from the blog to work on a couple smaller projects, I decided to look into something relaxing yesterday to help pass the afternoon. The movie I decided on was something I had not seen in some time, the 1990 sequel, The Exorcist III.

Plot/ A police lieutenant uncovers more than he bargained for as his investigation of a series of murders, which have all the hallmarks of the deceased 'Gemini' serial killer, lead him to question the patients of a psychiatric ward.

I remember seeing this one in the theater and being blown away by the depth of the storyline and some of the creepiness that saturates the atmosphere. This movie is a perfect sequel to the classic Exorcist, much better than the first sequel released much earlier. More of a intelligent psychological thriller than pure horror movie, there is a lot to like in this one. The cast is amazing and the performances work extremely well in tandem, the scripting is solid (although, it does cause viewers to think more than with a typical horror movie), and the tension builds throughout the entirety of the movie allowing every aspect to sink in. Yes, there are some moments that deem to be added in for effect that feel out of place and the minimalist style may turn some people off, but those are elements that are easily overlooked when evaluating the movie as a whole. In the end, it was such a treat to dive into this film again, as it has stood the test of time rather well. While it is not for everyone, it is a must see for fans of psychological thrillers and the Exorcist. If you have not seen it yet, find it, and watch it!

Flesh for the Inferno (2015)

Now that I am settling into a solid schedule with the girls being home, I enjoy the fact that I can get back into some horror cinema on a more regular basis. Next up for review is another no-budget entry in 2015s Flesh for the Inferno.

Plot/ A youth group plans to spruce up a dilapidated old Catholic school, but uncover a grisly tomb from a dark history that the school walls have housed in this horror thriller.

There is something about true no-budget horror cinema that always excites me. That was definitely the case with this one, as I found a very intriguing movie that both had potential for a larger budget, and some quality moments within the low budget atmosphere that graces the screen. While everything is not perfect, this movie had a throwback feel to the classic lower budget films I watched in my youth, and the nunsploitation elements were perfect. The movie features some solid pacing, an interesting soundscape, and some awesome practical effects. Yes, the performances were uneven and there were some head scratching moments, but those elements did not destroy the viewing experience. In the end, this low budget entry will not be for everyone and will likely fall into the love/hate category. Personally, I loved it, but I could definitely see that how some might not. If you love no-budget cinema, give it a shot; just do not take it overly serious.

Fright Night (2011)

The original Fright Night was one of my favorite 1980s flicks; I remember watching it many times on VHS.  When I first saw the advertisements for the remake, I was unsure what to expect. As many fans of horror already know, the recent trend of remakes have been far from impressive, in fact, many just suck! For the longest time I resisted the temptation to sit down and watch the remake, I did not want to be disappointed again by a subpar moneymaker. Finally, this past weekend I got it as a free rental, so what the Hell, Fright Night 2011 (at least we will not have sparkling vampires in this one).

Plot/ A remake of the 1985 original, teenager Charley Brewster guesses that his new neighbor Jerry Dandrige is a vampire responsible for a string of recent deaths. When no one he knows believes him, he enlists Peter Vincent, a self-proclaimed vampire killer and Las Vegas magician, to help him take down Jerry.

One thing about remakes or re-inventions of classic films is the director’s have some liberties in changing some of the small details from the original to something that works a tad bit better (awesome when used properly – but, unfortunately it is usually overlooked). That is exactly what is done in this edition and it does add something to the storyline. The idea to stay true to the original plot (and some campiness) while moving the setting to Las Vegas, and changing the Peter Vincent character really works. In all, most of the movie is fun and entertaining; complete with solid character development, good performances and the right mix of mood, tension and horror (the soundtrack was awesome). On the downside, some of the CGI effects took away from the overall feel. Of course, this is being overly critical as I am not a fan of CGI, and honestly, some were good.  At the end of the night, this flick may lack scares, but it is pure entertainment marrying a modern twist to a 1980s classic. I totally recommend this one for anyone; it definitely shows why a true vampire will never sparkle.