Fright Night

Name: Fright Night
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Released: August 2, 1985
Duration: 106 min
Rating: 62
Cast: Amanda Bearse, Art Evans, Chris Sarandon, Dorothy Fielding, Jonathan Stark

1985

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 13 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 118 Ratings

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8.4

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8.4	User Score Universal acclaim based on 118 Ratings

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Fright Night

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Movie Details & Credits

Eureka Entertainment | Release Date: August 2, 1985 | R

Starring: Amanda Bearse, Art Evans, Chris Sarandon, Dorothy Fielding, Jonathan Stark, Nick Savage, Roddy McDowall, Stephen Geoffreys, Stewart Stern, William Ragsdale

Summary: A teenager discovers that the newcomer in his neighborhood is a vampire, so he turns to an actor in a television horror show for help dealing with the undead.

Director: Tom Holland

Genre(s): Thriller, Horror

Rating: R

Runtime: 106 min

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Critic Reviews

Edward Copeland

What makes Fright Night such a hoot to this day, on top of the great performances, is the deft blending of humor and suspense that Holland manages to build in his story. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

A minor classic of the genre, this is a memorable addition to the vampire tradition in the horror film. Read full review

David Sterritt

Directed by Tom Holland, who serves up the oldest horror-yarn clich'es with a straight face, keeping the action good-natured and even humorous until the gory climax. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

A farrago of cartoonish exaggeration (mouthfuls of fangs, razor-sharp talons and eyes like burning coals), knowing humour and '80s camp, it shouldn't even begin to work, and yet, strangely, it does, sort of, thanks to the assured handling of writer/director Holland, and two performances in particular - Geoffreys as Charley's pal Evil, and McDowall as the timid vampire killer. Read full review

Bill Cosford

The movie is bloody and gruesome and quite harmless, just the way they made them "in the good old days." [02 Aug 1985, p.C7]

Dolores Barclay

Towards the end, Holland's movie gets a little confused: the scary elements give way to too many gory effects. Still, Fright Night is a pleasant diversion. [19 Aug 1985]

Matthew Fraser

Some of the special effects are chilling, but Fright Night lacks depth, wit and humor, and hence is neither absorbing, intelligent, nor funny. [08 Aug 1985]

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User Reviews

Excommunicado

Jan 19, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Not the only film of 1985 to feature someone who collects a lot of clocks and puts them on walls. Doc Brown did the same in Back to the Future (1985).… Expand

35 of 35 users found this helpful350

sdumers

Sep 18, 2020

"Welcome to Fright Night", my favorite horror film that has one scene in it like The Wizard of Oz and Raiders of the Lost Ark: A vampire that melts! Fright Night remains an important piece of my "melt" movies library, as well as a permanent addition to my library of digital purchase"Welcome to Fright Night", my favorite horror film that has one scene in it like The Wizard of Oz and Raiders of the Lost Ark: A vampire that melts! Fright Night remains an important piece of my "melt" movies library, as well as a permanent addition to my library of digital purchase streaming content!!!… Expand

36 of 38 users found this helpful362

Pressyourluck

Feb 17, 2021

Fright Night is a hilarious spooky horror classic. The actors, dialogue and special effects are perfect. This movie was ahead of its era.

36 of 36 users found this helpful360

dennisluvtennis

Oct 28, 2020

A very goofy start. Stay with it, because it pays off hugely in the end. The ending is famous for how intense it was (in the 1980's).

1 of 35 users found this helpful134

alejandro970

Nov 26, 2021

As a vampire movie, it meets halfway because it takes its time to build momentum, which arrives just in the second hour, with levels of suspense and horror that are well justified and that's it. From becoming a classic of the 80s, it is very remote.

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

MATM

May 30, 2022

I have a real soft spot in my heart for "Fright Night". When I was a teen I absolutely adored vampire movies, and this one just really surprised me as a teen with its self aware take on the genre. Now a days I can see the flaws with a few long sections where the plot really slows down, butI have a real soft spot in my heart for "Fright Night". When I was a teen I absolutely adored vampire movies, and this one just really surprised me as a teen with its self aware take on the genre. Now a days I can see the flaws with a few long sections where the plot really slows down, but there were some really nice creature effects for the era. If you really like vampire tales, you might find something to enjoy here, but I admit that the movie is not going to be a winner for everyone. I give it a C, if you've already seen the best, but you insist on watching a movie, try this one out.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

HellHoleHorror

Feb 15, 2022

It has some amazing setups. The opening shot is a real spectacle; there are also some nice and effective visual gags without the use of unnatural CGI. The sound was not that good at all. The use of rear speakers was occasional and very awkward. One scene in a nightclub had people stampingIt has some amazing setups. The opening shot is a real spectacle; there are also some nice and effective visual gags without the use of unnatural CGI. The sound was not that good at all. The use of rear speakers was occasional and very awkward. One scene in a nightclub had people stamping their feet in the rear speakers but it sounded so disconnected. The music wasn't very good either - way too eighties. I'm not a big fan of vampire movies but this was kinda fun. Not as memorable as The Lost Boys (1987) and not as well acted as The 'Burbs (1989) but similar to both. It is a cute eighties story but really nothing amazing. Some cool effects and reminded me of so many other films but ultimately average.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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