Fright Night (1985)

Director:

Tom Holland

Writer:

Tom Holland (written by)

Release Date:

2 August 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

There are some very good reasons to be afraid...of the dark.

Plot:

When a teenager learns that his next door neighbour is a vampire, no one will believe him.

Plot Keywords:

Vampire | Teenager | Neighbor | Undead | House

Awards:

5 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Chris Sarandon	...	Jerry Dandrige
William Ragsdale	...	Charley Brewster
Amanda Bearse	...	Amy Peterson
Roddy McDowall	...	Peter Vincent
Stephen Geoffreys	...	Evil Ed
Jonathan Stark	...	Billy Cole
Dorothy Fielding	...	Judy Brewster
Art Evans	...	Detective Lennox (as Art J. Evans)
Stewart Stern	...	Cook
Nick Savage	...	Bouncer #1
Ernie Holmes	...	Bouncer #2
Heidi Sorenson	...	Hooker
Irina Irvine	...	Teenage Girl
Bob Corff	...	Jonathan (as Robert Corff)
Pamela Brown	...	Miss Nina
Chris Hendrie	...	Newscaster
Prince Hughes	...	Bouncer #3 (as Prince A. Hughes)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Christopher Lee	...	Dracula (archive footage)
Lene Hefner	...	(unconfirmed) (uncredited)
Joy Michelle Moore	...	High School Student (uncredited)

Directed by
Tom Holland

Writing credits
Tom Holland		(written by)

Produced by
Jerry A. Baerwitz	....	associate producer
Herb Jaffe	....	producer

Original Music by
Brad Fiedel

Cinematography by
Jan Kiesser		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Kent Beyda

Casting by
Jackie Burch

Production Design by
John DeCuir Jr.		(as John De Cuir Jr.)

Set Decoration by
Jerry Adams

Costume Design by
Robert Fletcher

Makeup Department
Ken Diaz	....	makeup artist
Marina Pedraza	....	hair stylist
Rick Stratton	....	additional makeup artist
Dale Brady	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)
Bill Sturgeon	....	creature effects crew (uncredited)

Production Management
Jerry A. Baerwitz	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Carole Keligian	....	second assistant director
Rory Romero	....	dga trainee
Jerry Sobul	....	first assistant director (as Gerald Sobul)

Art Department
Mark Fabus	....	set designer
Ross Gallichotte	....	set designer
Arthur Shippee	....	property master (as Art Shippee)
Robert Van Dyke	....	propmaker gangboss
Hendrik Wynands	....	set construction (as Henry Wynands)

Sound Department
Neil Burrow	....	sound editor
David E. Campbell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Gordon Davidson	....	sound editor
Jay Engel	....	adr editor
David J. Kimball	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tom McCarthy Jr.	....	supervising sound editor
Michael P. Redbourn	....	sound editor (as Mike Redbourn)
Brossy Reina	....	assistant sound editor
John T. Reitz	....	sound re-recording mixer
Don Rush	....	production sound mixer
David Spence	....	sound editor
Vanessa Theme Ament	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Joseph Holsen	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Morton Greenspoon	....	contact lens consultant (as Dr. Morton K. Greenspoon)
Albert Lannutti	....	special effects
Michael Lantieri	....	special effects
Dean W. Miller	....	special effects
Thaine Morris	....	mechanical effects supervisor: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles
Clay Pinney	....	special effects (as Clayton Pinney)
Darrell Pritchett	....	special effects
Johan Klingler	....	special effects (uncredited)
Larry Odien	....	animatronics (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Fredrick Albrecht	....	grip: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles (as Fred Albrecht)
Brent Boates	....	production illustrator: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles
Dale Brady	....	crew/creature effects shop: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles
John Bruno	....	visual effects art director: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles
Laura Buff	....	production supervisor: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles
Rob Cantrell	....	crew/creature effects shop: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles
Craig Caton	....	crew/creature effects shop: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles
Dave Chamberlain	....	model shop production assistant
Robert Cole	....	head effects technician: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles (as Bob M. Cole)
Randall William Cook	....	creature designer and creator: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles
Charles Cowles	....	optical printer operator: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles (as Chuck Cowles)
Richard Edlund	....	visual effects producer
Robert Eyslee	....	gaffer: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles
Alan Harding	....	assistant matte cameraman: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles
Steve Johnson	....	creature designer and creator: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles
Makio Kida	....	crew/creature effects shop: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles
Neil Krepela	....	matte department supervisor: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles
John Lambert	....	assistant cameraman: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles
Mary Mason	....	production coordinator: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles (as Mary C. Mason)
Dave Matherly	....	crew/creature effects shop: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles (as David Matherly)
Michele Moen	....	matte artist: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles (as Michelle Moen)
Ronald B. Moore	....	optical line-up: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles
Bill Neil	....	visual effects cameraman: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles
Steve Neill	....	crew/creature effects shop: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles
James Nelson	....	production advisor: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles
Sean Newton	....	key animator: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles
Martin November	....	visual effects editor: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles
Pat Repola	....	lab technician: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles (as Patrick Repola)
Pete Romano	....	assistant cameraman: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles
Richard Ruiz	....	crew/creature effects shop: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles
Annick Therrien	....	rotoscope supervisor: Entertianment Effects Group, Los Angeles
Patrick Van Auken	....	grip: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles
Mark Vargo	....	optical supervisor: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles
Garry Waller	....	animation supervisor: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles
Mary E. Walter	....	optical line-up: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles
Gene Whiteman	....	chief engineer: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles
Claire Wilson	....	production accountant: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles
Mark Bryan Wilson	....	first technician/creature effects shop: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles (as Mark B. Wilson)
Terry Windell	....	animation supervisor: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles
Matthew Yuricich	....	chief matte artist: Entertainment Effects Group, Los Angeles (as Matt Yuricich)

Stunts
Bradley Alan	....	stunts (as Brad Alan)
Christine Anne Baur	....	stunts (as Christine Baur)
Alonzo Brown	....	stunts
Jerry Brutsche	....	stunts
Cheré Bryson	....	stunts (as Chere Bryson)
Gerald Clarke	....	stunts
Bill Couch Jr.	....	stunt coordinator
Paula Crist	....	stunts
Nick Dimitri	....	stunts
Gardner Doolittle	....	stunts
Cheryl E. Duncan	....	stunts (as C.E. Duncan)
Donna Hall	....	stunts
Mark Harden	....	stunts
Larry Holt	....	stunts
Terry James	....	stunts
Loren Janes	....	stunts
Lane Leavitt	....	stunts (as Lane Levitt)
Frank Perrino	....	stunts
Thomas Rosales Jr.	....	stunts (as Tom Rosales)
Clifford Strong	....	stunts
Kym Washington	....	stunts (as Kim Washington)
Mike Washlake	....	stunts
Jerry Wills	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Ron Batzdorff	....	still photographer
Craig Denault	....	camera operator
Clyde Hart	....	key grip (as Clyde W. Hart)
To Lee	....	second assistant camera
Calvin Maehl	....	chief lighting technician (as Cal H. Maehl)
Louis Niemeyer	....	first assistant camera
Charles E. Nippell	....	best boy
Aaron Pazanti	....	first assistant camera
Jeff Stanman	....	lighting technician
Bruce Zachary Herman	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Scott C. Williman	....	rigging (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bettylee Balsam	....	costumer
Mort Schwartz	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Larry Bock	....	additional editor
Carrie Ellison	....	assistant editor
Patricia Lee	....	assistant editor
Adam Weiss	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Kevin Benson	....	music supervisor: Cinemusic
David Chackler	....	music supervisor: Cinemusic
Ross Levinson	....	musician: electric violin
Irwin Mazur	....	music supervisor: Cinemusic
Steve Plunkett	....	composer: additional music
Jim Weidman	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Buster Kohloff	....	transportation coordinator (as Buster Kohlhoff)

Other crew
Sheila Barnes	....	production coordinator
Oga Danylo	....	assistant: Herb Jaffe
Sue Donoghue	....	unit publicist
Marcia 'Mavis' Girard	....	script supervisor (as Mavis Girard)
Dorain Grusman	....	choreographer
Steven E. Housewright	....	production assistant (as Steve Housewright)
Pamela Madeiros	....	assistant: Mr. Holland (as Pamels Madieros)
Gail Mutrux	....	video consultant
Glenn Nicol	....	production accountant
Hal Reinstra	....	personal assistant: Mr. Holland
Miguel Tejada-Flores	....	assistant to producer
Bundy Chanock	....	set medic (uncredited)
Mark Harden	....	animal trainer: wild animals (uncredited)
Brian McMillan	....	head animal trainer (uncredited)
Mike Revell	....	assistant production accountant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation
• Delphi IV Productions
• Vistar Films

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1985) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Films (1985) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1994) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1998) (Mexico) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (2000) (Brazil) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (1986) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Mokép (198?) (Hungary) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video (198?) (Netherlands) (VHS) (rental)

Special Effects

• Entertainment Effects Group

Other Companies

• Boss Film Corporation  optical effects
• CBS/Private 1  soundtrack album published by
• Modern Film Effects  titles and opticals
• Orion Pictures Corporation  archive clips
• Universal Pictures  stills courtesy of

Also Known As:

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | France:-12 | Italy:VM14 | Norway:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Finland:K-16 (cut) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) | Canada:18A (Ontario) | Iceland:16 | Norway:15 (DVD rating) | Netherlands:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Portugal:M/16 | Spain:13 | Argentina:18

Filming Locations:

Laird International Studio - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The cast extensively rehearsed the script prior to filming and writer/director Tom Holland invited friend and fellow writer/director Colin Higgins to sit in on rehearsals and give input.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Evil Ed is turned into a wolf and is crawling on the floor, a line can be seen moving the animal.

Quotes:

Charley Brewster:That bastard! Why didn't he tell us there was going to be a pop quiz?
Evil Ed Thompson:That's the point of a pop quiz, Brewster... to surprise you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Marty Jenkins and the Vampire Bitches (2006)

Soundtrack:

GIVE IT UP

offbeat, cool, sexy and very 80s vampire tale (my favourite yet)

Before I first watched Fright Night, I admit I was unsure about what to think about it. All I knew about it was from what I had been told from my Dad (though his likes/dislikes are generally on par with mine, they sometimes border on plain stupid). But when I saw it to the end, I was almost totally converted.

Although the beginning is a bit cheesy and reminiscent of stereotypical horror B-movies, it soon becomes clear that this is part of what makes Fright Night so original. All the typical horror film genres are there: horror, romance, comedy (well maybe comedy isn't a typical horror element); but what makes this horror flick stand out a mile-and-a-half from the rest is that it's a very offbeat tale. It's creepily cheesy but gets away with it because it's atmosphere is so good.

All this and I haven't mentioned the acting or special effects yet. Sarandon seems to give such an effortless performance as the vampire and as a result is almost perfect. I had thought of what a modern day vampire would be like before I saw Fright Night; but Jerry Dandridge just blew all these ideas away and has to be the coolest (and I don't often use that word) and sexiest vampire ever, and is one of my favourite movie villains. Roddy McDowall can't hold a candle to Sarandon but is still very good, and Stephen Geoffreys is one of the funniest and memorable movie characters ever to grace a film screen too.

The special effects are good for 1985 and unlike where in modern films the SFX are the main point in the movie, here they add to the already present chilling atmosphere. And although on the one hand, Fright Night is quite dated, it also captures the atmosphere and the essence of the 80s. The soundtrack is excellent for the film, but paradoxically not very memorable (apart from one or two good songs).

[I wish I'd been born before 1981 (maybe 1961) so that I could have lived in the late-70s and 80s, and would have memories of the best music from that time, and not the boybands/Beatles clones/dance ditties (not decent tunes mind) we have now.]

All in all an (almost) perfect film: watch it and you'll (most likely) enjoy it and watch it again and again.