Fright Night

Chris Sarandon Director: Tom Holland Tom Holland

Overview

Columbia/Tri-Star's DVD release of this 1985 cult horror favorite features a clean-looking, crisp-sounding transfer of the film, but remains a let-down thanks to a lack of special features. Beyond simply owning this great horror-comedy in the DVD format, the only real reasons to purchase this version is to see the letterboxed version of the film (in its original 2.35: 1 aspect ratio) on side one and to be able to hear the heavily '80s-influenced soundtrack in Dolby Surround Sound (English track only). Unfortunately, those are all the extras this disc has to offer unless you've been dying to catch the film in French or Portuguese. The lone addition is the original theatrical trailer which gives away most of the film's ending. The picture quality is excellent and Richard Edlund's special effects are captured in the ideal technological display. Side two also features the full-screen version of the film for those averse to letterboxing.

Product Details

Release Date:	09/07/1999
UPC:	0043396056299
Original Release:	1985
Rating:	R
Source:	Sony Pictures
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Full Frame, Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Surround]
Time:	1:46:00
Sales rank:	7,082

Special Features

Languages: English, French; Subtitles: English, French; Theatrical trailer; Scene selections; Widescreen and full screen formats

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Chris Sarandon	Jerry Dandridge
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
Pamela Brown	Miss Nina
Jackie Burch	Actor
Steven Hilliard Stern	Cook
Nick Savage	Bouncer
Ernie Holmes	Bouncer
Heidi Sorenson	Hooker
Irina Irvine	Teenage Girl
Robert Corff	Jonathan
Chris Hendrie	Newscaster
Prince Hughes	Bouncer

Technical Credits

Tom Holland

Tom Holland	Director,Screenwriter
Jerry Adams	Set Decoration/Design
Bradley Alan	Stunts
Jerry A. Baerwitz	Associate Producer,Production Designer
Christine Baur	Stunts
Kevin Benson	Musical Direction/Supervision
Kent Beyda	Editor
Dale Brady	Makeup Special Effects
Alonzo Brown	Stunts
Jerry Brutsche	Stunts
Chere Bryson	Stunts
Jackie Burch	Casting
Neil Burrow	Sound Editor
David Chackler	Musical Direction/Supervision
Gerald Clarke	Stunts
Bill Couch	Stunts
Paula Crist	Stunts
Gordon Davidson	Sound Editor
John F. de Cuir	Production Designer
Craig Denault	Camera Operator
Ken Diaz	Makeup
Nick Dimitri	Stunts
Gardner Doolittle	Stunts
C.E. Duncan	Stunts
Richard Edlund	Special Effects
Mark Fabus	Set Decoration/Design
Brad Fiedel	Score Composer
Ross Gallichotte	Set Decoration/Design
Dorain Grusman	Choreography
Donna Hall	Stunts
Mark Harden	Stunts
Larry Holt	Stunts
Herb Jaffe	Producer
Terry James	Stunts
Loren Janes	Stunts
Jan Kiesser	Cinematographer
Albert Lannutti	Special Effects
Michael Lantieri	Special Effects
Lane Leavitt	Stunts
Irwin Mazur	Musical Direction/Supervision
Frank Perrino	Stunts
Clayton Pinney	Special Effects
Darrell Pritchett	Set Decoration/Design,Special Effects
Michael P. Redbourn	Sound Editor
Robert Fletcher	Costumes/Costume Designer
Tom Rosales	Stunts
Jerry Sobul	Asst. Director
David Spence	Sound Editor
Rick Stratton	Makeup
Clifford Strong	Stunts
Tangerine Dream	Score Composer
Kim Washington	Stunts
Mike Washlake	Stunts
Jerry Wills	Stunts

Scene Index

Disc #1, Side A -- Fright Night (Widescreen)
1. Start [3:31]
2. Peter Vincent [11:29]
3. Body Disposal [2:26]
4. Detective Lennox [3:26]
5. Evil Ed's Advice [1:58]
6. Invited In [4:38]
7. Given a Choice [5:06]
8. A Call From Jerry [7:40]
9. Recruiting Mr. Vincent [4:38]
10. At the Lair [3:26]
11. Holy Water Test [3:06]
12. Moment Of Non-Reflection [3:47]
13. Evil Is As Evil Does [3:20]
14. Pursued [1:00]
15. Evil Ed Gets Cross [1:51]
16. Calling Peter Vincent [2:06]
17. Seducing Amy [3:25]
18. Panic At Club Radio [1:32]
19. At Peter's Apartment [2:12]
20. Amy & Jerry [6:51]
21. The Cross Test [1:23]
22. Checking On Mrs. B [1:21]
23. Peter & The Wolf [6:48]
24. On the Staircase [6:26]
25. Bat Out Of Hell [1:08]
26. In the Basement [2:35]
27. Stake Out [:44]
28. Shedding Some Light [8:19]
Disc #1, Side B -- Fright Night (Fullscreen)
1. Start [3:31]
2. Peter Vincent [11:29]
3. Body Disposal [2:26]
4. Detective Lennox [3:26]
5. Evil Ed's Advice [1:58]
6. Invited In [4:38]
7. Given a Choice [5:06]
8. A Call From Jerry [7:40]
9. Recruiting Mr. Vincent [4:38]
10. At the Lair [3:26]
11. Holy Water Test [3:06]
12. Moment Of Non-Reflection [3:47]
13. Evil Is As Evil Does [3:20]
14. Pursued [1:00]
15. Evil Ed Gets Cross [1:51]
16. Calling Peter Vincent [2:06]
17. Seducing Amy [3:25]
18. Panic At Club Radio [1:32]
19. At Peter's Apartment [2:12]
20. Amy & Jerry [6:51]
21. The Cross Test [1:23]
22. Checking On Mrs. B [1:21]
23. Peter & The Wolf [6:48]
24. On the Staircase [6:26]
25. Bat Out Of Hell [1:08]
26. In the Basement [2:35]
27. Stake Out [:44]
28. Shedding Some Light [8:19]

Menu

Disc #1, Side A -- Fright Night (Widescreen)
   Play Movie
   Languages & Audio
      English 2-Channel (Dolby Surround)
      French/Français
      Portuguese/Português
   Subtitles
      English
      French/Français
      Spanish/Español
      Portuguese/Português
      Chinese
      Korean
      Thai
      Subtitles: No Subtitles
   Scene Selections
   Theatrical Trailer
Disc #1, Side B -- Fright Night (Fullscreen)
   Play Movie
   Languages & Audio
      English 2-Channel (Dolby Surround)
      French/Français
      Portuguese/Português
   Subtitles
      English
      French/Français
      Spanish/Español
      Portuguese/Português
      Chinese
      Korean
      Thai
      Subtitles: No Subtitles
   Scene Selections
   Theatrical Trailer

Editorial Reviews

Tom Holland perfectly blends horror and comedy in this popular, well-made send-up of the old "Chiller Theater"-style horror shows that could be found on late-night television in the 1960s and '70s. Holland's screenplay doesn't try to be fancy. Instead, he concocts the simple, suspenseful story of a teen who discovers an awful secret -- that his next-door neighbor is a vampire -- and then lets his actors take care of the rest. William Ragsdale does an excellent job playing the frazzled teen protagonist, while Chris Sarandon takes full advantage of his role as the ultra-evil blood-sucker. Amanda Bearse and Stephen Geoffreys also turn in solid supporting turns as Ragsdale's girlfriend and best friend, respectively, but it is Roddy McDowall who steals the show. Playing the part of aging horror host Peter Vincent (named for Peter Cushing and Vincent Price) who comes to Ragsdale's rescue, McDowall really seems to enjoy himself in the meaty role whether he's pretending to be the "great vampire killer" of his character's movie roles or just plain running scared from Sarandon's nasty vampire. From a technical perspective, Fright Night maintains a chilling, uneasy atmosphere thanks to the great haunted-house setting of the vampire's lair in which the bulk of the film's scariest scenes occur. The special makeup effects by Richard Edlund are well-done with particular acclaim reserved for the fantastic slaying of the vampire's day-walking helper (played by Jonathan Stark). Even the effects-filled finale doesn't come close to this incredible sequence. Bearse's vampire look is outlandish, but disturbing thanks to its clownish mouth full of teeth. The costumes, makeup, and soundtrack date this film a bit to its 1980s roots, as they are heavily influenced by the styles and sounds of the decade. The J. Geils Band performs the title track. McDowall and Ragsdale reprised their roles in the 1989 sequel Fright Night Part II.

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