
Total Film
Slick popcorn horror, faithful to the fun and flair of the original. The 3D works, the cast appeals, the action’s fast (but not so frightening). A decent remake – it just needs more bite.
Full reviewRemake of the 1985 comedy-horror classic about a teenager who suspects his neighbour is a vampire. Stars Anton Yelchin (Charlie Bartlett) and Colin Farrell (In Bruges). From the director of Lars and the Real Girl.
Charley (Yelchin), having ditched his nerdy pal Ed (Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Fogell from Superbad), has finally cracked the cool group at school and scored a hottie (Imogen Poots, 28 Weeks Later) in the process. But when people in the neighbourhood start dying, Charley listens to Ed's theory: a vampire is responsible, and the vampire is spooky neighbour Jerry (Farrell). Unable to convince others of the truth, Charley takes it on himself to protect his friends and mum (Toni Collette, Little Miss Sunshine), and kill Jerry.
LessSlick popcorn horror, faithful to the fun and flair of the original. The 3D works, the cast appeals, the action’s fast (but not so frightening). A decent remake – it just needs more bite.
Full reviewThe old "Fright Night" was both self-aware and effectively scary, and if this one seems to prefer gruesome digital effects to old-fashioned bump-in-the-night spookiness, it still succeeds in keeping the audience both tickled and anxious.
Full reviewAn entertaining remake of the mid-80s vampire movie that, unlike the original, hasn't got one scary moment in it.
Full reviewAs in the earlier film, this one dances always at the edge of comedy. It especially has fun with the Rules of Vampire Behavior.
Full reviewA steady supply of spiky humor and a game cast keep this cooking most of the way, though the pacing could have been tighter and the film seems as if it's about to end two or three times before it actually does.
Full reviewFunny and scary - and sometimes both at once - it lives up to the original, even if it fails to surpass it.
Full reviewThe film's greatest pleasures come from Noxon's script - which puts the sexual chaos created by Farrell's attractive bloodsucker front and center - and from the performances.
Full reviewFright Night is available to stream in New Zealand now on Google Play and Apple TV and Disney+.
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