FRIGHT NIGHT [1985 / 2017] [Special Edition] [Blu-ray + DVD] [UK Release]
There Are Some Very Good Reasons To Be Afraid of The Dark!
He is sweet, sexy, and he likes to get in late. You might think he's the perfect neighbour. But before inviting him Jerry Dandrige [Chris Sarandon] in for a nightcap, there's something you should know. Jerry Dandrige prefers his drinks warm, red, and straight from the jugular! It's ‘FRIGHT NIGHT,’ a horrific howl starring Chris Sarandon as the seductive vampire and William Ragsdale [Charley Brewster] as the frantic teenager struggling to keep Jerry Dandrige's deadly fangs out of his neck.
Only 17-year-old Charley Brewster knows Jerry Dandrige's blood curdling secret. When Charley Brewster can’t get anybody to believe him, he turns to TV horror host Peter Vincent [Roddy McDowall], who used to be the Great Vampire Killer of the movies. Can these mortals save Charley Brewster and his sweetheart Amy Peterson [Amanda Bearse] from the wrathful bloodsucker’s toothy embrace? If you love being scared, the ‘FRIGHT NIGHT’ will give you the nightmare of your life!
Packed with over 4 hours of special features, including a 2-hour version of the definitive documentary, You’re So Cool Brewster, EUREKA! Entertainment is proud to present ‘FRIGHT NIGHT’ in a definitive Dual-Format edition!
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 1986 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA: Win: Best Horror Film. Win: Best Supporting Actor for Roddy McDowall. Win: Best Writing for Tom Holland. Nomination: Best Actor for Chris Sarandon. Nomination: Best Director for Tom Holland. Nomination: Best Special Effects for Richard Edlund. 1986 Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival: Win: Dario Argento Award for Tom Holland. 1986 Fantasporto: Win: Critics' Award/Special Mention for Tom Holland. Nomination: International Fantasy Film Award: Best Film for Tom Holland.
FILM FACT No.2: While writing the script for ‘Cloak & Dagger,’ Tom Holland amused himself when he conceived the idea of a horror-movie fan becoming convinced that his next door neighbour was a vampire, but he didn't initially think this premise was enough to sustain a story. "What's he gonna do," Tom Holland asked, "Because everybody's gonna think he's mad!" The story percolated in his mind for a year and finally one day while discussing it with John Byers, then the head of the story department at Columbia Pictures, he finally figured out what the boy would do. "Of course, he's gonna go to Vincent Price!” Tom Holland wrote the film for himself to direct, in part because he was so disheartened by the film that was ultimately made from his previous screenplay, ‘Scream for Help,’ and he'd developed enough of clout from the successes of his screenplays for Class of 1984, Psycho II, and ‘Cloak & Dagger’ that the head of Columbia Pictures said, "Let's take a chance on the hot screenwriter kid," not figuring that the film ‘FRIGHT NIGHT’ would be as successful as it ultimately became. The most difficult role to cast was Amy Peterson. "There wasn't the perfect girl next door until Amanda Bearse walked in," Tom Holland commented.
Cast: Chris Sarandon, William Ragsdale, Amanda Bearse, Roddy McDowall, Stephen Geoffreys, Jonathan Stark, Dorothy Fielding, Art J. Evans, Stewart Stern, Nick Savage, Ernie Holmes, Heidi Sorenson, Irina Irvine, Robert Corff, Pamela Brown, Chris Hendrie, Prince A. Hughes, Christopher Lee (archive footage), Tina Benez (Crossdressing Vampire) (uncredited), Lene Hefner (uncredited) (unconfirmed), Joy Michelle Moore (High School Student) (uncredited) and Richard Patrick (Clubgoer) (uncredited)
Director: Tom Holland
Producers: Herb Jaffe and Jerry A. Baerwitz
Screenplay: Tom Holland
Composer: Brad Fiedel
Cinematography: Jan Kiesser (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (Panavision) (Anamorphic)
Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
English: 2.0 LPCM Stereo Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English SDH
Running Time: 106 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 2
Studio: Columbia Pictures / EUREKA! Entertainment
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘FRIGHT NIGHT’ [1985] is a gem of a horror film that was released in 1985 and at that time was a welcome breath of fresh air. Until then, the screen was starting to become dominated by the ever popular horror splatter film genre. And then came ‘FRIGHT NIGHT.’
According to the director Tom Holland, he wanted this film to be a throwback film to those old Black-and-White Vampire films. Who would of thought that a horror film about a vampire that moves in next door and terrorizes his young neighbour would become not only a massive big hit but a beloved classic for those who not only love those 1980’s horror. But what of the film ‘FRIGHT NIGHT’ itself?
Charley Brewster [William Ragsdale] has a problem: A vampire lives next door but nobody will believe him. No one would suspect the charming Mr. Jerry Dandrige [Chris Sarandon] of being one of the undead, which works to Jerry Dandrige’s advantage, as he intends to kill Charley Brewster before he can let his secret out. Charley Brewster’s only hope lies in Peter Vincent [Roddy MacDowall], the host of the late night television programme, “Fright Night.” But Peter Vincent is reluctant to give Charley Brewster his aid at first, but after getting a taste of Jerry Dandrige’s dark deeds first hand, decides to lend a cross or two. Charley Brewster and Peter Vincent are the only ones with any chance of stopping Jerry Dandrige and they had better work fast, as Jerry Dandrige has taken Charley Brewster’s girlfriend Amy Peterson [Amanda Bearse] prisoner and intends to turn her to his side.
‘FRIGHT NIGHT’ starts out as a more-or-less homage to Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Rear Window,’ but then wastes no time in getting right into the thick of things. Jerry Dandrige makes his intentions clear very early and the pace hardly settles down afterward. Chris Sarandon is excellent as the lead Vampire villain, with this presence which is so infuriatingly smug you just want him to die as painfully as possible.
The rest of the assembled cast is just as satisfying. You’ve got William Ragsdale as the fatally out of his depth protagonist and he definitely sells the part in that respect. Roddy MacDowall adds a touch of class to the picture, as he does with just about everything he has appeared in. But with Peter Vincent’s transformation from out of work actor to fearless vampire killer is a very amusing one and does it with great style. Stephen Geoffreys who plays Evil Ed, is Charley Brewster’s buddy, but unfortunately Evil Ed is both entertaining and obnoxious at the same time, until of course he gets his comeuppance.
The special effects in the film are really brilliant, because Writer/Director Tom Holland actually remembered that vampires can transform into things other than bats, including wolves and mist and uses this to great effect, giving you a host of gruesome creatures to really keep you on the edge of your seat. I was particularly fond of the vampire-wolf transformation sequence that was so well done, especially for the 1980’s period the effects were a bit limited to what they can achieve today in modern films of this genre.
As you can imagine, the climax of this horror film is where the monster special effects really come in to play, and by no means will you be let down. But some critics and fans of this film commented that they could see some strings following Jerry Dandrige’s transformation into a bat, but it’s only for a second, but for me I am not so critical of this, it all adds to the fun of this horror film, and away, who cares, it is just a good fantasy/horror film and people should not be so petty and small minded attitude about such things, as modern CGI technology was not so advanced in the 1980’s period.
Again, for a film like ‘FRIGHT NIGHT,’ it is just pure fun and a total delight, and director Tom Holland really enhanced the genre and also decided to pay homage to those old Black-and-White Universal Pictures Vampire films and also a great homage to the Vampire Hammer Horror Films and of course the actor Christopher Lee. Amidst all the gory horror effects is a sense of dark humour that lightens the mood and keeps the film at the right pace and it is nice jolly fun along the way fun, but never all-out camp. So even if you are not a fan of Vampire films, then please check this one out, as I doubt you will regret it and by the end of the film you will get a great satisfaction you have watched a truly great Vampire film and have a good tongue in cheek laugh along the way. On top of all that, Tom Holland's directorial debut, has given us one of the greatest horror classics from the Gloriously Cheesy 1980's. It is one of those rare gem of a film that successfully combines good comedy and glorious gratuitous horror and definitely maintains a healthy balance between the two!
This remake essentially stays true to the formula of the 1985 version, with great success. This original ‘FRIGHT NIGHT’ film gleefully celebrates the old-time horror films while at the same time commenting on modern horrors in a very humorous and tongue in cheek way and it also had a slew of modern-day gore and special effects. The film sets up a delightfully wry cat-and-mouse game as the heroes search for vampire rules online, and the vampires simply change them on a whim. The breezy direction of Tom Holland allows plenty of room for the actors to really show of their acting skills. The end result gives us a good feel that is not only funny and playful, but is totally ideal to view it as a really good late-night horror film on your Television and at the same time, invite your friends round to have a good scary time together.
FRIGHT NIGHT MUSIC TRACK LIST
FRIGHT NIGHT (Written by Joe Lamont) [Performed by The J. Geils Band]
SAVE ME TONIGHT (Written by Mitchell Leib and Garri Brandon) [Performed by White Sister]
ROCK MYSELF TO SLEEP (Written by Kimberley Rew and Vince de la Cruz) [Performed by April Wine]
LET'S TALK (Written by Mark Mothersbaugh) [Performed by Devo]
ARMIES OF THE NIGHT (Written by Ron Mael and Russell Mael) [Performed by Sparks]
GOOD MAN IN A BAD TIME (Written by Marc Tanner and Jon Reede) [Performed by Ian Hunter]
GIVE IT UP (Written by Dennis Matkosky and Bobby Caldwell) [Performed by Evelyn "Champagne" King]
YOU CAN'T HIDE FROM THE BEAST INSIDE (Written by Steve Plunkett) [Performed by Autograph]
BOPPIN' TONIGHT (Written by Gary Goetzman and Mike Piccirillo) [Performed by Fabulous Fontaine]
Blu-ray Image Quality – Columbia Pictures and EUREKA! Entertainment presents this Blu-ray absolutely amazing 1080p image that was from a 4K restoration, and enhanced with a 2.35:1 (Panavision) aspect ratio and I have been informed it was sourced from an original negative and look amazing. Just about everything is close to reference quality and the contrast is sublime, and gives us crisp blacks, with very good shadow detail, and the largely naturalistic colour palette is really rendered very well, and the sharpness and level of picture detail is up there with a totally top quality image transfer. So all in all, there is not a mark or any dust spots anywhere and so gives a wonderful fine level of film grain that is slightly visible, but in no way intrusive. So congratulations must go to Columbia Pictures and EUREKA! Entertainment for their awesome professional top quality presentation.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – Columbia Pictures and EUREKA! Entertainment bring you a choice of 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and 2.0 LPCM Stereo Audio and it is of course entirely up to you which audio experience you prefer to watch, as each has a slight edge over each of the audio presentation. The audio quality is clear and very lively on both audio mixes. As to the dialogue, this is mainly is confined to the centre speaker and when comes to parts of the film where a lot of action happens, all of your speakers kick in to give a good spooky surround sound effects. When it comes to the composed film music, this also gets good use for all your speakers and helps to enhance this very spooky film to good effect.
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: Fear Fest 2008 Reunion Panel [2008] [1080p] [1.78:1] [54:32] Here we have a reunion panel, that features an audience Q&A with some of the key people involved with the film ‘FRIGHT NIGHT’ that happened on the 7th – 9th March, 2008 in Dallas, Texas. How much you will get out of the audience Fear Fest 2008 Reunion Panel Question and Answer session depends in part on whether you are a massive fan of the horror film ‘FRIGHT NIGHT,’ because some of what they talk about is also mentioned in the next lot of special features, but despite this, there is still plenty worth hearing from the panel up on the stage and a couple of unique and interesting anecdotes to this special feature, is the one involving boxer Sugar Ray Leonard. Intriguingly, one fan asks when we are likely to see a special edition disc release, well of course EUREKA! Entertainment has provided us with the ultimate special edition Blu-ray disc. Please Note: This was not filmed by a professional crew, so the camerawork is sometimes a little shaky and the sound you get to hear up on the stage from the panel is not very good and sometimes hinders the clarity of their voices, even though they used a proper mike. Also some of the audience questions are often impossible to make out, but the mike used by the panel was very clear, but some of them did not seem to hold the mike properly and had to be shown how to talk into the mike properly. So all in all, this special feature of this Fear Fest 2008 Reunion Panel was quite interesting and we get lots of interesting anecdotes from the cast and crew about working on the film ‘FRIGHT NIGHT.’ Contributors include: Tom Holland, Chris Sarandon, William Ragsdale, Stephen Geoffreys, Amanda Bearse, Jonathan Stark, Julie Carmen, Tommy Lee Wallace and moderated by Rob Galluzzo.
Special Feature: SHOCK Till You Drop Presents Choice Cuts Episodes XXII, XXII and XXV [2016] [1080p] [1.78:1] [28:18] With this special feature, we get to view a three-part interview with writer-director Tom Holland, and conducted by genre writer and aficionado Ryan Turek for Choice Cuts, which I'm guessing is a webcast show. Conducted at Tom Holland's house, and it finds the filmmaker in a very upbeat mood and engagingly chatty as well, as he talks about his script work, the process of writing ‘Psycho II,’ and developing the screenplay for the film ‘FRIGHT NIGHT,’ and how his early work as an actor informed his future direction as a director. Tom Holland talks in-depth about films he has directed like ‘Childs Play’ and ‘The Beast Within,’ and Tom Holland informs us that he hated the exploding head. Also Tom Holland informs us that he was very keen to direct the film ‘Psycho II,’ but only if he could secure the actor Anthony Perkins. Tom Holland also said that if he did not get the script 100% right, the critics would slaughter his film. But when the word got out that Anthony Perkins would appear in the film, the news media went into a crazy frenzy and when the film was finally released it had cost $4.2,000,000 and made a profit of $90,000,000. Tom Holland talked about his early days in working on the stage is all kinds of productions, some large, some small and also talks about his work on Television programmes. Tom Holland also goes into great detail about directing the film ‘FRIGHT NIGHT’ and we get to see Tom’s rare memorabilia from that film, that includes the Bat model, that has a wing span of 5 feet, we also to see the burnt out Vampire model, that you see at the end of the film and we also see the transition head of the Werewolf that Stephen Geoffreys wore. This is a nice special feature and well worth viewing.
Special Feature: Vintage Electronic Press Kit [1985] [480i] [1.33:1] [93:59] With this Backstage Production. Inc. special feature presentation, you get to view a collection of vintage material produced for use with other media outlets in promoting the film ‘FRIGHT NIGHT’ and includes the following:
U.S Review Acclaim: Here we get to view a plethora of all the critics comments and especially praising the film ‘FRIGHT NIGHT’ and of course the film gets very high praise. [1:25]
‘FRIGHT NIGHT’ Music Video [English Version]: This music video was performed by J. Geils Band and including scenes from The Motion Picture [3:55]
‘FRIGHT NIGHT’ Music Video [Spanish Version]: This music video was performed by J. Geils Band and including scenes from The Motion Picture and is sung in English [3:55]
The Making of . . . . . . ‘FRIGHT NIGHT’ Music Video: It features Seth Justman [J. Geils Band] and also includes scenes from The Motion Picture [3:52]
FEATURETTE: “A Vampire For The 80’s: This features a Roddy McDowall Introduction and also featuring scenes from The Motion Picture and also behind-the-scene filming. Contributors include: Tom Holland [Writer/Director], Chris Saradon [Actor], Herb Jaffe [Producer], William Ragsdale [Actor], Amanda Bearse [Actress], Stephen Geoffreys [Actor] and Roddy McDowall [Actor] [11:03]
FEATURETTE: “A Vampire For The 80’s [Without the Roddy McDowall Introduction]: Here we get in-depth interviews with cast and crew and also features scenes from The Motion Picture and also behind-the-scene filming. Contributors include: Tom Holland [Writer/Director], Chris Saradon [Actor], Herb Jaffe [Producer], William Ragsdale [Actor], Amanda Bearse [Actress], Stephen Geoffreys [Actor] and Roddy McDowall [Actor] [10:14]
NEWSWRAP #1: Tom Holland: From Soap Operas to Screenplays to Screams: Here Tom Holland talks in-depth about his life working in the entertainment business and we also get to view again some rare behind-the-scene filming on the set of ‘FRIGHT NIGHT’ as well as scenes from The Motion Picture. Contributors include: Tom Holland [Writer/Director] and Chris Saradon [Actor] [1:55]
NEWSWRAP #2: Chris Sarandon: A Different Kind of Vampire: Chris Sarandon talks in-depth about how he wanted to portray his character of the Vampire and we also get to view again some rare behind-the-scene filming on the set of ‘FRIGHT NIGHT’ as well as scenes from The Motion Picture. Contributors include: Chris Saradon [Actor] and Tom Holland [Writer/Director] [1:55]
NEWSWRAP #3: Roddy McDowall: A Child Star Who Made It: Roddy McDowall talks about his long career in the film industry from being a child star and his long career as a serious actor on stage and in films. Contributors include: Roddy McDowall [Actor], Tom Holland [Writer/Director] and Chris Sarandon [Actor] [2:10]
NEWSWRAP #4: Youthful Stars of FRIGHT NIGHT: Here we mainly get comments from the younger actors about their characters in the film ‘FRIGHT NIGHT.’ Contributors include: Williams Ragsdale [Actor], Tom Holland [Writer/Director], Stephen Geoffreys [Actor] and Amanda Bearse [Actress] [1:47]
From ‘GHOSTBUSTERS’ to ‘FRIGHT NIGHT’ [Short Version]: Here we get a conversation with Special Effects Coordinator Richard Edlund and the problems with the special effects and to make sure it all looks totally realistic. We also get clips from the films ‘GHOSTBUSTERS’ and ‘FRIGHT NIGHT.’ [3:16]
From ‘GHOSTBUSTERS’ to ‘FRIGHT NIGHT’ [Long Version]: Here once again we get a conversation with Special Effects Coordinator Richard Edlund and the problems with the special effects and to make sure it all looks totally realistic, but this time it has much more in-depth information. We also again get clips from the films ‘GHOSTBUSTERS’ and ‘FRIGHT NIGHT.’ [6:03]
Open-End Interview with Tom Holland [Writer/Director]: Here we get a much longer version of Tom Holland talking in-depth about his life working in the entertainment business and we also get to view again some rare behind-the-scene filming on the set of ‘FRIGHT NIGHT’ as well as scenes from The Motion Picture. For some unknown strange reason, the person interviewing Tom Holland has their sound turned down and I found this a very strange way of doing an interview, you should hear what the interviewer is saying to Tom Holland. [4:50]
Open-End Interview with Chris Sarandon: Here Chris Sarandon talks in-depth about portraying a Vampire and how he wanted to give a much more humorous personality to his character. We also again get to view some rare behind-the-scene filming on the set of ‘FRIGHT NIGHT’ as well as scenes from The Motion Picture. For some unknown strange reason, the person interviewing Chris Sarandon has their sound turned down and I found this a very strange way of doing an interview, you should hear what the interviewer is saying to Chris Sarandon. [4:18]
Open-End Interview with William Ragsdale: Here William Ragsdale talks in-depth about his character in the film. We once again get to view some rare behind-the-scene filming on the set of ‘FRIGHT NIGHT’ as well as scenes from The Motion Picture. For some unknown strange reason, the person interviewing William Ragsdale has their sound turned down and I found this a very strange way of doing an interview, you should hear what the interviewer is saying to William Ragsdale. [5:39
Open-End Interview with Amanda Bearse: Here the actress Amanda Bearse talks in-depth about how she wanted portray her character in the film. Once again get to view some rare behind-the-scene filming on the set of ‘FRIGHT NIGHT’ as well as scenes from The Motion Picture. For some unknown strange reason, the person interviewing Amanda Bearse has their sound turned down and I found this a very strange way of doing an interview, you should hear what the interviewer is saying to Amanda Bearse. [3:05]
Open-End Interview with Roddy McDowall: Here we get a much longer interview with the actor Roddy McDowall and again talks about his start in the film industry and all the wonderful people he has worked throughout his long career. Once again get to view some rare behind-the-scene filming on the set of ‘FRIGHT NIGHT’ as well as scenes from The Motion Picture. For some unknown strange reason, the person interviewing Roddy McDowall has their sound turned down and I found this a very strange way of doing an interview, you should hear what the interviewer is saying to Roddy McDowall and love to know the idiot who decided to turn the sound down of the person interviewing everyone. [4:21]
TV SCENE CLIP #1: Tomorrow Night: Here we get to view a short clip from the film ‘FRIGHT NIGHT.’ [1:18]
TV SCENE CLIP #2: I Believe In Vampires: Here we get to view a different short clip from the film ‘FRIGHT NIGHT.’ [1:29]
TV SCENE CLIP #3: I Love You Charlie: Here we get to view a different short clip from the film ‘FRIGHT NIGHT.’ [1:32]
TV SCENE CLIP #4: Give You A Hickey: Here we get to view a different short clip from the film ‘FRIGHT NIGHT.’ [1:13]
TV SCENE CLIP #5: Take My Hand: Here we get to view a different short clip from the film ‘FRIGHT NIGHT.’ This is now getting very tedious and so boring. [1:15]
TV SCENE CLIP #6: Welcome To Fright Night: Here we get to view a different short clip from the film ‘FRIGHT NIGHT.’ This is now getting extremely tedious and so utterly boring. [1:15]
TV SCENE CLIP #7: Out of Time: Here at last we get the final different short clip from the film ‘FRIGHT NIGHT’ where we are near the end of the film where the Vampire is finally destroyed. [1:25]
Despite the very poor quality of each item, it is still a good view because we get of lots of rare vintage items and the featurettes and interviews are of particular interest. The only slightly negative aspect of this special feature is that you get the video timer clock visible at the bottom of the screen, and unfortunately when the names of the people appear, it is obscured by the video timer clock.
Theatrical Trailers [1985] [1080p] [1.78:1] [2:49] Here we get to view two of the Original Theatrical Trailers for the film ‘FRIGHT NIGHT,’ and if you like being scared, then these two trailers will satisfy your fear factor, and they are presented with the G-rated and R-rated theatrical trailers for the film ‘FRIGHT NIGHT.’ The two versions of the film trailers are deceptively marketed for the film as a straight-up horror film and are completely devoid of the films wit and humour, something that must have really annoyed the filmmakers no end, especially Tom Holland.
Special Feature: Stills and Memorabilia Gallery: Here we get to view 63 high-resolution black-and-white and colour images of scenes from the film, especially with Tom Holland working with the actors and crew, images from newspaper adverts, Columbia Pictures and Vista Films Corporation Memorandums; Creature models that were from Tom Holland’s personal collection; Convention images; brilliant Illustrations and Posters. To move to the next image, you have to press the right hand next button on your remote control.
Special Feature: You're So Cool, Brewster! The Story of ‘FRIGHT NIGHT’ [2016] [1080p] [1.78:1/2.35:1] [146:42] This is a new and stunning special feature of a Dead Mouse Productions, and in conjunction with Cult Screens UK Ltd., A Dead Rabbit Films, Tom Holland’s Terror Time; Tom Holland Presents, but it is also subtitled “Peter Vincent: The Great Vampire Killer” and get to view well over two hours of the definitive documentary on the making of the film ‘FRIGHT NIGHT,’ and it focuses on the first original film, and was created exclusively for this Blu-ray release. As expected, the first third is focussed on how the film came to be, the process of selecting the cast, and some of the specifics of the production itself. There are plenty of very engaging and interesting anecdotes, and a whole section on the actor Roddy McDowall, and an absolute plethora of material on the creation of the special makeup effects and this occupies almost half the running time. We also get to view a discussion on the music, the promotion and its success of the subsequent massive cult following and the sequel, ‘Fright Night Part 2.’ This special feature deserves serious credit for all what you view and is a wonderful and a completely satisfyingly documentary. Contributors include: Simon Bamford [Peter Vincent], Tom Holland [Writer/Director], David Chackler [Music and Film Supervisor], Art Evans [Detective Lennox], Bob Corff [Jonathan], Stephen Geoffreys [Evil Ed], Amanda Bearse [Amy Peterson], William Ragsdale [Charley Brewster], Chris Sarandon [Jerry Dandrige], Jonathan Stark [Billy Cole], John DeCuir Jr. [Production Designer], Jan Kiesser [Director of Photography], Kent Beyda [Film Editor], Roddy McDowall [Peter Vincent], Rick Stratton [Additional Makeup Artist], Steve Johnson [Creature Designer and Creator], Mark Bryan Wilson [First Technician/Makeup Effects], Richard Edlund, A.S.C. [Visual Effects Producer], Randall William Cook [Creature Designer and Creator], Bill Sturgeon [Creature Effects], Steve Neill [Creature Effects], Ken Diaz [Makeup Artist], Brad Fiedel [Composer] and Seth Justman [J. Geils Band].
Special Feature: What is FRIGHT NIGHT? [2016] [1080p] [1.78:1] [10:42] Here once again we are present to a Dead Mouse Productions and in conjunction with Cult Screens UK Ltd., and again it features the cast and crew with in-depth interviews. It comprises largely of interview footage not used in the previous special feature documentary. Here once again we get the views of the actors and crew sharing their views on Tom Holland and Roddy McDowall especially, who of course was both the screenwriter and director, and obviously with specific reference to the film ‘FIGHT NIGHT.’ Sadly, the background music plays throughout this special feature, and at one point comes close to drowning out the actress Julie Carmen. Tom Holland himself is most eloquent on the metaphorical aspect of the horror genre, and his ability to reflect on what is happening in today’s society and is very effective on his outlook on society in general. Contributors include: Chris Sarandon [Jerry Dandrige], David Chackler [Music and Film Supervisor], Jan Kiesser [Director of Photography], Kent Beyda [Film Editor], Steve Johnson [Creature Designer and Creator], ], Amanda Bearse [Amy Peterson], Stephen Geoffreys [Evil Ed], Mark Bryan Wilson [First Technician/Makeup Effects], Jonathan Stark [Billy Cole], Brad Fiedel [Composer], Ken Diaz [Makeup Artist], Rick Stratton [Additional Makeup Artist], Art Evans [Detective Lennox], Mark Irwin [Cinematographer for ‘Fright Night Part 2’], Julie Carmen [Regine for ‘Fright Night Part 2’], Brian Thompson [Bosworth for ‘Fright Night Part 2’], Tommy Lee Wallace [Director of ‘Fright Night Part 2’], William Ragsdale [Charley Brewster] and Tom Holland [Writer/Director].
Special Feature: Tom Holland: Writing Horror [2016] [1080p] [1.78:1] [8:55] This special feature is once again presented by the Dead Mouse Productions and in conjunction with Cult Screens UK Ltd., and features interviews with Writer-director Tom Holland discusses his love of horror, and his collaborator stars reveal how his passion spilled over onto the film set. It basically gives us unused interview material from previous documentaries, and is underscored with the same music. This special feature tends to focuses on the process of the writing for the film ‘FRIGHT NIGHT,’ and the thinking behind it, and what drew the actors to be in the film. One thing that stands out, and that is the heartfelt plea from Tom Holland to up-and-coming filmmakers to try and retain creative control over what they want to achieve with their film. Contributors include: Tom Holland [Writer/Director], Amanda Bearse [Amy Peterson], Randall William Cook [Creature Designer and Creator], Bob Corff [Jonathan of ‘Fright Night’], William Ragsdale [Charley Brewster], Stephen Geoffreys [Evil Ed] and Chris Sarandon [Jerry Dandrige].
Special Feature: Roddy McDowall: From Apes to Bats [2016] [1080i/1080p] [1.78:1] [20:53] This Dead Mouse Production and in conjunction with Cult Screens UK Ltd., and featuring archival footage of Roddy McDowall, with also cast and crew interviews. There are anecdotes aplenty from the shooting of the film and beyond. Composer Brad Fiedel remembers Roddy McDowall being in drag when he first met him and informs us it was for a film that Roddy McDowall was appearing in at the time. Tom Holland recalls being taken by him to visit tunnels that ran beneath the M-G-M studio buildings. Chris Sarandon recalls that every year on his birthday he would receive a postcard from Roddy McDowall and especially wherever in the world he was working. Actor Bob Corf recalls being invited to visit him on the set of the film ‘Planet of the Apes’ and then spending some time trying to find Roddy McDowall, as he and many others were wearing their ape makeup at the time. Once again, the same background music comes close to drowning out the soft-spoken actress Julie Carmen. But despite this, this was quite an enjoyable and interesting special feature. Contributors include: Roddy McDowall (1988 archive footage), Tom Holland [Writer/Director], Bob Corff [Jonathan of ‘Fright Night’], Mark Irwin [Cinematographer of ‘Fright Night Part 2’], Amanda Bearse [Amy Peterson], Chris Sarandon [Jerry Dandrige], Art Evans [Detective Lennox], Stephen Geoffreys [Evil Ed], Brad Fiedel [Composer], Julie Carmen [Regine of ‘Fright Night Part 2’], Jonathan Stark [Billy Cole], Richard Edlund [Visual Effects Producer], Jon Gries [Louie of ‘Fright Night Part 2’], William Ragsdale [Charley Brewster] and Tommy Lee Wallace [Director of ‘Fright Night Part 2’].
Finally, ‘FRIGHT NIGHT’ was definitely the vampire film to view if you are a fan of this genre, especially for us long-standing horror fans who have been waiting for this type of film that is an homage to those old black-and-white Universal Pictures Dracula films especially and Tom Holland has really given us something to admire and cherish, and is one film that again drew on the old classic genre films of years past and successfully brought the vampire film into the modern age, in a manner that others had tried but failed to convincingly do so. The film gives us horror with that wonderful tongue in cheek humour and has one of the coolest and most casually threatening vampires in modern cinema, and builds up so skilfully to an absolute brilliant end to the film, that will have you on the edge of your seat in making you feel the Vampire will win in the end and if you are a fan like me of the Vampire Hammer Horror Films, then this film is a great homage to that Vampire genre and will quench your thirst for this film. The Blu-ray image transfer of the film is utterly superb, and as an added bonus, we have a plethora and comprehensive amazing collection of extra special features, that is a must have for anyone with even a mild interest in 1980’s horror genre and filmmaking. Very Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
