Fright Night (1985)

All Critics (29) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (27) | Rotten (2) | DVD (9)

Chris Sarandon is terrific as the vampire, quite affable and debonair until his fingernails start to grow and his eyes get that glow.

September 26, 2007 Full Review | Comment (1)

Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

It shouldn't even begin to work, and yet, strangely, it does, sort of, thanks to the assured handling of writer/director Holland.

January 26, 2006 Full Review

Time Out

Top Critic

Its tone is never exactly comedic and its horrific touches are more disgusting than scary.

May 20, 2003 Full Review | Comments (5)

Janet Maslin

New York Times

Top Critic

Fright Night is not a distinguished movie, but it has a lot of fun being undistinguished.

January 1, 2000 Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

Fright Night is a tidy little contemporary variation on the vampire horror movie.

August 21, 2011 Full Review

Richard T. Jameson

Parallax View

Makes up for a dearth of scares with cheeky self-referentiality.

April 21, 2011 Full Review

Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

Underrated horror film is modern classic.

February 17, 2008 | Comments (2)

Steve Crum

Video-Reviewmaster.com

It is McDowall who makes this film better than it should be with his performance as the ham actor.

September 26, 2007 Full Review

Film4

The teen horror that was way before its time in the comedy parody stakes.

September 26, 2007 Full Review

Ian Nathan

Empire Magazine

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

September 26, 2007 Full Review

TV Guide's Movie Guide

This horror classic brings together great talent for an entertaining, and spooky vampire tale; helped inspire "Disturbia."

July 13, 2007 | Comments (2)

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Film Threat

Tom Holland's directorial debut is a wildly entertaining concoction that perfectly blends horror and comedy. Roddy McDowall steals the show as TV horror host Peter Vincent.

January 26, 2006

Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

You'll scream, You'll laugh.....You'll want to press rewind

May 12, 2005

Clint Morris

Moviehole

Decent little horror film with an unusual twist or two.

November 1, 2004

Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Four words: You're so COOL, Brewster...!

March 7, 2004

Kevin A. Ranson

MovieCrypt.com

Scar-eeee!

January 8, 2004 Full Review

Blake French

Filmcritic.com

A run-of-the mill vampire film buoyed by Sarandon's tragic villain and McDowall's wonderful would-be Van Helsing

July 6, 2003

Rob Vaux

Flipside Movie Emporium

For my money, Chris Sarandon makes the best vampire in movie history.

May 30, 2003

Jeffrey Westhoff

Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

Classic vampire movie, goofy scarefest before Scream did it.

February 18, 2003

Kevin Fiddler

Henderson Home News (Henderson, NV)

Surprisingly cheeky horror film that makes for good repeated viewings

January 24, 2003

Jon Niccum

Lawrence Journal-World

A darn solid little vampire flick. Mixes horror, comedy and affection for the genre into one tasty dish. And Roddy's just great in this one.

July 25, 2002

Scott Weinberg

eFilmCritic.com

• 1. Peter Vincent: Mrs. Brewster. My God, the phone lines have been cut. [Evil Ed arises from under the bed sheets with a wig on]
  2. Evil Ed: I know. [giggling] I DID IT!
  3. Peter Vincent: Where is Charley's mother?
  4. Evil Ed: [removes the wig] Oh, well, she's working nights. BUT!... she left a note. [He chuckles like a speed freak as he removes the note from his pocket. He reads it] Mmmmmm mmm! His dinner... is in the oven!
  – Submitted by Nick S (12 months ago)
• 1. Evil Ed: Oh, you're so COOL, Brewster!
  – Submitted by Lucas M (12 months ago)
• 1. Peter Vincent: Welcome to this fright night...
  – Submitted by Jean G C (16 months ago)
• 1. Amy Peterson: (after seeing Charley get startled by his window) Is something wrong?
  2. Charley Brewster: Nothing.
  3. Evil Ed: (after his eyes shine red outside Charley's window) Oh, you're so cool, Brewster!
  – Submitted by Creep F (2 years ago)
• 1. Peter Vincent: (on his TV show) This is Peter Vincent back once more with you...as host of Fright Night. I thought I'd let the vampires rest for a little while. Right, Charley?
  – Submitted by Creep F (2 years ago)
• 1. Amy Peterson: (trying to trick Charley) What's wrong? Don't you want me anymore? (Charley pulls out a crucifix and she hides her face; crying) It's not my fault, Charley. You promised you wouldn't let him get me! You promised!
  – Submitted by Creep F (2 years ago)

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