This is seriously one of the worst movies of 2011. It's neither scary, or funny. The script is horrible, can't understand how anybody could find this even a little bit entertaining. Collin Farrell does look like he's having fun and David Tennant definitely is the only good thing about this movie, but with a cast like this could have been a lot better.
Let me first say I've never seen the original Fright Night. I'm not a huge horror fan, see. The NEW Fright Night came recommended by fellow David Tennant fans, so I snatched it up. And I wasn't disappointed! The movie has a lot of fun re-interpreting the original story line (well, I CAN read a Wikipedia entry), and throw in lots of vampire (and vampire hunting) gags I haven't really seen before. Colin Farrell gives as creepy a performance as he did in Daredevil, Tennant is a complete (and completely entertaining) arse as a Las Vegas "vampire magician", and the kids, Anton "Chekov" Yelchin and Imogen Poots, are engaging without being the jerks found in many horror flicks.
I have great affection for the original Fright Night so admittedly came to this with some trepidation. I wasn't quite prepared for such a terrible, charmless, hopelessly un-frightening film. What was originally a really interesting idea of a normal suburban kid having to protect himself from something massively out of his control is now mostly about a unlikeable teen who is desperate to fit in with the cool kids (read: twats), has to learn how to make out with his hot girlfriend and transforms into an action hero to do it. Gone is the light and shade, the emotional underpinning of the characters. Anton Yelchin is mostly dull in the thankless leading role; Farrell is good casting as Jerry, but is saddled with a paper-thin script and a performance overwhelmed by CGI effects, and he's no Chris Sarandon for sheer creepiness; David Tennant.. would all the lunatic fan-girls take a step back...? It's a terrible performance, mostly the wide-eyed shtick he's been pushing ever since Dr Who made him famous and ruined any sense of subtlety. He pushes every scene too hard and for a character designed for some light relief is singularly tedious and unfunny. The only moment which I thought was memorable was very attractive Imogen Poots smashing very annoying Christopher Mintz-Plasse face in with a mace. I do thank director Craig Gillespie for that. Otherwise spare us from cheap and shitty CGI effects: unconvincing blood splatters, assorted vampires exploding into ash and toothy faces roaring at the camera (presumably for the 3D screenings). Utterly useless.
Only redeeming moment of this movie was the scene with "Fogul" after he's become a vampire. Other than that it disgraced the 1985 version I grew up with.
I expected shit, but i liked it. As you all are saying, Tennant was the best part about it. And i don't wanna sound like a horny preteen, but imogen poots is hot. And i'm glad she's in something after 28 weeks later. Or was it days?
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Comments 1 - 15 of 27
CaptYamato
Being a fan of the original I wasn't expecting much but...damn this was good and fun.Senseo1990
I rate this film Colin Farrell out of Colin Farrell.Watch the original and skip this one.
danisanna
Not sure about this one.mook
A fun & largely successful modern day re-imagining, although it does have a tendency to play its hand too quickly. 7/10.Follow me on Twitter @LastFilmSeen
Pheronike
This is seriously one of the worst movies of 2011. It's neither scary, or funny. The script is horrible, can't understand how anybody could find this even a little bit entertaining. Collin Farrell does look like he's having fun and David Tennant definitely is the only good thing about this movie, but with a cast like this could have been a lot better.Siskoid
Let me first say I've never seen the original Fright Night. I'm not a huge horror fan, see. The NEW Fright Night came recommended by fellow David Tennant fans, so I snatched it up. And I wasn't disappointed! The movie has a lot of fun re-interpreting the original story line (well, I CAN read a Wikipedia entry), and throw in lots of vampire (and vampire hunting) gags I haven't really seen before. Colin Farrell gives as creepy a performance as he did in Daredevil, Tennant is a complete (and completely entertaining) arse as a Las Vegas "vampire magician", and the kids, Anton "Chekov" Yelchin and Imogen Poots, are engaging without being the jerks found in many horror flicks.dombrewer
I have great affection for the original Fright Night so admittedly came to this with some trepidation. I wasn't quite prepared for such a terrible, charmless, hopelessly un-frightening film. What was originally a really interesting idea of a normal suburban kid having to protect himself from something massively out of his control is now mostly about a unlikeable teen who is desperate to fit in with the cool kids (read: twats), has to learn how to make out with his hot girlfriend and transforms into an action hero to do it. Gone is the light and shade, the emotional underpinning of the characters. Anton Yelchin is mostly dull in the thankless leading role; Farrell is good casting as Jerry, but is saddled with a paper-thin script and a performance overwhelmed by CGI effects, and he's no Chris Sarandon for sheer creepiness; David Tennant.. would all the lunatic fan-girls take a step back...? It's a terrible performance, mostly the wide-eyed shtick he's been pushing ever since Dr Who made him famous and ruined any sense of subtlety. He pushes every scene too hard and for a character designed for some light relief is singularly tedious and unfunny. The only moment which I thought was memorable was very attractive Imogen Poots smashing very annoying Christopher Mintz-Plasse face in with a mace. I do thank director Craig Gillespie for that. Otherwise spare us from cheap and shitty CGI effects: unconvincing blood splatters, assorted vampires exploding into ash and toothy faces roaring at the camera (presumably for the 3D screenings). Utterly useless.nikkanicki
Only redeeming moment of this movie was the scene with "Fogul" after he's become a vampire. Other than that it disgraced the 1985 version I grew up with.steepedsea
Colin Farrell did well, Anton Yelchin was very good, David Tenant was shirtless, and Toni Collette like always was perfect.JosteinAsk
just as cool as the original, me want sequel...BeasleyOnFilm
Tennant stole every scene he was in. But aside from him, the film was steeped in mediocrity.Othelieae
This wasn't much of a horror film, and I do frighten easily. But David Tennant was very good in it.placebo_yue
I expected shit, but i liked it. As you all are saying, Tennant was the best part about it. And i don't wanna sound like a horny preteen, but imogen poots is hot. And i'm glad she's in something after 28 weeks later. Or was it days?barkingsparrows
This was suprisingly brilliant. I already adored the cast from the beginning, but I was thoroughly impressed.David Tennant was absolutely flawless in this.
JCS
Surprisingly a very good film!Showing items 1 – 15 of 27