Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Fright Night - The Vampire Strikes Back - hunk, horns, and all


Fright Night: The vampire strikes back… hunk, horns and all

Reviewer
By CRISTOBAL LABOG
September 17, 2011, 3:00am
A scene from ‘Fright Night’
A scene from ‘Fright Night’
MANILA, Philippines -- Can you imagine a more unlikely modern-day Dracula than Colin Farrell? Yes, we’re talking Colin Farrell of movie event “Alexander” and cult film “In Bruges” who spectacularly wowed worldwide cinema goers in “Minority Report,” holding his own against megastar Tom Cruise.
Times must be desperate in Hollywood, particularly for A-list actors of Colin’s age. Not only do they have to pit themselves against a new generation of young would-be Cruises and Brad Pitts. They also have to contend with the current domination of roles in that age bracket by George Clooney and Clive Owen.
And, don’t forget, gentle reader: Tom and Brad did portray bloodsuckers in the widely ballyhooed “Interview with a Vampire.”Pitt so out-fanged Cruise in that opus, Tom swore he would out-snarl Brad in the planned sequel, “The Vampire Lescaut,” which to-date remains a plan.
Blame that, maybe, on Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” saga? These movies altered filmgoers’ perception of vampires. No more fright-ugly Peter Cushings and Bela Lugosi look-alikes for today’s looks-obsessed audiences. Welcome to Robert Pattinson country where Edward Cullen makes the vampire truly vamp.
That’s probably why director Craig Gillespie and the “Fright Night” producers picked Colin Farrell as lead actor in this 1985 film’s remake. Hey, the guy not only out-Brando’s Marlon in or out of a white T-shirt a la “A Streetcar Named Desire” in this movie. As Las Vegas suburb newcomer Jerry, he practically steals the show from otherwise top-billed Anton Yelchin (the memorable Russian-accented teenager in 2009’s “Star Trek”). Yelchin plays Charley Brewster who harbors an automatic dislike of newcomers. He wants his Nevada neighborhood to remain his friends’ turf… until these friends start disappearing with nary a trace.
Ironically, Charley has earlier chided boyhood buddy Ed (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) for declaring that new neighbor Jerry is a vampire. Why else does he keep his house shuttered? Charley argues that the guy must be working in nearby Las Vegas, so like everybody else laboring there, he slaves nights and sleeps days.
Charley swallows his words when Ed, too, vanishes. But neither his horny girl friend, Amy (Imogen Poots), nor his mother, Jane Brewster (graciously aged Toni Collette), believes his theory about Jerry. In fact, they find the newcomer downright debonair and want to invite him home! (In this film, vampires can’t just invade any home; they need an invitation.) So off Charley saunters to nearby Las Vegas to seek the services of Peter Vincent (BBC’s suave, stiff-upper-lipped David Tennant) who does a vampire slayer act in one of the theatres.
It turns out vampires had victimized Peter’s parents, too, and his act is just that, an act. He warns that the new breed of bloodsuckers possesses insurmountable supernatural strength. Run for dear life, he advises Charley. But instead of being terrified, Charley resolves to terminate Jerry’s evil ways in a manner that will confound and astound even the most blase moviegoer.
Director Craig Gillespie and writer Marti Noxon wisely set “Fright Night” mostly after sundown, for that’s when vampires strike. The film’s intentionally slow pace heightens its eerie ambience. Goose pimples will surely torment not a few moviegoers for much of the show’s suspense-laden hour and three quarters. The sets of production designer Richard Bridgland Fitzgerald rack up the tension so much you’ll never want to visit Nevada.
Noxon’s witty writing effectively balances the killing suspense with tongue-in-cheek, fangs-on-neck situations, especially in the cold-blooded climax. Whenever it’s time for fang-baring, you’ll feel the bite… blood, guts, gore and all. Henceforth, even the star-struck won’t want to invite Jerry home.
Although shot in 3-D, “Fright Night” stands solidly on its 2-D own – so, as social critic Bobby Caballero would say, spend only what you can. The fact is, nothing in the movie demands three-dimensional enjoyment – save Colin?
Javier Aguirresarobe shot the film in magenta hues to enhance its gnawing look. Tatiana S. Riegel briskly edits “Fright Night” to appropriate music by Ramin Djawadi. Credit costume designer Susan Matheson for enhancing Colin Farrell’s hunk appeal. Michael de Luca and Alison Rosenzweig produced this Dream Works Pictures release.
“Fright Night” runs for one hour and 41 minutes. MTRCB rates the film PG-13, but it’s probably too bloody for even the guardians of 13-year-olds.
Cristobal Labog has worked as a writer and strategic planner for advertising agencies in Manila, Tokyo, Brussels and Amsterdam. He divides his time between the city of Trabzon on the Black Sea in Turkey and the city of Mandaluyong in the Philippines. For questions and comments, e-mail crislabog@gmail.com.
 

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