Ep 114 - FRIGHT NIGHT (1985) 40th ANNIVERSARY – Revisiting the '80s Vampire Horror Classic!!!

FRIGHT NIGHT (1985) d. Tom Holland (USA) FRIGHT NIGHT PART II (1988) d. Tommy Lee Wallace (USA) FRIGHT NIGHT (2011) d. Craig Gillespie (USA) FRIGHT NIGHT 2 (2013) d. Eduardo Rodriguez (USA) Written and directed by Tom Holland, 1985's Fright Night is a genre-blending horror-comedy that combines classic vampire lore with 1980s suburban paranoia. The story follows teenager Charley Brewster, who suspects his suave new neighbor, Jerry Dandrige, is a vampire. When his girlfriend Amy and best friend Ed dismiss his fears, Charley turns to horror host Peter Vincent to save the day… and the night. Chris Sarandon brings a heightened modern sophistication and menace to Jerry, while Roddy McDowall shines as the cowardly genre star pressed into true heroism. William Ragsdale and Amanda Bearse are charming as the young ingenues, with Stephen Geoffreys absolutely unforgettable as "Evil" Ed. Employing a mix of prosthetics, animatronics, puppetry, and makeup, the film's outstanding practical effects were brought to life by the talented team headed by Steve Johnson, William Randall Cook, and visual effects supervisor Richard Edlund, creating richly textured visuals that evoke both screams and laughter. Thanks to Holland's clever writing and deft direction, the cast's invested performances, and groundbreaking effects which still hold up decades later, Fright Night remains a touchstone of 1980s horror, a beloved cult classic that only seems to get better every year. Join AC and his fang-tastic panel of guests (Dino Clark, Daniel Millhouse, Maura Sarazen, Chris Scales) as we celebrate 40 years of Fright Night!! ------------------------------------------------- DINO CLARK has been a horror fan since he was a wee lad, after his parents bought their first VCR in the mid-80s. Born and raised in Chicago, he loves attending horror cons & chatting about his fave horror films with fellow fans! He has been in Human Resources for most of his career, which can be a mini-horror movie at times.  DANIEL MILLHOUSE joyfully returns to review films with Dr. AC and friends! As an Assistant Professor at the College of DuPage, he cherishes his Theatre, TV/Film, and Motion Capture acting experiences. He is one mischievous, charming, goofball. MAURA SARAZEN has been watching horror movies since she was a child. Her earliest memory is watching The Exorcist while in a playpen. She enjoys long walks in a fog filled forest, her favorite eye color is black sclera, and she truly believes turning into a werewolf would fix her back problems. CHRIS SCALES is a lifelong horror fan, aspiring horror screenwriter, and horror panelist.  ---------------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!