This '80s flick is to All Hallows’ Eve what "A Christmas Story" is to Christmas: a true classic deserving a 24-hour marathon and a wild all-night celebration where blood takes the place of alcohol. Director Tom Holland’s heartfelt homage to vampire movies breathed new life into a horror subgenre that was, sadly, starting to fade away, much like an undead creature of the night. It brought the vampire back into the spotlight, setting the stage for other nostalgic blood-sucking hits of the era, such as "The Lost Boys", "Near Dark", and "Bram Stoker’s Dracula".
So grab your binoculars, crucifix, and garlic necklace as Tim Williams and guest co-host Chris Evans discuss “Fright Night” from 1985 on this special Halloween episode of the 80s Flick Flashback podcast!
Here are some additional behind-the-scenes trivia we were unable to cover in this episode:
According to Chris Sarandon, he wanted Jerry to whistle "Whistle While You Work" rather than "Strangers in the Night" when first confronting Charley. But Disney would not give their permission to use the song.
To evoke a genuine frightened reaction when Charley first sees Amy as a vampire, William Ragsdale did not see the stunt actress in makeup beforehand.
Evil Ed's complex death scene, designed by Edlund and Bruno, strategically used darkness and quick cuts to obscure details. They intentionally reduced the lighting, relying on elements like a swinging chandelier that Wolf Ed crashes into. Visual effects cinematographer Bill Neil stated this swinging light was crucial, as the shifting shadows allowed them to hold shots longer, making the "brief glimpses" of the character highly effective.
Sources:
Wikipedia, IMDB, Box Office Mojo
https://www.dreadcentral.com/lists/261132/fearsome-facts-8-things-didnt-know-fright-night-1985/
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