May Remakes & Reboots - Day 14 - Fright Night 1985 / 2011

Remakes were always a thing, even going back to the early days of movies. They’d remake a silent movie when talkies came out, etc. But the further we go, the more they remake. In todays world DVDs, Blu Rays, and five billion streaming channels, we feel there is less and less need for them. Most of them are pretty easy to find if you are interested in watching them. But Hollywood insists on rebranding and making a new version, trying to improve upon the original. “Psycho”? You can’t improve it. You can’t change it. You made the same movie again. Why? They are useless. Occasionally they get it right. Not all of these are winners though. Its a mixed bag. Some good, some bad, some just out of the box.

Day 14 - Fright Night  1985 / 2011 - Melanie

Welcome to Fright Night .... For Real!

This for me is the perfect example of a remake done correctly. Now MAYBE I was a little bit biased because we had David Tennant running around in skin tight leather dressed like Criss Angel (I mean seriously I would have JUST watched it for that), but seriously? The did a good job.  The original 80's is a classic in this house and has been watched more times than I can count. The dance scene at the club - still one of my favs and probably my BIGGEST complaint about the remake. The set up was right there ..... why didn't they use it an update it for the 2000s!!! (Bonus video clip of the dance scene below lol)  The remake held the right balance of original content with appropriate nods to the original (including a fabulous cameo by Chris Sarandon so you get both versions on screen at one point - although Chris wasn't a vampire - the best part - they didn't name him until the credits and they just had JD for the character. Love things like that.  As a note it is also the second vampire movie that we have talked about lately that featured the late Anton Yelchin.

​The original is more campy / typical 80s horror where as the 2011 version definitely played more expensive - but both versions for me are a winner!

Dave Says -  Actually not a bad remake. One thing I kept thinking though is that the actors of Evil Ed and Charlie should have been switched. The callbacks, references and cameo from original cast member are all there. And enough changes to the movie so you are watching the same thing all over again.. 

Have you seen it? What did you think?

​Original, Remake, or Neither? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!