Starring William Ragsdale, Chris Sarandon, and Stephen Geoffreys. Also starring is Roddy McDowall, whose character’s name, “Peter Vincent”, is loosely based on veteran horror film figures English actor Peter Cushing and American actor Vincent Price. Directed and written by Tom Holland. The musical score was done by Brad Fiedel (who also scored The Terminator series). The visual effects are the work of Richard Edlund, who also provided the effects for Ghostbusters a year earlier. The film contains a puppet that was cut from Ghostbusters. The puppet is the rejected “Ghost Librarian” character.

Fright Night was well-received, winning three Saturn Awards; it also won an award and a nomination at Fantasporto. It spawned a 1988 sequel which also gained a Fantasporto nomination. The film also turned out to be a surprise hit at the box office. It performed the best of any horror film released during the summer of 1985, grossing just under $25 million domestically.

Charley Brewster (William Ragsdale) is a teenage horror movie fan. One night he sees new neighbors moving in next door and they appear to be carrying what looks like a coffin. Charley shrugs this off until he sees his new neighbor Jerry Dandridge (Chris Sarandon) biting the neck of a young woman. He tells his mother (Dorothy Fielding) what he saw but she doesn’t believe him. He tries to tell his friend “Evil” Ed (Stephen Geoffreys) and girlfriend Amy (Amanda Bearse) but they also believe Charley is mistaken and begin to worry about his mental wellbeing. Charley calls the police claiming that he saw Dandridge killing his date and that there is a coffin in the basement. The police investigate and not finding the hooker (Heidi Sorenson) and the teenage girl (Irina Irvine) they tell Charley to never call the police again.

Charley then decides to seek the help of veteran vampire movie star and local late-night horror showcase host Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowall), who after a long and mediocre career has become cynical and dispirited. Vincent visits Dandridge with Brewster in order to persuade Charley that he’s deluded (by asking Dandridge to drink tap water labeled ‘holy water’), only to find that Dandridge casts no reflection in his mirror. When Dandridge lures Amy into his home, Charley persuades Vincent that they must confront Dandridge, igniting Vincent’s long-slumbering faith and strength.