Great Movie Analysis: Fright Night » DVDs Worth Watching

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October 27, 2006

I don’t like horror movies (or horror comics, for that matter). One of the few exceptions is the stylishly done Fright Night.

Dorian at PostmodernBarney has an excellent in-depth analysis of the homosexual themes and coding in this modern vampire movie. (Gay elements? With Chris Sarandon and Roddy McDowall?) He pointed out a lot of elements I didn’t previously recognize. (Although I do wish he had more pictures from some of his key points, like Ed before-and-after.) I think it may be time for a rewatch.

6 Responses

Dan Coyle writes:

October 27, 2006 at 10:10 am

One thing I’ve always liked about Fright Night is how well developed the characters are in contrast to other horror films.

Johanna writes:

October 27, 2006 at 10:23 am

Good point, and that probably contributes to my enjoyment of it.

lea writes:

October 27, 2006 at 1:47 pm

What do you think of The Frighteners? I am not a horror fan at all, but I love it.

Johanna writes:

October 27, 2006 at 8:08 pm

Oh, yes, that’s another good one — some very impressive effects (as expected from an early Peter Jackson) that serve the story instead of distracting from it. And it’s hard to go wrong with Chi McBride and John Astin.

Nat Gertler writes:

October 28, 2006 at 10:10 am

Frighteners is a great case of style over logic. I mean, how can one watch it a second time and think that the opening scene makes any sense at all?
But well, well worth watching that first time.
(And it has an interesting place in the Michael J. Fox credit list, being one which neither seems like an embracing nor a purposeful rejection of his image, just an actor doing well an interesting part.)
Last time I saw Fright Night, it didn’t hold up for me. But that’s me.

Vic Vega writes:

November 16, 2006 at 5:56 pm

I hate to admit it but 90% of the time gay code goes straight (no pun intended) over my head.

As I kid in the 70’s I thought Villiage People was just adults playing dress up like KISS ( and come to think of it…uh oh).

I’m the guy who didn’t realize Freddy Mercury was gay until LIVEAID.

Some one had to tell me that SEX IN THE CITY is really about gay men.

My entertainment gaydar is broken. Its like have a disability but I don’t qualify for SSI.

Now I’m going to have to see the movie again to see what I missed. Again. Sigh.