Hey, remember 1985?!? I don’t, because I was two. But I do remember the 90’s, when Amanda Bearse was Marcy on “Married… With Children.” And hey, she’s also in Fright Night! I also remember Chris Sarandon from The Princess Bride and he’s also in Fright Night.

See, I totally relate. Look at me, all up in the nostalgia!

Charley Brewster, a teenaged fan of Fright Night, a campy monster program, has suspicions that his suave new neighbor is a bloodsucker after he sees a coffin being loaded into the basement by moonlight. As a string of murders make headlines, Charley’s suspicions are confirmed, and the vampire, knowing that he’s been discovered after a few police show up at his door, starts going after Charley. With nowhere else to turn, Charley calls upon the host of Fright Night, Peter Vincent, Vampire Hunter, (expertly played by Roddy McDowall) for help.

Hilarity ensues.

There’s a lot of giggles to be had in this spoof, most of them coming from Stephen Geoffery’s Evil Ed, who I found to be initially grating, but much improved as a vampire, giving some of the best laughs and scares of the film. William Ragsdale and Amanda Bearse are solid in the semi-bland roles Charley and Amy, the teenaged lovers. Roddy McDowell obviously is having a good time chewing the scenery, and I’m having fun right along with him.

The reason to see this movie? Chris Sarandon. (Full disclosure: I have a deep and abiding love for him, and he can sort of do no wrong in my addled little eyes.) Truly, he is perfectly two parts sexy and three parts creepy in this movie, and blissfully evil. That’s my kind of vampire, and Sarandon brings it, giving a performance much better than this movie probably deserves. But thanks, man!

It’s not life-changing and there is no underlying social message. That being said, it is a lot of fun, and a nice change of pace from today’s horror pornography. Fright Night is definitely dated, not only by the all-star 1980’s explosion, but also by today’s sensitive, tortured, animal blood-drinking vampire standards. And you know what? It’s pretty refreshing. I love vampire movies, and Twilight and the like has made me completely suicidal. Bella, listen to me. Edward is a pale, sparkly emo kid who stalks you. How is that at all attractive? I always preferred Angelus to Angel on Buffy, so Fright Night was a breath of fresh air to all the tortured undead floating around lately. The vampires are straight up evil and proud of it. They hate crosses and holy water and garlic, they can’t go in the sun, and a stake through the heart is the best way to stop them. There is no overdramatic ceremony for their creation; just one bite is all it takes. Isn’t that fabulous? I sort of missed the traditional approach.

The final verdict: Perfect for a Sunday night with a tub of buttered heaven.