SDCC 2011: Fright Night 3D panel
Having rewatched the the original recently I can say it's aged but still much loved. So the idea of a remake/update was exciting to me. After seeing the trailer it's clear it's going be a much darker film.
Craig Gillespie (Lars and the Real Girl, United States of Tara) talked about why we wanted to direct the film. Gillespie is a fan of the original and spoke about how it burned images into his head. Gillespie read the script for the new film "cold" and was impressed by the humor and how easy it was to visualize.
Marti Noxon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Mad Men) shared how it was difficult to return to writing about vampires because "After Buffy it seems hard to top." She wanted to update the story because the world has evoked a lot since the original. Noxon also wanted to write a film in which "a vampire did not play the piano"
The first clip we watch is of Charley Brewster (Anton Yelchin) & 'Evil' Ed Thompson (Christopher Mintz-Plasse). 'Evil' Ed is talking to Charley about how Charley's neighbor is a a vampire. Ed pushes on saying vampires are real and "not brooding teenagers". The second part of the first clip of Jerry Dandrige (Colin Farrell) who is talking to Charley and is just pure crafty evil and amazing to watch him ooze charisma.
Colin Farrell was very reluctant to play Jerry Dandrige because of how well Chris Sarandon and done the role. Farrell loved the original and made a sarcastic crack about how Hollywood loves originality (side note Farrell is staring in the Total Recall remake).
The film is full of homages to the original, the apple is an example.
The second clip is of Charley at the apex of this paranoia and his mother Jane (Toni Collette) and girlfriend Amy Peterson (Imogen Poots) are concerned. Jerry come to the house and Charley knowing the truth is in full panic. Jerry after being denied entrance picks up a shovel and saw then heads to the Brewster's backyard and digs up the gas line pulls it and the house fills with gas. Jerry saws the line and then lights it on fire the house now explodes and the house is filled with fire. Jerry says "You don't need to be invited in, if the house is burned down."
Charley his Jane and Amy then run to the car in their garage. They run over a motorcycle as they leave. Jerry runs to the cycle and starts it up but the front wheel is bent.
Now for the crazy Un-Cut shot that goes on for about 5min. Now inside the escaping car and everyone is freaking out. Suddenly the cycle comes flying in through the rear window nearly taking off Amys head. Charley kicks the cycle out of the car. The camera is rotating around the car as they talk. And then we see a truck now in pursuit its about it ram them but it passes. It's Jerry he turns his car and blocks the road and then steps out.
Charley then pushes Janes foot down on the gas and they hit Jerry with the car. Nw for the first cut in 5min the car drives away from camera and there is a pool of blood a long streak of blood.
All seems safe for a moment. Suddenly a gnarled vampy hand comes out from the floor grabbing Jane. Charley is now kicking the hand. The hand hits the breaks and another car rear ends them.
The sequence is a lot of fun and a combination of humor and horror lots of tension and you really feel like Jerry is coming after you.
The third clip is of Peter Vincent (David Tennant) when we first see him he looks like mix between Lucian and Criss Angel inside what looks like a penthouse in a Vegas hotel. He offers Charley a drink even thought Charley is in high school, Peter then takes off a wig showing his shorter hair. Charley asks Peter about vampires. Peter sits down in a large throne like chair and takes off his mustache and talks about ways to kill them. Peter not takes off his goatee and sideburns he now looks like a complete different person.
The director Craig Gillespie says the vampires pay homage to the original in the makeup. Not sure if it's all practical makeup or CG enhanced.
Gillespie shares that the shot sequence took months to plan and that because of the 3D is there are fewer cuts and a more dynamic camera.
My feeling was script that Marti Noxon's script is what drew everyone to the project. I say this because of the way each actor and the director talked about it continually. If the story is an updated version of the original with all the humor and horror amped up I'm very excited to see it.