Fright Night

If you are after a comedy that actually makes you laugh out loud, Fright Night is available in Australia on Artiflix and Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel, and in the US on Philo and AMC Plus Apple TV Channel right now. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. 1,565 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Chris Sarandon is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. Start it on Artiflix whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Fright Night arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. The jokes in Fright Night land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. Charley Brewster, a high school student, accidentally discovers the true and creepy nature of Jerry Dandrige, his dashing and enigmatic new neighbor; but no one seems willing to believe him. Chris Sarandon and William Ragsdale lead a cast with the timing to make it work. It was released in 1985. Fright Night earns its laughs from character rather than situation, which is why it does not wear thin the way pure farce tends to. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, Fright Night respects your intelligence. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Chris Sarandon is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.