2011’s Fright Night remake diverged from the original in many ways, but still found time to have original villain actor Chris Sarandon make a cameo. Directed by Child’s Play helmer Tom Holland, 1985’s first Fright Night is generally considered one of the best vampire films to come out of that decade, alongside such gems as The Lost Boys and Near Dark. Fright Night tells the tale of Charley Brewster (William Ragsdale), a teenage horror fan whose quiet suburban existence is turned upside down by the arrival of mysterious new neighbor Jerry Dandridge (Chris Sarandon).
Before long, the evidence mounts that Jerry is a vampire. Unfortunately, nobody is inclined to believe Charley’s assertions that his neighbor is a bloodsucker, especially given his love of the horror genre. Left with nowhere else to turn, Charley seeks the help of Peter Vincent, the host of a local TV show that plays horror films. Vincent is reluctant to believe at first, but soon becomes convinced, leaving the pair to battle Jerry for the life and soul of Charley’s girlfriend Amy.
While not as popular as something like The Shining or The Exorcist, Fright Night boasts a sizable following, and in Hollywood, that meant it eventually got the remake treatment. In 2011, a Fright Night remake hit screens, starring the late Anton Yelchin as Charlie and Colin Farrell as Jerry. Thankfully though, the film didn’t forget to pay tribute to its predecessor.
Fright Night: Chris Sarandon Gets Killed by Colin Farrell’s Jerry Dandridge
The Fright Night remake changed a lot up from the original. For one, Charley’s friend “Evil Ed” is the first to discovery Jerry’s vampiric nature, and Charley is no longer obsessed with horror. Additionally, Peter Vincent is now a Criss Angel-style illusionist, and Colin Farrell’s Jerry is much more outwardly threatening and less charming than Chris Sarandon’s. Thankfully, the team behind the remake saw fit to have the two versions of Jerry meet onscreen, at least from a certain point of view.
Late in the film, Farrell’s Jerry is pursuing a car containing Charley, his girlfriend Amy, and his mom Jane. Jerry is eventually subdued long enough for them to get away, but before that, Sarandon makes a perfectly timed cameo as a confused motorist who accidentally hits the Brewsters’ car. The car had just ran over Jerry, and upon seeing the vampire lift up the vehicle and emerge from underneath, Sarandon’s character tries to do the smart thing and get the hell out of dodge. An already angry Jerry then walks over to Sarandon, yanks him from his vehicle, and viciously bites into his neck. Once Sarandon’s motorist is drained of blood, Jerry’s power is replenished, and he goes back to targeting Charley. It’s a short scene, but a great one, and for fans of the original Fright Night, it’s pleasing to see Sarandon get to experience the fear of being attacked by a vampire instead of deliver it. As a bonus, Sarandon’s unnamed character in the remake is referred to in the credits as simply J.D.
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