Let the arguments and debates commence! Sequels always cause both, as do remakes. Sequels to remakes even more-so!
The original Fright Night inspired a sequel centered around Charlie Brewster encountering a female vampire. Now Fright Night 2: New Blood takes that idea but also brings back Ed (Chris Waller) as well as Amy (Sasha Parkinson). Given the former had become a vampire that seems odd. In truth this film seems not so much a chronological sequel to the Colin Farrell motion picture but one inspired by it. Will Payne now portrays Charlie Brewster and Sean Power the vampire hunter Peter Vincent. Is this Peter Vincent supposed to be the same character done by David Tennant? We’ll have to wait and see.
Much more exciting–Jaime Murray portrays Gerri Dandridge, the vampire. Murray has made quite a presence of herself in various t.v. shows in the last few years–from Poirot: The Mystery of the Blue Train to the ‘big bad’ facing the title character in Dexter for season two. Perhaps most famously she was/is H.G.Wells on Warehouse 13 while starring in SyFy’s Defiance (she also appeared in Spartacus). With her pale skin, raven hair, almost feline features and dark glamor she seems as obvious a choice to play a vampire as Angelina Jolie (and how come she hasn’t done undead yet?). Given how she’s managed to make both as sociopath as well as a time-traveling mad scientist into such compelling, believable characters one can understand how the film might well be worth watching just for her performance!
In an interview Murray hinted as some kind of nod to Elizabeth Bathory who (according to legend if not history) bathed in the blood of virgins to regain her youth.
The official synopsis reads: When high school student Charlie attends a study abroad program with his horror obsessed friend “Evil” Ed and ex- girlfriend AMY in Romania, he soon discovers their young attractive professor Gerri (Jaime Murray) is a real life vampire. Too bad no one believes him. In fact, Evil Ed finds it amusing and it only feeds his vampire obsession. When Gerri turns Ed, Charlie seeks out Peter Vincent, the infamous vampire hunter (well, he plays one on TV) who is in Romania filming his show “Fright Night,” to teach him how to take down Gerri before she gets to Amy, who’s blood will cure Gerri of spending eternity as a vampire.
The idea Gerri is looking for a cure to her undeath seems another tantalizing hint of something above-average. Cannot say for certain, of course. But it holds out hope. We can find out in October.
This direct-to-DVD flick was penned by Matt Venne, who also wrote Mirrors 2 and White Noise 2, so he’s no stranger to sequels. Director Eduardo Rodriguez helmed El Gringo, Stash House and the short-lived t.v. series Blood Cell. The official trailer is at the start of the video below–and if nothing else looks potentially very fun.
