While Fright Night 2: New Blood actually wasn’t that bad given a limited budget and cast of unknowns, but there’s really nothing special about it and it was more or less another remake to a classic. This is the kind of movie you no doubt will see on FX or FXX in a couple of years.
Fright Night 2: New Blood (2013)
Genre(s): Horror
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment | Unrated – 100 min. – $29.99 | October 1, 2013
MOVIE INFO:
Directed by: Eduardo Rodriguez
Writer(s): Tom Holland (characters); Matt Venne (screenplay)
Cast: Will Payne, Jaime Murray, Sean Power, Sacha Parkinson, Chris Waller
DISC INFO:
Features: Commentary, Featurette, Webisodes, DVD Copy, UV Digital Copy
Number of Discs: 2
Audio: English (DTS-HD MA 5.1)
Video: 1080p/Widescreen 1.78
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Disc Size: 32.8 GB
Codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Region(s): A
THE MOVIE – 2.25/5
There were a couple of things wrong before the movie even began: 1) the title is Fright Night 2 and despite having the same characters, none of the actors returned and 2) there’s “New Blood” in said title and… as I mentioned, the movie has the same characters. I suppose given this has no connection with either the 1985 original or the 2011 remake makes is “new” technically speaking, but Fright Night 2: New Blood is just another reboot/retread to cash in on the name for fans of the genre but spending far less.
The story follows Charlie Brewster (not ANTON YELCHIN) as he is on a trip to Romania to study. Alongside him is his best bud Ed Bates (not CHRISTOPHER MINTZ-PLASSE) and pseudo ex-girlfriend Amy (not IMOGEN POOTS). It also just so happens that Ed’s idol, Peter Vincent (not DAVID TENNANT), is also in Romania filming the latest episode for his reality television series called “Fright Night”.
They learn about European architecture, artworks, etc. and also that the original basis for Bram Stoker’s Dracula was in fact a female. But it’s all folklore, right? Well, if you know this series, you know what comes next!
Charlie, as in original and the remake, discovers the sexy and beautiful art history professor, Gerri Dandridge (JAIME MURRAY) is in fact a vampiress and she’s on the prowl for not only rejuvenating blood but for a particular person: a virgin woman born at midnight on the new moon or blood moon or under some moon. Whatever the case, this woman would go through some sort of ritual after which the vampiress will be able to walk in the daylight. Are there any takers on who this virgin might be? Surely it can’t be the one other girl in this cast…
When Charlie sees just who Gerri is, and somehow convinces Ed to believe it as well despite the lack of any evidence, they seek the help from Peter Vincent though he’s a non-believer having disproved the existence of monsters on his TV show and has grown disillusioned spending his time and money at strip clubs.
The formula is mostly the same as Charlie attempts to stop Gerri… somehow but when Gerri takes Amy, his hand is forced and must fight against all odds to stop Gerri’s plan and save the love of his life… or some BS like that.
Fright Night 2 actually isn’t an awful movie especially for something that has a no-name cast, outside of Jaime Murray whom I remember from her recurring role in second season of “Dexter” and the fact the budget is probably a quarter of the remake. They make the most of using locales in Romania and I’d be lying if I didn’t say my interest never waned. The main actors, Will Payne and Sacha Parkinson, aren’t too bad doing the best with what they’ve been given however it’s not the highest praise.
Even so, it is a rehash and lame attempt at a remake but duping people into believing it’s some sort of sequel. I have to wonder why screenwriter Matt Venne, who is apparently the go-to guy for DTV “sequels” (see White Noise 2, Mirrors 2 and the upcoming Leprechaun: Origins) didn’t just change the names.
SPECIAL FEATURES – 2.0/5
Audio Commentary – Director Eduardo Rodriguez & Producers Alison Rosenzweig and Michael Gaeta provide an informative commentary relaying little bits of trivia on filming in Romania. It can be a bit dry but it’s not entirely a waste of time.
Fright Night Webisodes (11:31; HD) – There are 4-episodes with Sean Power playing Peter Vincent touring locations.
Dracula Revealed (6:15; HD) – No vampire movie would be incomplete than a featurette on the real Dracula and basis in history. It’s nothing interesting and you could find something far better on the History Channel.
Previews – Carrie, Twixt, “Vikings”
Also included is a DVD Copy and a Digital Copy (both containing the R-rated version).
VIDEO – 4.25/5
Fright Night 2 arrives on Blu-ray presented with a 1.78 widescreen aspect ratio and a shimmery and glossy 1080p high-definition transfer. Detail levels, especially on close-ups, is excellent while everything else was satisfactory though due to how it was shot gives skin tones an odd texture at times.
AUDIO – 4.5/5
The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track offers a robust and well rounded aural experience with crisp and clear dialogue via the center speaker, the LFE comes to life numerous times to pump up the suspense and the front and rear channels allow for some nice depth for ambient noises as well as the overbearing and generic horror soundtrack.
OVERALL – 2.5/5
Overall, while Fright Night 2: New Blood actually wasn’t that bad given a limited budget and cast of unknowns, but there’s really nothing special about it and it was more or less another remake to a classic. This is the kind of movie you no doubt will see on FX or FXX in a couple of years. The Blu-ray released by Fox features a nice audio/video transfers while the bonus material is unsurprisingly limited.
The Movieman
Published: 10/05/2013