This is why I'm glad the seemingly inevitable FRIGHT NIGHT remake is set up at DreamWorks instead of Screen Gems: at the latter, it would get farmed out to the uninspired, paycheck-cashing likes of Nelson McCormick and J.S. Cardone; at the former (particularly under the guidance of genre-respecting producer Michael De Luca), there will at least be an initial attempt to do right by the underrated original - in which a young man's passage into adulthood is rudely interrupted when he realizes a vampire (in the ultra-suave form of Chris Sarandon) has moved in next door.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, MAD MEN writer-producer Marti Noxon has been brought in to take a crack at updating Tom Holland's 1985 horror classic. Why a MAD MEN writer? I'm glad I'm acting like you asked. Before earning a WGA Award for her contributions to Season Two of Matthew Weiner's brilliant show, Noxon served as a writer-producer on Joss Whedon's BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER. I don't know if she was one of the top talents on that much-respected staff (Herc?), but I do know that she took a "written by" credit on my second favorite episode of MAD MEN this season ("The Gypsy and the Hobo"). Sure beats the shit out of THE FORSAKEN.
There's no director attached to FRIGHT NIGHT yet, so don't get too excited. But this is an encouraging development. Keep it up, DreamWorks.
And while you're waiting for a proper Special Edition Blu-ray/DVD of Holland's FRIGHT NIGHT, be sure to check out these two excellent commentaries hosted exclusively by our pals at Icons of Fright. The second one is amazing.
