I decided to write up this review since this is the "scary season."  "Fright Night" is one of those great chillers that takes every cliche about vampires and somehow makes it all work well.  Chris Sarandon, a very underappreciated actor (Prince Humperdink from "The Pricess Bride" and the voice of Jack Skellington), plays vampire Gerry Dandrige to a charmingly oily, serpentine perfection without being remotely campy.  Stephen Geoffreys, who plays uber-geek best friend "Evil Ed," lightens the mood of the film with sometimes horrific comedy, and Amanda Bearse ("Marcy D'Arcy" from "Married With Children) and William Ragsdale are perfectly cast as teenagers caught up in a battle of wits and wills with Dandridge.  But, the icing on this cake is Roddy McDowell's homage to Peter Cushing as the embittered, washed-up B movie vampire movie star who manages to find both his dignity and his faith as he comes to the ultimate realization that vampires DO exist and he is the unlikely choice to do battle against them.  McDowell's performance was so fine - alternatively funny and prosaic - it is worth watching this film to see how an older actor can still turn in stellar performances, who uses the script and props without letting them overpower his range.  It is such a pity this wonderful actor has since passed on since "Peter Vincent, Vampire Killer" is arguably one of his best roles.