Colin Farrell Reveals Boy Crush
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- Last Updated: Tuesday, 12 November 2013 06:37
- Written by Lupe Haas
As a young lad in Dublin, Ireland, the 1985 movie starring Chris Sarandon had a profound effect on the tween who would become a famous leading actor around the globe. Now Colin Farrell takes on the role he remembers so fondly as Jerry Dandridge, the vampire next door wrecking havoc on Charlie Brewster in the updated version of FRIGHT NIGHT.
"I loved the original. I love the original still. I loved Chris Sarandon's work as Jerry. I think as a 10, 11, 12 year old boy, I kind of had a boy crush on Chris Sarandon in that film because he was so dignified, so elegant and charismatic."He carefully considered taking on a reboot of the original 1985 horror film, making sure the character of Jerry was "designed in a different way." Chris Sarandon played Jerry with compassion toward Charley and his long lost love Amy, according to the Irish actor, but his atrraction to the new Jerry was that he was much more threatening and "malevolent." Colin loved the fact that he played Jerry with "no human virue, no fear, no compassion, and no desire to meet his romantic counterpart." He found it "liberating" to play the Fright Night vampire in a way as to not "emulating what Chris did."
Chris Sarandon was also relieved the new Fright Night didn't simply aspire to be a copycat. His initial reaction, according to the original Fright Night star, was "I hope they don't f*** it up." However, he was pleasantly surprised when he received the "brilliant" script that modernized and "re-imagined" it for a new audience without pandering to the original. He calls it a "pretty good trick" for the filmmakers to have pulled it off in the new FRIGHT NIGHT.
"When I was watching it, it never felt like I was watching a remake."SPOILER ALERT
Chris Sarandon described his cameo during the new production as "surreal," but fun. His experience on set with Colin Farrell, the new Jerry, also felt like "poetic justice." For Colin Farrell and director Craig Gillespie, Chris Sarandon's cameo meant it was a stamp of approval and a "big endorsement" from the original Jerry Dandridge.
"You'll take endorsments anywhere you can get it in this business, said Colin. "It felt like a really nice benediction."
When Chris Sarandon showed up on set to shoot his cameo, Colin reverted to that young boy once again. He admits having "I'm not worthy" moments while his idol filmed alongside him.
At least Colin Farrell knows what's like to have star crushes.
FRIGHT NIGHT is in movie theaters August 19, 2011.