Line #91 Characters/FrightNight1985


1	%%
2	%%
3	%% Administrivia/ZeroContextExample entries are not allowed on wiki pages. All such entries have been commented out. Add context to the entries before uncommenting them.
4	%%
5	%%
6	[[foldercontrol]]
7
8	[[folder: Characters appearing in both films]]
9
10	!!Charley Brewster
11	--> '''Portrayed By:''' William Ragsdale
12	[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1689303605777_48s434_2_0.jpg]]
13
14	A young man who is next door neighbors with a vampire.
15	----
16
17	* BadassNormal: A high school student who [[spoiler:takes down an ancient vampire.]]
18	* CassandraTruth: Justified, he flat out tells people that Jerry is a vampire without getting any good proof.
19	* GenreSavvy: He knows a lot about how vampires work, mostly thanks to his fondness for horror movies.
20	* GoMadFromTheRevelation: variant. Despite the happy ending of the first movie, Part II has him in therapy several years later due to the trauma; his psychiatrist has convinced him that Jerry was a human serial killer, with a 'defense mechanism' in Charlie's mind convincing him that Dandridge was a vampire. It leaves him at a distinct disadvantage against Regine initially, given he has to go through a cycle of self-doubt and paranoia before accepting the truth about her. Regine could have easily killed him the first time they met if she hadn't had been set on an elaborate revenge scheme.
21	* TheHero: Charley decides to slay the vampire in his neighborhood.
22	* ItsPersonal: After Jerry stalks his friends, threatens to kill his mother, ''and'' [[spoiler: turns both Ed and Amy into vampires]], it becomes this.
23
24	!!Peter Vincent
25	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fright_night_1985_roddy_mcdowall_with_cross.jpg]]
26	--> '''Portrayed By:''' Creator/RoddyMcDowall
27
28	A washed up actor who hosts a late night horror movie show.
29	----
30
31	* BadassLongcoat: Wears one as the host of the eponymous TV series, and dons it later on when hunting Jerry.
32	* BadassNormal: Not at first, but he eventually becomes a rather competent vampire hunter.
33	* BecomingTheMask: Starts out as a TV show host who has played a vampire hunter in several movies, and by the end, he's become one in real life.
34	* ChangedMyMindKid: He is at first afraid when he finds out Jerry is a vampire, but after [[spoiler: killing Ed]] he teams up with Charley to kill Jerry.
35	* CassandraTruth: In the second movie.
36	* CoolOldGuy: Not at first, but he becomes a real vampire hunter in the end and seems rather old by the time of the film.
37	* GenreBlindness: In regards to Billy Cole, anyway. He was under the impression that since Cole walks around in the day, he's human. [[spoiler:All that really meant is that he wasn't a vampire, as he found out when Cole got up after being shot in the head and kept coming until he was staked]].
38	* GenreSavvy: Comes naturally with having starred in a number of vampire movies. Even though he doesn't believe in vampires at first, he comes around, and he comes fully prepared to deal with the undead menace.
39	* HeroicBSOD: His encounter with [[spoiler:a vampiric Ed]] just about drives him to skip town and call it quits.
40	* IKnowMortalKombat: Playing a vampire killer gives you enough credentials to be one in real life, it seems.
41	* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: At first, he starts out as pretty self-serving, only being motivated to help Charley's friends prove Jerry isn't a vampire because they offered to pay him. However, when he learns that Jerry is in fact a real vampire, he understandably freaks out and runs away. However, he soon has a change of heart and helps Charley save Amy and take Jerry down.
42	* LargeHam: Mostly when he's on TV.
43	* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: He's mortified when he sees that Jerry casts no reflection and drives off. He gets over it.
44	* ThisIsReality: Has this when he tries to get Charley to abandon his quest.
45	--->"That's just a character I played in a movie! Peter Vincent's not even my real name!"'
46	* TookALevelInBadass: By the sequel, Peter takes vampire-hunting business seriously.
47	[[/folder]]
48
49	[[folder:Characters appearing in ''Fright Night'']]
50
51	!!Jerry Dandridge
52	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jerrydandrige.jpg]]
53	--> '''Portrayed By:''' Creator/ChrisSarandon
54
55	A vampire who has decided to move into the suburbs.
56	----
57	* AffablyEvil: Jerry is polite, charming, and lucky with the ladies. But he's also a vampire who is responsible for a string of murders, and will kill anyone without remorse in order to protect his dark secret. He becomes more FauxAffablyEvil later on when Charley and Peter break into his house, using a shallow and condescending semblance of his hospitable demeanor.
58	* AmbiguouslyBi: His interactions with Evil Ed and Billy Cole slightly give off this vibe. He leans over Billy's shoulder in one scene, possibly indicating that he sees him as something a little more than just TheRenfield.
59	* BadassBoast: Has one of these.
60	--->"Welcome to FRIGHT NIGHT! ...real."
61	* BadassLongcoat: Wears a blue one around when he's chasing Charley and Amy.
62	* BigBad: His murders and attempts to eliminate a witness thereof drive the plot of the first film.
63	* BitchInSheepsClothing: He's as polite and charming as can be. He's also a murderous vampire who's secretly killing people disposable to society to sate his thirst.
64	* ClassicalMovieVampire: Minus his fashion style and being able to eat and drink normal food and beverages, he fits this to a T. Shapeshifting, needing to be invited inside, requires blood, is repelled by faith, it's all there.
65	* ColorMotif: Almost exclusively wears red, grey, and very pale blue, symbolizing how dangerous and lifeless he is.
66	* EvilIsHammy: Not at first, when he's pretty mellow, but in the climax, he discards any sense of subtlety he once had.
67	-->'''Jerry:''' Welcome to ... FRRRRRRIGHT NIGHT ... for reeeeal.
68	* EvilSoundsDeep: Whenever he puts his GameFace on, the pitch of Jerry's voice lowers to the point where it barely sounds human.
69	* FauxAffablyEvil: Generally, before the final act, he's just plain AffablyEvil, but even before that, he'd leave a few hints about just how dangerous he is.
70	-->'''Jerry:''' Of course, uh, now that I've been made welcome I'll probably drop by quite a bit. [[ImpliedDeathThreat In fact, anytime I feel like it]]. ({{beat}}) With your mother's kind permission, of course.
71	* GameFace: When things get serious, he reveals his true vampiric form: red eyes and pointed ears, with a set of fangs on both his lower and upper teeth, and elongated fingernails and sharp claws.
72	* HolyBurnsEvil: Zig-zagged. Crosses, by themselves, do nothing to harm him. The user has to have faith for them to ward him off, and probably even to wound him. He is, however, implied to be burned by holy water.
73	* LooksLikeOrlok: Whenever he puts on his GameFace.
74	* MonsterLord: His progeny appear to be significantly weaker than he is, being less impervious to holy objects not backed by faith.
75	* OneWingedAngel: His [[https://parlorofhorror.wordpress.com/2016/10/03/top-5-vampire-kills-memorable-vampire-deaths-in-film/fright-night-1985-vampire-bat/ bat form]], which doesn't look like any normal bat you'll ever see in real life and has ''aggressively'' strong fangs more on par with a canine.
76	* OurVampiresAreDifferent: Not so much, actually. He's a pretty standard ClassicalMovieVampire, with his weaknesses, shapeshifting abilities, and coffin-sleeping. The only difference is that he's a bit more tan than your average vampire, and has some pretty normal dietary habits.
77	* PragmaticVillainy: He's content to just kill a select few, usually of the variety [[DisposableSexWorker he doesn't think anyone will miss]]. Whenever he breaks this pattern, it's because he needs to protect his secret, though he gives Charley a chance to forget about him and go on with his life, and originally had no plans to kill Charley's friends, all presumably because he knew killing anyone outside his preferred targets would just raise suspicion.
78	* SerialKiller: His arrival in town is marked by a series of murders in which the victims were drained of blood and mutilated.
79	* SlidingScaleOfUndeadRegeneration: Subtle, but it's there. After Charley stabs him in the hand, he flees to his house and lets his blood drip in a bowl of water. The next time he's shown, there's no sign of any wounds.
80	* StalkerWithACrush: Towards Amy, who has an identical resemblance to a past love interest of his.
81	* SuperSenses: Implied.
82	-->'''Billy:''' (slightly raising his voice to call to Jerry, who's upstairs) HEY JER!\
83	'''Peter:''' Perhaps he didn't hear you.\
84	'''Billy:''' Oh, he heard me alright.
85	* SuperStrength: He's shown carrying the end of his coffin with one hand, albeit with the help of Billy Cole on the other end.
86	* TragicMonster: Downplayed. In one scene he says to Charley that he'll give him "something that he doesn't have, a choice", implying he's cursed with his vampiric nature and he doesn't like killing very much. However seeing with how much sadism he seems to have in stalking and toying with Peter and Charley, this is quite hard to believe.
87	* VampiresAreSexGods: Very much so. While he's stalking Charley and Amy in the club, a few women take special notice of him, one running her hands through his hair. Though he's rather predisposed to hookers, since you know, [[DisposableSexWorker they're disposable]].
88
89	!!Amy
90	--> '''Portrayed By:''' Amanda Bearse
91	[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fright_night_amanda_bearse_03jpg.jpg]]
92
93	Charley's girlfriend who Jerry swiftly falls for.
94	----
95	* DamselInDistress: [[spoiler:Jerry kidnaps and turns her in the last act of the movie, which becomes a quest for Charley to rescue her.]]
96	* NiceGirl: Despite her refusal to get intimate with Charley, she is always shown to be kind and caring, even going to check back in on him after a fight when they hadn't spoken in days.
97	* NightmareFace: [[spoiler:Assumes one towards the very end.]]
98	* OhCrap: When she gradually learns that Jerry ''is'' a vampire.
99	* UndyingLoyalty: When everyone else thinks Charlie is troubled, she is trying to help him, and unlike Ed, never backs away from him [[spoiler:except when Jerry drives her to]].
100	* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: No explanation was given for her absence in the sequel, [[note]] in real life, Amanda Bearse was unable to return due to her role on Series/MarriedWithChildren [[/note]] and she is replaced by a girl named Alex. At the beginning of Part II, Charlie has been convinced by his psychiatrist that Jerry Dandridge being a vampire was simply a 'defense mechanism' in his mind due to trauma; perhaps Amy was unable to stay with someone who was now in denial about events she will never be able to have the luxury of denying, due to side effects (like throat scars?) of her aborted transformation?
101
102	!!"Evil" Ed Thompson
103	--> '''Portrayed By:''' Stephen Geoffreys
104	[[quoteright:455:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/aiphoto_1689308287038.png]]
105
106	Charley's best friend and fellow high school student.
107	----
108	* AlasPoorVillain: [[spoiler:He is ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice by Peter, and slowly transforms back to human form, clearly in immense pain. Even Peter is in tears as he watches the reverse transformation and Ed tries to reach out to him before succumbing to his wounds and apparently becoming human again. It's even more heartbreaking remembering Jerry's words before he turned him]].
109	* AmbiguouslyGay: Jerry's speech to him about being an outcast for who he is has this undertone, although it can be interpreted as him simply being a weirdo. It doesn't hurt that Stephen Geoffreys came out of the closet after the movie's release. There's also this interaction he had with Charley:
110	--> '''Ed:''' He got me, Charley! He bit me! You know what you're gonna have to do now, don't you? Kill me. Kill me, Charley... before I turn into a vampire, and... ''GIVE YOU A HICKEY!''
111	* BerserkButton: Really doesn't like being called "Evil".
112	* ClippedWingAngel: [[spoiler:Transforms into a wolf in his second confrontation with Peter. Unlike Jerry's bat transformation, it does him no favors, as he is swiftly staked right as he lunges at Peter, spending the next few minutes writhing on the ground in agony as he changes back to his human form]].
113	* CruelAndUnusualDeath: [[spoiler:He spends a few minutes dragging himself on the carpet after being staked, all while slowly bleeding to death]].
114	* DyingAsYourself: [[spoiler:When he dies, the burn from Peter's cross on his forehead disappears, indicating that with his death, he was released from his vampirism]].
115	* EnemyMine: In the last released issue of the ''Fright Night'' comics, [[spoiler: the vampiric]] Ed makes a provisional alliance with Charley Brewster, Peter Vincent, Anastasia Hinnault and Company to take down [[spoiler: a resurrected Jerry Dandridge]]. However, Ed makes it clear to Brewster that he will get him next time, before parting ways with him.
116	* FaceHeelTurn: [[spoiler:While he was never a very nice person, he only lives up to his nickname and starts working against Charley and co after Jerry turns him.]]
117	* TheFriendNobodyLikes: Charley and Amy don't seem all that fond of him. Justified, given how much of an obnoxious ass he can be.
118	* GenreSavvy: An interesting example. Ed is quite aware of the usual vampire weaknesses, such as that it takes faith for a vampire to be warded off with a cross, or that they need to be invited into anyone's houses. But he doesn't believe in them one bit, [[spoiler:until it's too late for him.]]
119	* HolyBurnsEvil: [[spoiler:Unlike Jerry, who can only be repelled by faith, he can be physically wounded by crosses.]]
120	* {{Jerkass}}: He was always an asshole to Charley, and never really showed any signs of being a supportive friend. He also apparently finds the notion of a serial killer in town to be hilarious.
121	* LargeHam: Even before [[spoiler:becoming a vampire,]] his lines deliveries were almost always over-the-top.
122	-->'''Ed:''' (laughing hysterically) Oh, you're so ''COOL,'' Brewster!
123	* LaughablyEvil: [[spoiler:Even after his FaceHeelTurn upon turning into a vampire, Ed hasn't lost his hammy sense of humor.]]
124	* NotQuiteDead: [[spoiler:The ending implies that he survived his staking and is now living in what was once Jerry's house.]]
125	* PluckyComicRelief: The whole film always carried an air of comedy to it, but he's the primary source of its humor even after Jerry gets serious.
126	* RedRightHand: [[spoiler:After Peter burns his face with the cross, Evil is left with a prominent X-shaped scar on his forehead.]]
127	* SadClown: He is loud and constantly cracking jokes, but it becomes clear he's using it as a mask to hide how lonely and hurt he really is, as well as that he's probably carrying a torch for Charlie.
128	* TranshumanTreachery: [[spoiler: When cornered by Jerry, he's given the choice or either being killed or turned. He takes the latter. When he show up as a vampire, he seem to take alot of pleasure trying to kill Peter Vincent. Best examplifed when he cackles gleefully at the two from the backseat of Jerry's car after Jerry kidnaps Amy and drives off.]]
129	* ScreamsLikeALittleGirl: When he's bitten by Jerry.
130	* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: Part of what made it so easy for Jerry to turn him is that he promised he wouldn't have to worry about being bullied for being different ever again. And really, it explains a lot about why he's such an unpleasant person in general even before that.
131
132	!!Billy Cole
133	--> '''Portrayed By:''' Johnathan Stark
134	[[quoteright:415:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/aiphoto_1689306402472.png]]
135
136	Jerry Dandrige's companion and roommate who helps him dispose of bodies.
137	----
138	* AmbiguouslyGay: He may or may not be Jerry's lover.
139	* AmbiguouslyHuman: Before the final act, there was no indication that Billy is anything more than a man in service to Jerry. He could walk in the daylight without a problem, and displayed no real interest in any of his master's vampiric activities beyond bringing girls to his house for him to feed on. [[spoiler:Then Peter shot him in the head. Then Cole got back up. Then Peter continued to shoot him. Then Charley drove a stake through his heart, which resulted in the dissolution of his flesh.]]
140	* ColdHam: He may not be as flamboyant or bombastic as Jerry, but he still manages to establish a strong presence with his otherwise mellow tone.
141	* ImMelting: [[spoiler:He gets a stake through the chest, and [[BodyHorror slowly dissolves into a pile of bones and green goop]].]]
142	* OurGhoulsAreDifferent: According to WordOfGod he's named as one. In Billy's case he looks and acts like a normal human but the end of the film reveals he's [[spoiler:immune to bullets and when killed by a stake to the heart melts]].
143	* IncomingHam: "HEY KID! What are you doing?!" Though he remains [[ColdHam pretty cold]] for the rest of the movie.
144	* TheRenfield: Takes care of the house for Jerry during the day and brings him hookers to feed on. However, he doesn't appear to be very interested in being turned. [[spoiler:Maybe because he's already practically invincible.]]
145	* {{Troll}}: When the detective comes to investigate his home with Charley, he throws off the man while using every moment the cop's back is turned to pull faces at Charley.
146	[[/folder]]
147
148	[[folder: Characters in ''Fright Night Part II'']]
149
150	!!Alex Young
151	--> '''Portrayed By:''' Traci Lind
152
153	!!Regine Dandridge
154	--> '''Portrayed By:''' Julie Carmen
155
156	Jerry Dandrige's sister who is out for revenge against Charley.
157	----
158
159	* AffablyEvil: Regine is polite and well-spoken and beyond wishing to destroy Charley's life as revenge for her brother, doesn't hold much animosity towards anyone, even trying to get Peter to back down from investigating her rather than just killing him when he uncovers her true nature.
160	* AvengingTheVillain: Her whole motivation is to get revenge against Charley for the death of her brother, Jerry.
161	* BigBad: Regine is the vampire commanding the others in the second movie, seeking to drive Charley himself to vampirism so she can destroy his life and keep him to torment forever so Jerry can be avenged.
162	* TheChessmaster: Regine meticulously sets up a vampire as a seeming psychotherapist to Charley and sets the stage for him to be doubtful of the existence of vampires before she swoops in and attempts to discreetly turn him into one.
163	* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: She's not happy about her brother's death, remarking to Peter how furious she is at the loss of her beloved family.
164	* FateWorseThanDeath: As revenge for her beloved brother, Regine plots to turn Charley into an immortal vampire and torment him for eternity.
165	* FemmeFatale: Unafraid to weaponize her sexuality, Regine seduces both Charley and his roommate Richie. The former almost becomes one and the latter happily starts serving her after his transformation.
166	* ManipulativeBitch: Through her psychic powers and natural charm, Regine convinces Charley there's no such thing as vampires so she may quietly seduce him and turn him into one. Multiple times she uses her charms to try to sway Charley, even attempting to have him kill Peter and Alex for her.
167	* MasterActor: Regine disguises her true nature as a vampire by playing the role of a sophisticated thespian who uses special effects to appear as one. She sets up the situation so well even Charley thinks her story explains away all his concerns.
168	* MonsterLord: Like Jerry she's an [[TheOlderImmortal elder vampire]] with enhanced strength and lessened weakness to holy objects, noting to Peter he'll have to come very close for his cross to take effect on her.
169	* VampiresAreSexGods: As seems to run in the family, she's quite beautiful and charming, easily seducing Charley for her plot.
170	* VillainousFriendship: Although she doesn't share much screentime with them--and none at all with Harrison--Regine seems to be fond of her minions and when all of them are killed she shrieks in rage before attacking the heroes.
171	* WickedCultured: Quite refined like her brother, enjoying acting, costume work and special effects, all of which come in handy for seducing Charley to vampirism.
172
173	!!Louie
174	--> '''Portrayed By:''' Creator/JonGries
175
176	A large werewolf like creature that may or may not be a vampire himself.
177	----
178
179	* AffablyEvil: He keeps his sense of humor even after becoming a vampire.
180	* TheBrute: Louie is a physically tough but moronic vampire, able to transform into a powerful, werewolf-like creature but constantly fumbling on his mission to bite Alex.
181	* GracefulLoser: After being mortally wounded by a bolt to the heart from Charley, Louie turns back into his human form to remark "Bullseye, dude" in an impressed tone before dying.
182	* TotallyNotAWerewolf: He takes the form of a lycanthropic beast, but he's actually a vampire.
183
184	!!Dr. Harrison
185	--> '''Portrayed By:''' Ernie Sabella
186
187	Charley's psychotherapist who treats him after his encounter with Jerry Dandrige.
188	----
189
190	* EvilGenius: Of Regine's underlings, Harrison plays the role of a professional therapist, making Charley doubt his encounter with Jerry in the first movie as being supernatural in nature and later works to keep Alex distracted from rescuing Peter, unlike her other three more physical followers.
191	* GracefulLoser: After being staked by Alex, he comments it isn't quite in deep enough to kill him. After asking her to push it further to end his suffering, Harrison decides as a psychotherapist he shouldn't ask her to further traumatize herself and elects to [[SelfDisposingVillain do it himself]].
192
193	!!Bozworth
194	--> '''Portrayed By:''' Creator/BrianThompson
195
196	Regine's subordinate and something other than a vampire.
197	----
198
199	* TheDragon: Given the way he talks to Louie, Bozworth seems to delegate orders on Regine's behalf and is quite serious about fulfilling her goals and loyal to her.
200	* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: For Billy, Bozworth is Regine's most straight-faced and serious subordinate, even chastising Louie on her behalf when he fails to bite Alex and likewise is revealed to be [[spoiler:something other than a vampire when killed]].
201	* TheWormThatWalks: Whatever Bozworth is isn't quite clear but [[spoiler:his death reveals him to be filled with worms on the inside]].
202
203	!!Belle
204	--> '''Portrated By:''' Russell Clark
205
206	Another servant of Regine that helps her against Charley.
207	-----
208
209	* SilentAntagonist: Never speaks a word through the whole film, just eerily stalks his prey on roller skates.
210	* VillainousFriendship: While harder to glean given his complete lack of dialogue, Belle does seem to enjoy the company of Regine's other minions, going bowling with Louie and Bozworth at one point.

Context Characters / FrightNight1985