MANILA, Philippines — Colin Farrell harks back to an old Hollywood vampire idea where the blood-sucking character is pure anti-hero in the “Fright Night” reboot.Resisting the Edward Cullen-brand of romantic vampire, Farrell said, “There are none of those romantic leanings [in the movie]. This vampire is just a killer. He’s over 400 years old. He’s probably a little bit bored when we find him, but he feeds. He just feeds.”
The “Phone Booth” actor had second thoughts about playing Jerry the vampire in this film because he “holds the original in such high regard.”
The confessed fan said, “I was 11 or 12 years old the first time I saw ‘Fright Night.’ I don’t want to say it’s sacrosanct but in a way it is and it’s kind of perfect in its own form.”
Farrell hoped that the remake’s script would be bad so he could refuse but “I was frustrated when I read the script because it was so good, I really wanted to do it! Just like the original, it seemed to straddle the line between horror and a kind of sweet tongue-in-cheek comedy.”
Director Craig Gillespie was too psyched to have the Hollywood A-lister on board. “I was so excited that we could get him. I couldn’t think of anyone more perfect. As written, Jerry’s an incredibly charismatic personality, but there is a sinister aspect to him too. I thought Colin would embody that perfectly.”
Farrell echoed, “When I met Craig, he was enthusiastic and had a very clear idea of how he wanted to tell this story. I want to say it was a no-brainer for me to want to be in his film. It really was a pretty easy decision.”
Proof that director and actor are on the same page included a fuss-free Farrell when it came to dealing with six stages of vampire make-ups. “That’s sort of unheard of for actors but Colin is a trouper, and I think he felt like it was Halloween every day. He is, by far, one of my favorite actors to do makeup on, aside from just being one of my favorite people as well,” said make-up designer Howard Berger.
As far as his vampire fright look was concerned, Farrell was pleased his fanged villain came out creepy. “They’ve (artists) done an amazing job. They’re Academy Award-winning makeup artists, and it was a blast to be around them. The days were long, but it was incredible from the get-go.”
The retelling of the 1985 cult hit is “a perfect blend of horror and action,” said a statement from Dreamworks Picture. In “Fright Night,” “Charley (Anton Yelchin), a high school senior who’s on top of the world – running with the popular crowd and dating the most coveted girl in school – meets trouble arrives in Jerry (Farrell), a vampire who moves in next door and is soon preying on the neighborhood.”
Source: mb.com.ph
