Still one of the best vampire movies of last 35yrs. From pop wave music to dark setting and 1st class acting Roddy was the show stealer. Sarandon and Ragsdale where great also. 80s produced so many classic films. So lucky to have been a teen in 80s.
This is really giving me some crazy childhood memories. I remember seeing this exact thing in a hotel room when my mom and I were on vacation. I was flipping through preview channels really early in the morning. A year or so later I got to see the movie on VHS. I've been hooked ever since.
Amanda Bearse was severely miscast in the movie. And the role of Charlie needed to be played by someone with star appeal. William Ragsdale played it OK but he didn't bring people to theaters. Kind of like Keith Gordon in Christine. Just adequate.
@Perceptor Not sure that I agree. For example, actor Charlie Sheen had auditioned for the role of "Charley Brewster" and while I do think that Charlie Sheen most definitely had the right acting chops to pull off the role, he was not cast as he was considered "too pretty" and good looking for the role of the awkward geeky boy next door. Said another way, could you really see some one who looked like a young Charlie Sheen being pals with some one like Evil Ed?? That being said, and as strange as it sounds... I could also see a young Johnny Depp in the role of "Charley" but that is probably because he did well in his debut role in the first "Nightmare on Elm Street". I think a couple of other honorable mentions who could have done well (in the role of Charley) are Matthew Broderick and especially a young C. Thomas Howell could have been very good. I think Amanda Bearse was perfect for the role of Amy... but I also think that Kerri Green ("Andy" from Goonies) might have also pulled it off. Chris Sarandon was also very good in the role as the vampire Jerry but as strange as it may sound... I could so see Patrick Swayze playing the role of the handsome vampire especially winning over Charley's mother with his handsome good looks and southern charm and he would have no doubt crushed the dancing with Amy during the night club scene. I don't think Patrick ever played a villain... (probably because he didn't want to risk throwing a monkey wrench in his career) but I think he could have had a lot of fun in this role as a good-looking, suave vampire.
