Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Anton Yelchin & Dave Franco – Fright Night

During an interview with me at the Highball in Austin, actors Anton Yelchin (“Star Trek”), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (“Superbad”), and Dave Franco (“Charlie St. Cloud”) talked about their remake of the 1985 horror comedy “Fright Night,” which now stars Colin Farrell as a powerful vampire who moves into a suburban neighborhood and feasts on teenagers one by one.

Vampires seem to be the only horror movie creatures that are given this kind of sex appeal on a consistent basis. You never see a shirtless zombie showing off his abs.

Christopher Mintz-Plasse: (Laughs) Not yet.

Why do you think so many women are attracted to the idea of vampires?

Anton Yelchin: I think the point at which vampires connect with you is through the neck, which is essentially a sexy zone.

Chris: And they can only be out at nighttime.

Anton: They can only be out at night, right. And they’re immortal.

Chris: They’re not losing flesh like zombies or growing hair like werewolves.

Anton: Yeah, they’re more like enhanced human beings that are immortal. I think people lust for immortality. There is this sexuality that comes with staying young forever.

Chris: Yeah.

Anton: They’re also extremely well hung.

Dave Franco: Vampire cocks.

What about from a guy’s perspective, though? You don’t see as many men lusting over female vampires.

Dave: We were just talking about that actually. What about Salma Hayek in “From Dusk Till Dawn?”

Chris: Yeah, Salma Hayek!

Anton: Salma Hayek!

Well, sure, there are some exceptions but if you were to walk into a bar and saw a female vampire, would you try to pick her up?

Dave: Psht, yeah!

Chris and Anton: (Laughing)

Chris: I mean, it depends. In “True Blood” there are some sexy female vampires that nibble on guys, but don’t turn them, right? So, if that was the case, then yeah. That would be fun as hell.

Anton: Yeah, I’d be down to get nibbled on.

Is there anything you guys are really scared of?

Dave: People.

Anton: Yeah, people.

Chris: I mean, I’m still just scared of spiders.

Dave: Are you really?

Chris: Yeah, really. I freak out.

Anton and Dave: (Whispering) Pussy.

Dave, have you given Chris a chance to redeem himself and try to beat you in another “You’re So Hot” competition?

Chris: He defeated me!

Dave: Ah, man, we have another one in the works with two girls this time and we’ll possibly make a cameo.

Anton: I watched that on the set of “Odd Thomas” and I was in the car with Willem Dafoe and he was saying all the shit you guys were saying.

Dave: Fucking great!

Chris: That’s awesome!

Imogen Poots – Fright Night

When it comes to remakes, British actress Imogen Poots, 22, sees nothing wrong with revisiting an original film as long as it’s handled in the right way. Just don’t mess with a classic like the 1955 drama “Rebel Without a Cause.”

“It would be a crime if someone tried to remake it,” Poots told me during an exclusive interview for her new film “Fright Night,” a remake of the 1985 comedy horror of the same name. “James Dean plays such a wonderful character and there would be so much trepidation if you were to approach a project like that again.”

In the updated version of “Fright Night,” Poots plays the character Amy, who was portrayed by actress Amanda Bearse in the original film. Amy is the supportive girlfriend of Charley Brewster (Anton Yelchin), a high school student who believes his new next door neighbor Jerry (Colin Farrell) is a vampire.

During our interview, Poots, whose filmography includes “28 Weeks Later,” “Solitary Man,” and “Jane Eyre,” talked about her favorite kind of vampires and why she thinks bloodsuckers are usually written as sexual beings.

You weren’t even born when the original “Fright Night” came to theaters in 1985. When did the movie hit your radar? Was it when you were cast for the remake?

I think I was always aware of the original, but I only saw it when I was cast for the remake, yeah. (Laughs) I was into more of the John Hughes classics like “Say Anything” instead of movies like “Fright Night.”

In 2007, you were in another horror film, “28 Weeks Later.” What kind of stories are you looking for when you accept a role in this genre?

Yeah, I had worked in the genre before. I worked with [director] Juan Carlos Fresnadillo on “28 Weeks Later.” He is a real genius and artist. I like doing horror films when the director doing it is approaching the story from a place of humanity.

When do you think a movie needs to be remade? Some people would argue that if a movie worked the first time, there’s no reason to revisit it again.

It’s like any art. There could be this incredible painting and someone might say that no one should ever redo it again because they wouldn’t understand it like the original artist did. But someone could always re-imagine it and make it their own. If a novel was only adapted once it would be a shame. I think that’s why they’re going to remake “The Great Gatsby” again because it’s bringing the story to a modern audience who may not even be aware of F. Scott Fitzgerald. I think as long as it’s handled in the right way it could be an interesting idea to explore.

Is that how you feel about the “Fright Night” remake?

I think “Fright Night” is appropriate because the original is so time specific. The ’80s is almost like a character in the film. That’s different than trying to remake “Rebel Without a Cause” without James Dean. That would make me very nervous.

“Fright Night” finds time to take a few digs at the popularity of the “Twilight” franchise. Are you a fan of more romantic vampires or do you like your vampires mean as hell?

I like the Colin Farrell vampire the most. I think it goes back to the original concept of the vampire. I’m certainly aware of all the other approaches. What’s interesting is that the vampire can take on such a malleable form and really dictate its role in somebody’s life, whether as a vampire in a romantic melodrama or a sexual predator. But, yeah, I think Colin is the best vampire in town.

What is it about vampires that some women find so sexually appealing?

In terms of the sexuality of the vampire, I think what is attractive to some people is the potential danger because there is something almost forbidden about vampires. I think as a human with intuition and basic primal instincts, if you can’t protect yourself in that moment of seduction, there is nothing you can do. I think that’s why vampires are presented in that light. For something like a zombie, it would be more about the mentality and the sensibility of the monster. I think the vampire is elevated beyond the monster.

Talk about working with Colin Farrell and the creepiness he exudes playing Jerry in this movie.

Colin was great to work with. He really created a vampire that takes on an original format. It was really wonderful to be in his presence and observe him creating his character. Colin has these sort of wild eyes. Then once his contacts are in, it all gets kind of crazy. It was really cool working with him.

When the cameras are off, did you try to keep your distance from Colin so you could keep that tension high or does the whole cast take it down a notch and just hang around at the craft services table together?

(Laughs) Everyone is pretty easy going. Of course, you’re focused on your work, but at the same time everyone is hanging out and having a good time.

Without giving too much away, things get a little bloodier for your character in the third act. Was it more fun playing the innocent girlfriend at the beginning or the victim at the end?

It was really nice to have that transition, that’s for sure. It was nice to switch it up. I really liked bringing out my vampire. I was really influenced by Colin’s performance. I really wanted to explore something beyond my character Amy. Once Amy turns, she no longer embodies that innocence we saw from her at the beginning.

Sandra Vergara – Fright Night

With vampire lore as popular as ever in the entertainment indsutry, actress Sandra Vergara considers herself part of the fan base that has made a TV show like “True Blood” a major hit for HBO.

“I’ve always loved anything that has to do with vampires,” Vergara told me during an exclusive interview for “Fright Night,” the first film of her career. “In reality, there is no such thing as vampires, so I think the world of fantasy always attracts people and is more entertaining than what is happening in real life. The unknown is more fascinating.”

In “Fright Night,” Vergara, who is the younger sister of Sofia Vergara (TV’s “Modern Family),” plays Ginger, the seductive girlfriend of actor David Tennant’s character Peter Vincent, a Criss Angel-type magician who knows a thing or two about fighting vampires.

During our interview, Vergara admits who she thinks is the sexiest vampire she has ever seen, and her biggest fear in life.

Did you know anything about vampire movies before you joined the cast of “Fright Night?”

Yeah, we’ll I had seen the original “Fright Night” and thought it was amazing. When that movie came out it was like the boom of the vampires. With all the hype of “Twilight” and “True Blood,” it was just the perfect time to do another vampire movie. I had a blast.

Why do you think vampires are usually given sex appeal?

I think it’s something very psychological that has to do with blood and fangs. It’s kinky in a way. Really, there’s nothing that sexy about sucking blood out of someone else’s neck, right? But there’s something sensual about the neck and how vampires move and talk and dress. Usually in movies, the vampires are cast as very handsome men and sexy women. That itself makes them more appealing.

So, who have been some of your favorite vampires in recent years?

I think Colin Farrell does a vampire better than anyone I’ve ever seen. But if I had to choose someone else it would be Alexander Skarsgard from “True Blood.” I think he’s the sexiest vampire. I love “True Blood.” I’m a big fan of his. Alexander actually works out at my gym. Whenever I see him on the treadmill I just drool.

Tell me about your experience on a movie set, especially since this is the first major film you’ve ever worked on.

Yeah, this is my first movie. It was such a pleasure working with an A-list cast. It’s a very well-written, produced, and directed movie. It’s not like the typical horror movie. It was very artistic for me, from the special effects to the makeup. We had the makeup artists who worked on “The Chronicles of Narnia.” They worked with me and gave me fangs and contact lenses. Everything was amazing. I was very flattered and felt very blessed to be working on that set. I never thought I would get the role of Ginger. I actually thought I was going to play someone else. To my surprise, when I arrived on set, I was cast as a whole new character.

Which character did you think you were going to play?

I thought I was going to play Doris. Then I thought I was going to play an assistant during a magic show, which is only a fragment of my character Ginger. When I got to the set, I learned I was also going to play the magician’s girlfriend and had some new funny scenes and monologues. I had to improvise, which was awesome.

Are you easily scared when it comes to horror movies?

What scares me most is anything that has to do with ghosts. Japanese horror movies scare me like the original “Ring” – “Ringu.”  All those are pretty scary. Monsters or vampires don’t really scare me.

Have you ever experienced anything paranormal?

No, not really.

I know some people that would like to see a ghost sometime in their life.

No thank you. I do not want to see a ghost ever. I’ll let them rest in peace wherever they are. That’s actually my biggest fear.