FRIGHT NIGHT (1985)
Starring Chris Sarandon and Roddy McDowall
The late mid-1980s saw a number of kick-ass horror movies come out ("Nightmare on Elm Street," "Return of the Living Dead"), not the least of which was this one, which stars an aging Roddy McDowall as a washed-up horror movie show host.
When a teenager (William Ragsdale) notices a murder that took place next door and suddenly realizes his suave and arrogant new neighbor (Chris Sarandon) is a vampire. He recruits McDowall to help him battle the bloodsucker. Some pretty sick gore, a damn suspenseful storyline and plenty of comedy make this one a must-see. It helped usher in the vampire comeback in horror cinema that's still with us. Holland, who helped write the excellent "Beast Within," went on to direct the classic "Child's Play."
He wasn't involved in this film's sequel.