It’s a new year and 2019 has come to a close. I always like to reflect on my favorite physical releases of year. Consumers seem to be moving more and more to streaming services with the launch this holiday season of Disney Plus being the latest. However, 2019 was also a banner year for physical media as well. Several companies really stepped up their game with incredible packaging, extras and in some cases sparkling new transfers of classic films. I will always make the case of physically owning a copy of a movie because it is permanently in your collection, it won’t be dropped or eventually removed from your shelf.

Being that it is 2019, I decided to list my favorite 19 releases of the year. So sit back relax and let’s watch some movies!

Number 12: Fright Night (1985)

A vampire lives next door! His name is Jerry!

That’s what horror obsessed teenager Charley (William Ragsdale) believes. Of course, no one believes him. So, it’s up to him, his friend Ed (Stephen Geoffreys) his gal pal Amy (Amanda Bearse) to take down Jerry (Chris Sarandon).

Charley enlists the help of his favorite TV host Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowall), who hosts a late-night horror show called “Fright Night” to defeat Jerry once and for all.

Fright Night is such a fun movie. It has gore, laughs and intrigue. The actors are all great, with Sarandon as the evil vampire Jerry and McDowall as the twitchy late-night fright host delivering the goods. Geoffreys as “Evil Ed” is also spot on, delivering his lines with over the top zest.

The practical effects are a lot of fun as well It’s always a blast returning to horror films from the 80’s and reliving the icky-goopy effects.

Fright Night was released in 2011 on a limited edition blu-ray from Twilight Time. Sony has now made this film available on demand for the masses and I couldn’t be happier. Twilight Time is a really neat boutique blu-ray company but they release such little quantities that if you miss out you’re pretty much S.O.L. unless you want to pay a ridiculous sum on the secondary market. Sony’s license for the film returned and they rewarded us fans with the definitive blu-ray of Fright Night.

Sony slays Fright Night with an impressive video quality. The tones are all sharp and retain a nice film quality throughout the picture. The effects really pop as well, seeing the cuts, the blood in crystal clear high definition.

Sony stakes its audio in the heart with a really front-loaded experience. Dialogue is clear and precise, the music thumps well. The mush of blood and transformations sound excellent.

Besides being a favorite 80’s film of mine, the biggest selling point of this blu-ray is the amazing set of extras that it contains. Carried over are some that have been previously available but I have never seen so the whole experience was new to me.

The best feature to sink your fangs into is the nearly 2.5 hour documentary, You’re So Cool, Brewster! It covers all areas of the film from the script, director and cast. It is a treat and could’ve been a separate release all on its own. Also included are two commentary tracks, a panel from Fear Fest 2, interviews with director Tom Holland, cast and crew members, a retrospective on the late actor Roddy McDowall, a feature called Choice Cuts with Shock Till You Drop and Tom Holland, a vintage EPK with behind the scenes, and a pair of trailers, a “G” rated one and a “R” rated one.

I can’t recommend this blu-ray enough. If you are a fan of the film this is a must own. If you like gory, funny movies this is a must own. Pretty much everyone should own Fright Night. Hats off to Sony for giving this cult-classic a worthy blu-ray. Although it’s part of Sony’s on-demand discs, you would not know by the sheer love and attention that this film has been given.

Film: A

Video: A-

Audio: B+

Extras: A+

Overall: A