17-year-old Charley Brewster is a fan of both traditional horror films and a horror TV series entitled ''Fright Night'', hosted by former movie vampire hunter Peter Vincent. One evening, Charley discovers that his new next door neighbor Jerry Dandrige, is a vampire responsible for the disappearances of several victims. Charley tries to tell his mother and asks his friends for help. In desperation, he contacts the Police officer, Detective Lennox goes with Charley to Jerry's house to question him but his "roommate" Billy Cole tells them that Jerry is "away on business". Charley reveals his suspicions and the detective leaves furiously. That night, Charley is surprised to see Jerry in his house after his mother invites him in (after Charley's friend "Evil Ed" Thompson tells him a vampire can't enter someone's home without an invitation). Later on, Charley gets a visit from Jerry, who offers Charley a choice: forget about his vampire identity - or else. Charlie refuses, brandishing his crucifix at Jerry. When Jerry stops Charley and slowly tries to push him out the window to his death, Charlie stabs Jerry's hand with a pencil. Enraged, Jerry destroys Charley's car in retaliation and informs Charley that he will do much worse to him tomorrow night.
Three years after the Fright Night, 20-year-old Charley Brewster, as a result of psychiatric therapy, now believes that Jerry Dandrige was nothing but a serial killer posing as a vampire. As a result, he comes to believe that vampires never existed.