Jerry Dandridge from 'Fright Night' (1985)

Welcome to Fright Night….for real

Jerry Dandridge is the epitome of the self-assured, charismatic, and completely diabolic vampire. Utilizing the fact no one believes in vampires, Dandridge is able to manipulate most everyone around him that he’s just a guy-next-door, and that his charismatic presence is nothing to fear. Only a few figure out the truth…and even then, it took real convincing.


Why Jerry Dandridge?

There are several reasons I wanted to include Dandridge this year. First, I wanted to feature a vampire who I felt was fairly sinister and cool (and I’m doing three as it turns out). Dandridge is not just a vampire – he’s a charismatic monster who understands the nature of myth and the play on the idea that most people believe vampires are just legends. I also think that Chris Sarandon was outstanding as Dandridge and had a charming if not sinister way about him.





Jerry Dandridge

Jerry Dandridge

F: Rm (30)
A: Rm (30)
S: Rm (30)
E: Am (50)
R: Gd (10)
I: Rm (30)
P: Rm (30)
Health: 140
Karma: 70
Resources: Ex (20)
Popularity: 0

Talents:
Dandridge has been in existence for some time. As such, his talents are various and could include additional skills. Dandridge’s displayed talents include:

• Acting
• Forensics
• Charm
• Seduction
• Aerial Combat
• Occult Lore*
• Knowledge: Pop Culture
• Knowledge: Human Nature
• Knowledge: Necromancy (Implied through the novelization as the means he created his protector and aide)
• Intimidation

Powers:
Vampire: Dandridge is an older vampire, whose abilities and skills range the traditional vampire gauntlet. Dandridge has displayed the following abilities associated with vampirism:

• Vampiric Nature: Dandridge is considered a master vampire, possessing the ability to regain health through feeding on blood, granting him Rm (30) Bio-Vampirism*. Dandridge’s nature prevents him from aging, makes him immune to most forms of traditional damage (See Limitations), and does not lose Endurance ranks from kill results of a normal variety. Dandridge can convert or turn someone into a vampire within hours (unlike the two to three days within normal mythology). Dandridge prefers the victims to willingly choose to become vampires in acts of submission rather than forcing them (as seen with Ed and Amy in the first film).
• Hypnotic Stare: Dandridge has mastered his hypnotic powers, can enthrall individuals with Rm (30) ability. Dandridge prefers to utilize his own charms and talents rather than simply utilize his powers.
• Shapeshifting: Dandridge is able to change his shape into traditional vampire forms (wolf, bat, mist) with Rm (30) intensity. When Dandridge is hunting, angry, or hurt his vampiric nature shows itself, requiring a Psyche FEAT to remain human.
• Heightened Senses: Dandridge’s senses are superhuman, granting him Ex (20) enhanced senses.
• Natural Weaponry: Bite: Dandridge can do Ex (20) edged damage with his bite, halving effectiveness of body armor and other protections.
• Natural Weaponry: Claws: Dandridge has some mean-looking claws with do Gd (10) slashing damage, halving effective body armor.

Servant : Dandridge has a zombie-like servant, Billy Cole, who is believed to be some sort of lesser undead. Cole’s purpose is to protect Dandridge, and is considered to have the following abilities:
F: Gd (10) A: Gd (10) S: Ex (20) E: Ex (20) R: Typ (06) I: Ex (20) P: Pr (04)
Health: 60 Karma: 30 Resources: Tied to Dandridge’s Popularity: 0
talents:
Carpentry
Occult Lore*

Powers:
Undead Nature: For the most part, Billy is a zombie (without the craving for brains or decomposition). As such, he is resistant to many forms of permanent damage (although he does take it), and can recover from kill results in one round (As seen during the film). Billy’s primary weakness is damage to the brain, which causes him to immediate suffer a kill result. Billy will rapidly decompose and crumble in one round.

Contacts:
Dandridge has one contact, with his handyman/zombie/protector Billy. Although with Dandridge’s charm, it is reasonable to assume he has many others around the world.

Limitations:
Dandridge has many limitations based on his vampiric nature, including silver, holy water, and other traditional weaknesses. In addition, Dandridge has specific limitations with specific effects:

• Vulnerability to holy objects: Dandridge can be repulsed with a holy object if wielded by someone with faith. Dandridge must retreat and can be afflicted if touched by such an object with Gd (10) ability.
• No Reflection: Dandridge cannot cast a reflection in mirror surface, and can be easily detected by such.
• Traditional Fatal Vulnerability to Sunlight: Dandridge begins the dying process (losing Endurance ranks) if exposed directly to sunlight. Dandridge will die if exposed to sunlight within rounds.
• Predatory Need: Dandridge must feed regularly in order to maintain his strength, usually choosing prostitutes and other women in the immediate area.
• Arrogant: Dandridge is extraordinarily arrogant, suffering a -1cs reaction bonus in situations that play to such. In addition, Dandridge believes he is superior to those who encounter him, toying with them and believing them unable to do anything to stop him.
• Anger: Dandridge can easily be enraged, and will directly attack those who manage to do so. Dandridge suffers a -1cs reaction bonus when enraged.

Notes:
For some reason, I believed I had already covered Jerry….but no matter. Fright Night remains one of the better vampire films out there, and I enjoyed Dandridge as a villain quite a bit (although to be fair, I liked Peter Vincent a bit more). I based this write-up on two sources: The novelization of the movie and the movie itself. I didn’t include any of the remakes, the comic, or the sequel…I just think that anything else sort of waters down what I liked.

I didn’t feel that the inclusion of contacts or limitations for Billy was necessary (I didn’t think he warranted his own write-up, as I am certain that if Jerry survived he would have ultimately replaced Billy). I also didn’t feel I needed to include other limitations or abilities, I think those are covered under the vampire write-up elsewhere.

As for stats, I felt that despite Jerry’s age, it was reason to assume his skills and stats were probably more akin to the vampires of cinema. I debated going higher with some of the FASE, but I thought ultimately this captured the movie version best.