Film was filmed in and around the Los Angeles area, primarily in Culver City and various parts of downtown LA. The story follows teenager Charley Brewster who becomes convinced that his new next-door neighbor Jerry Dandrige is a vampire. After failing to convince anyone — his mother, his girlfriend Amy, or his oddball friend "Evil" Ed — Charley turns to Peter Vincent, a washed-up horror TV host, for help. The movie blends horror and comedy in a way that became a hallmark of 1980s genre filmmaking. The residential street scenes featuring Charley's and Jerry's houses were shot on the Disney Studio Back Lot "Residential Street" set, which was originally built in 1960 and used in numerous productions before being demolished in 1991. Other locations included real streets and buildings in downtown Los Angeles, giving the nighttime scenes an authentic urban edge. The film became a cult classic and spawned a sequel and a 2011 remake.

Filming locations:

Evil" Ed Thompson's House

In the movie

Scene where the exterior of "Evil" Ed Thompson's house is shown here. Ed is Charley's eccentric friend who initially dismisses Charley's vampire claims but eventually becomes a victim himself. The house appears as a typical suburban home, contrasting with the horror that unfolds around it throughout the film.

In reality

The scene was filmed a residential property located at 9520 Farragut Drive in Culver City, a quiet suburban neighborhood with modest mid-century homes. Culver City has long been associated with the film industry due to its proximity to major studios like Sony Pictures (formerly MGM) and Culver Studios. The street itself is a typical Southern California residential block with single-family houses.

Club Radio (Interior)

In the movie

Scene where the interior of Club Radio where Jerry Dandrige takes Amy out dancing. This is a pivotal nightclub sequence where Jerry seduces Amy on the dance floor and Charley and Peter Vincent attempt to confront the vampire. The scene features dramatic lighting and an intense atmosphere as the confrontation between the protagonists and the vampire escalates.

In reality

The scene was filmed the building at 1600 West 7th Street in downtown Los Angeles, which served as the interior of the nightclub called Club Radio in the film. This area of downtown LA near MacArthur Park has a mix of commercial and residential buildings and has been used in numerous film and television productions over the decades due to its urban character and proximity to production facilities.