It’s been a little over a month since the sudden death of Anton Yelchin on 19 June, and only days since the US premiere of Star Trek Beyond, where the 27-year-old actor turned in what would be his last performance as engineering prodigy Pavel Chekov. He had multiple projects in the works, including his pending directorial debut: Travis. Yelchin’s ability to move smoothly between genres was precocious. His eclectic filmography included horror (Green Room), supernatural (Odd Thomas), romance (Like Crazy), and Sci-Fi (Star Trek), among others.
In the days following his death, fans and collaborators alike stepped forward to offer their admiration and grief on Twitter and talk shows. His parents, to whom he was the only son, published a thank-you memorial in this month’s Hollywood Reporter regarding the industry’s outpouring of support. When news of his death broke, my shallow thoughts weren’t with his friends and family; rather, I found myself clutching at the memory of his 2011 film Fright Night, a remake of the 1985 campy vampire thriller.