As if you didn’t have enough things to keep you awake at night…..add Freddy Krueger to the list. He’s back. Well, maybe he never left. He was officially killed in the sixth installment of the series, Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare, only to return for a couple more sequels. Now comes the 2010 version, produced by Michael Bay, Andrew Form and Brad Fuller and directed by Samuel Bayer, more known for his music video productions. It is scheduled for release April 30, 2010.
Brief History of A Nightmare on Elm Street
A Nightmare on Elm Street is credited with having a huge impact on the teenage slasher genre that is just as popular today as it was in the late 70’s and early 80’s. It’s the longest running horror series in film, and is considered the most imaginative of the genre.
The premise from the 1984 film remains the same. Five teenagers who live on Elm Street, all have dreams that are invaded by a sinister being named Freddy Krueger. This being stalks them in their dreams, trying to kill them which actually will happen if he gets to them before they awaken. The teens try to figure out how not only to stay awake (and alive) but to understand what is motivating Freddy to target them. The characters and original film were created by Wes Craven, who was reportedly upset that he wasn't consulted for this remake.
Freddy Krueger: A Real Nightmare
In case you haven’t heard of Freddy Krueger, and it would be hard to believe you haven’t; he is the disfigured, fedora wearing teen stalker with razor knives for a glove who attacks his victims in their dreams, while the consequences of those attacks occur in real life. He is vulnerable only when actually put into the real world, and your only defence is to stay awake. Robert Englund made a career portraying Freddy, but this time Academy Award nominee Jackie Earle Haley (many boomers may remember him as the cigarette smoking punk in the original Bad News Bears film) takes over the role, although it may be difficult to recognize him through the extensive facial makeup.
But can an audience that has been exposed to such graphic brutality as shown in recent Lion's Gate Entertainment series like Hostel and Saw be swayed by what is a fairly faithful remake of the 1984 version. The original A Nightmare on Elm Street was innovative, frightening and pretty violent. Today's viewers may likely be a little more hardened to be really affected by the violence, and not imaginative enough to appreciate the concept of a Freddy Krueger.
John Fleckles - John is a contributing writer and blogger who can research and create with the reader in mind. He's currently working with Static ...
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