A New Nightmare on Elm Street
September 29th 2009 08:12
Freddy Krueger is dead serious in 2010.
The new Freddy Krueger is more serious, sinister, and grim.
After twenty six years, there's a new "A Nightmare on Elm Street" movie. It's still about Freddie Krueger getting his revenge but it's not really the same. It's no longer directed by Wes Craven and Robert Englund isn't our vengeful "dream crasher" anymore. This version is written by Samuel Bayer with Watchmen star Jackie Erl Haley (who we all know as Rorschach) starring as Krueger.
In the original series, Englund was convincingly scary as the burned villain, and he gave Krueger a twisted sense of humor that only made him more terrifying. With a new director and star, the character has been given a new feel. By the trailer alone audiences can tell that it's more serious with an unsmiling Krueger. Here's a Krueger who's really angry about what happened to him. It's not like the original one who seemed to enjoy his situation in death. His face is also different, unlike in the Craven version, where it's unabashedly and menacingly expressive.
Of course, a new face for Krueger is only one of the attractions of the new movie. The new generation of horror audience cannot simply be pleased with old looks, but of course, old fans of the original Krueger may not be happy with the new one even if he still wears that red and black striped shirt and hat. They would definitely prefer Englund. But like James Bond, it's inevitable that a new actor for Krueger fill his shoes and Haley seems to have been a very good choice.
In this new Nightmare, the premise of a vengeful spirit visiting the dreams and nightmares of the children of those who lynched and killed it has been kept. Sometimes, this concept made for some very confusing storytelling in the original and sequels, with dreams merging with what's supposed to be real. Sometimes, horror movies can be that way, but it's kind of like a tradition already. Horror movies need those story elements.
Scrat from Ice Age sighted in original 1984 poster of A Nightmare on Elm Street
In the original series, Englund was convincingly scary as the burned villain, and he gave Krueger a twisted sense of humor that only made him more terrifying. With a new director and star, the character has been given a new feel. By the trailer alone audiences can tell that it's more serious with an unsmiling Krueger. Here's a Krueger who's really angry about what happened to him. It's not like the original one who seemed to enjoy his situation in death. His face is also different, unlike in the Craven version, where it's unabashedly and menacingly expressive.
Of course, a new face for Krueger is only one of the attractions of the new movie. The new generation of horror audience cannot simply be pleased with old looks, but of course, old fans of the original Krueger may not be happy with the new one even if he still wears that red and black striped shirt and hat. They would definitely prefer Englund. But like James Bond, it's inevitable that a new actor for Krueger fill his shoes and Haley seems to have been a very good choice.
In this new Nightmare, the premise of a vengeful spirit visiting the dreams and nightmares of the children of those who lynched and killed it has been kept. Sometimes, this concept made for some very confusing storytelling in the original and sequels, with dreams merging with what's supposed to be real. Sometimes, horror movies can be that way, but it's kind of like a tradition already. Horror movies need those story elements.
Scrat from Ice Age sighted in original 1984 poster of A Nightmare on Elm Street
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