Alright, with the relative success of last year's Summer of Terror, I figure I might as well continue with the most logical successor: The Nightmare on Elm Street series. I've heard, on the whole, this series has a more consistent quality than the Friday the 13th series. Plus, there are fewer films to review. I would've done this back in June, but I've been busy. Anyway, let's start at the beginning with 1984's A Nightmare on Elm Street.
(Reminder, I will not put spoilers in the synopsis, but if needed, I will put certain spoilers in the critique, so be warned)
I've discussed Wes Craven and his seminal work in horror genre in a couple of these. Born into a staunch Baptist family in Cleveland, Craven became an English instructor, both on the high school and university levels, following his graduation from John Hopskins, before eventually going into filmmaking. He would do some very low-budget, X-rated feature under pseudonyms before finally hitting it big with the visceral horror film The Last House on the Left, and following it up with the also visceral The Hills Have Eyes. He would do several more films in the early 80's, Deadly Blessing, an adaptation of the DC Comics character Swamp Thing (that film inspired Alan Moore's celebrated run, among others), and a sequel to The Hills Have Eyes. He was almost destitute due to the failure of the former two, before coming up with the idea for Nightmare. Its conception had a number of origins. An old vagrant that Craven had seen as a child. A horror parody his students at Clarkson University produced on Elm Street, Postdam, New York A number of sleep related deaths amongst Southeast Asian refugees. The Gary Wright song "Dream Weaver". The DC comics character Plastic Man. The fact that red and green are the two most contrasting colors to the human retina. All of these elements were put into the character of Freddie Krueger, named for a childhood bully of Craven's. After finishing the script in 1981, shortly after the production of Swamp Thing, and shopped it to several studios, before film distributor New Line Cinema (then just starting film productions through some films by John Waters) agreed to produce (though money troubles would cause the budget to inflate from $700,000 to $1.1 million). Craven was determined to make a great movie villain. Inspired by the masked killers of the time, he made Krueger heavily disfigured as his "mask", and considered having a stuntman play him, like Jason. However, after several screen tests, it was decided that an actual actor was needed. He was also changed from a child molester to a child killer due to a number of child molestation stories popping up in the news at the time. Robert Englund (at one point, considered for the role of Han Solo and having played a large role in the show V) was soon cast, and put into heavy make-up, coming to embody the role for the rest of the franchise. After actor Charlie Sheen passed up the role of Glen, other actors were considered and auditioned. Eventually, Craven's daughter picked out an actor accompanying a friend to their audition from a headshot, and Craven cast a young Johnny Depp in the role. Filmed in and around Los Angeles, it would use 500 gallons of fake blood and other extensive special effects (including an oatmeal-glue mix for the melting staircase scene, and of course, Freddy's glove, made with steak knives). Released on November 9th, 1984, the film make $1.2 million on its opening weekend,and $25 million over its run in theaters. The success would push New Line into the mainstream, making it "The House that Freddy Built". It has come to be seen as one of the greatest horror films ever made.
In an Everytown, USA, high schooler Tina Grey (Amanda Wyss) is chased in a dream by a mysterious disfigured man with claws (Robert Englund). When she awakened, there are tears in her nightgown. While her boyfriend Rod Lane (Nick Corri) is unsympathetic, her friends Nancy Thompson (Heather Langenkamp) and her boyfriend Glen Lantz (Johnny Depp) comfort her. Sure enough, the next night, while Rod and Tina are sleeping together, Tina is again hounded by the man, who catches up, and kills brutally. Rod witnesses her body being torn under the sheets, and flees. He is subsequently accused by Nancy's father, Police Lieutenant Donald (John Saxon) of her murder. However, Nancy is unsure, and she herself is pursued in her dreams by the man, now calling himself Freddy. She would soon find herself in a seemingly unwinnable situation, all while learning stunning truths about her mother (Ronee Blakely) and the other parents on Elm Street.
I did this film back when these were short Facebook reviews. I remember not liking it, feeling it was too cheesy and weird. Now watching some 5 or 6 years later, I definitely didn't give it its due credit. The atmosphere of this film is amazing. It is all pervasive, slowly invading even the most calm settings around, and it seems never-ending. This is helped by Freddy's reliance on dreams, which means the characters are always going to encounter him because of the need to sleep. It makes for some great, inventive scares, and the creeping sense that follows you as you and the characters try to determine his next move. There is some great, iconic imagery, especially the boileroom, which is shot in a dream-like quality. I appreciate that Freddy himself is distinguished from other slasher by his facial scares and his lively personality, as well as supernatural abilities. He is a great villain, constantly around, and even when things seem safe, he pops back up. The way he's defeated is especially clever, using the logic established in the film and personal growth to slowly diminish his power. I like that some scenes are indefinite as to whether they're dreams or not.
If I had one criticism, it is too short. A lot happens, but it is wrapped up very neatly. It might've been nice to explore the community a little, Freddy's crimes in life, how the dream world works, but the film is only 90-some minutes. I also feel that it lags in certain parts, especially the scenes where they try to determine the cause of Nancy's problems, and I wish they had gone a little more into how Freddy got to be a supernatural ghost, but perhaps they explain it in the sequels.
I was way off about this movie. This was actually pretty good, and this time around, I enjoyed it a fair bit. I recommend it to horror fans or thriller fans as well, or for historical purposes to see the origin of a horror icon. It does pique my interest in the sequels as well.
Speaking of which, join me tomorrow for Freddy's Revenge.
(Reminder, I will not put spoilers in the synopsis, but if needed, I will put certain spoilers in the critique, so be warned)
I've discussed Wes Craven and his seminal work in horror genre in a couple of these. Born into a staunch Baptist family in Cleveland, Craven became an English instructor, both on the high school and university levels, following his graduation from John Hopskins, before eventually going into filmmaking. He would do some very low-budget, X-rated feature under pseudonyms before finally hitting it big with the visceral horror film The Last House on the Left, and following it up with the also visceral The Hills Have Eyes. He would do several more films in the early 80's, Deadly Blessing, an adaptation of the DC Comics character Swamp Thing (that film inspired Alan Moore's celebrated run, among others), and a sequel to The Hills Have Eyes. He was almost destitute due to the failure of the former two, before coming up with the idea for Nightmare. Its conception had a number of origins. An old vagrant that Craven had seen as a child. A horror parody his students at Clarkson University produced on Elm Street, Postdam, New York A number of sleep related deaths amongst Southeast Asian refugees. The Gary Wright song "Dream Weaver". The DC comics character Plastic Man. The fact that red and green are the two most contrasting colors to the human retina. All of these elements were put into the character of Freddie Krueger, named for a childhood bully of Craven's. After finishing the script in 1981, shortly after the production of Swamp Thing, and shopped it to several studios, before film distributor New Line Cinema (then just starting film productions through some films by John Waters) agreed to produce (though money troubles would cause the budget to inflate from $700,000 to $1.1 million). Craven was determined to make a great movie villain. Inspired by the masked killers of the time, he made Krueger heavily disfigured as his "mask", and considered having a stuntman play him, like Jason. However, after several screen tests, it was decided that an actual actor was needed. He was also changed from a child molester to a child killer due to a number of child molestation stories popping up in the news at the time. Robert Englund (at one point, considered for the role of Han Solo and having played a large role in the show V) was soon cast, and put into heavy make-up, coming to embody the role for the rest of the franchise. After actor Charlie Sheen passed up the role of Glen, other actors were considered and auditioned. Eventually, Craven's daughter picked out an actor accompanying a friend to their audition from a headshot, and Craven cast a young Johnny Depp in the role. Filmed in and around Los Angeles, it would use 500 gallons of fake blood and other extensive special effects (including an oatmeal-glue mix for the melting staircase scene, and of course, Freddy's glove, made with steak knives). Released on November 9th, 1984, the film make $1.2 million on its opening weekend,and $25 million over its run in theaters. The success would push New Line into the mainstream, making it "The House that Freddy Built". It has come to be seen as one of the greatest horror films ever made.
In an Everytown, USA, high schooler Tina Grey (Amanda Wyss) is chased in a dream by a mysterious disfigured man with claws (Robert Englund). When she awakened, there are tears in her nightgown. While her boyfriend Rod Lane (Nick Corri) is unsympathetic, her friends Nancy Thompson (Heather Langenkamp) and her boyfriend Glen Lantz (Johnny Depp) comfort her. Sure enough, the next night, while Rod and Tina are sleeping together, Tina is again hounded by the man, who catches up, and kills brutally. Rod witnesses her body being torn under the sheets, and flees. He is subsequently accused by Nancy's father, Police Lieutenant Donald (John Saxon) of her murder. However, Nancy is unsure, and she herself is pursued in her dreams by the man, now calling himself Freddy. She would soon find herself in a seemingly unwinnable situation, all while learning stunning truths about her mother (Ronee Blakely) and the other parents on Elm Street.
I did this film back when these were short Facebook reviews. I remember not liking it, feeling it was too cheesy and weird. Now watching some 5 or 6 years later, I definitely didn't give it its due credit. The atmosphere of this film is amazing. It is all pervasive, slowly invading even the most calm settings around, and it seems never-ending. This is helped by Freddy's reliance on dreams, which means the characters are always going to encounter him because of the need to sleep. It makes for some great, inventive scares, and the creeping sense that follows you as you and the characters try to determine his next move. There is some great, iconic imagery, especially the boileroom, which is shot in a dream-like quality. I appreciate that Freddy himself is distinguished from other slasher by his facial scares and his lively personality, as well as supernatural abilities. He is a great villain, constantly around, and even when things seem safe, he pops back up. The way he's defeated is especially clever, using the logic established in the film and personal growth to slowly diminish his power. I like that some scenes are indefinite as to whether they're dreams or not.
If I had one criticism, it is too short. A lot happens, but it is wrapped up very neatly. It might've been nice to explore the community a little, Freddy's crimes in life, how the dream world works, but the film is only 90-some minutes. I also feel that it lags in certain parts, especially the scenes where they try to determine the cause of Nancy's problems, and I wish they had gone a little more into how Freddy got to be a supernatural ghost, but perhaps they explain it in the sequels.
I was way off about this movie. This was actually pretty good, and this time around, I enjoyed it a fair bit. I recommend it to horror fans or thriller fans as well, or for historical purposes to see the origin of a horror icon. It does pique my interest in the sequels as well.
Speaking of which, join me tomorrow for Freddy's Revenge.
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