Halloween Horrors: DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince's Nightmare on MY Street

Here's one you may not have thought of in a while. If I remember right, Will Smith got in trouble from New Line Cinema for using the musical cues without permission. But I suppose that could all have been part of the publicity. Anyway, some YouTuber put together a nifty video to go with it, perhaps a trifle long, but if you are a Nightmare on Elm Street fan, you'll dig it.

Horror Movie Legend Wes Craven Dead at 76

Image from source, MSN

It's hard to relate how much horror maven Wes Craven impacted my life. As a pop culture sponge, I was particularly fond of the horror films of the 70s and 80s. I came from my late teens into early adulthood at precisely the same time as the home video boom. And as a rather shy and retiring sort, I spent a lot of my scant money and ample free time on weekends watching movies gathered from the local West Coast Video.

As luck would have it, home video was driven by two forces in those days, porn (naturally) and horror movies! And horror movies were available in abundance. The horror trend was powered by Halloween, ripped off by Friday the 13th, and then beaten into the ground by further ripoffs. And then there was A Nightmare on Elm Street. Even my easy-to-please early 20s self could see this was a whole new, much more creative entry into the field.

Nightmare took horror movies into a whole new realm, from what had been a rather mindless, plotless killer stalking nubile teens, into a mind-bending, complex and unpredictable area. The first film was really groundbreaking and impactful. On first viewing, the viewer is unsure of just what is a dream, and what is reality. Wes Craven was the man responsible for this revelation, but he of course didn't start his career or make his first mark with Freddy Krueger.



If Craven had only ever invented Freddy Krueger,
he'd be a horror legend on that alone.

He did that back in the 70s, with what is arguably one of the most disturbing films of the era, The Last House on the Left, and the nearly-as-creepy The Hills Have Eyes. And he kept going, obtaining a whole new level of fame, and relevance with Scream. Needless to say, though all of these films had sequels and or remakes, and countless imitators--both good and (often) bad--it's the ones Craven had a hand in that were the best installments.

Of all the films in my video library, Craven's are among the ones with the most repeat viewings. His passing was one of those "oof" punch-to-the-gut ones for me, and those are rare for this jaded soul. RIP, Mr. Craven. You left a mark. A big, messy, bloody mark. And we loved it!

[Excerpt]

Wes Craven, Horror Maestro, Dies at 76

Wes Craven, the famed maestro of horror known for the Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream franchises, died Sunday after a battle with brain cancer. He was 76. Craven, whose iconic Freddy Krueger character horrified viewers for years, died at his home in Los Angeles, his family announced. Survivors include his wife, producer and former Disney Studios vice president Iya Labunka. . .

Read more at: MSN

Halloween Horrors: DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince's Nightmare on MY Street

Here's one you may not have thought of in a while. If I remember right, Will Smith got in trouble from New Line Cinema for using the musical cues without permission. But I suppose that could all have been part of the publicity. Anyway, some YouTuber put together a nifty video to go with it, perhaps a trifle long, but if you are a Nightmare on Elm Street fan, you'll dig it.

Halloween Horrors: A Guide to A Nightmare on Elm Street Movies

This is the latest in a series of re-posts from previous years, to help you with your Halloween weekend scary movie viewing. With a few tweaks and edits.

Image from Wikipedia.com

This is of course October, month of Halloween, and season of the horror film. I've been a fan of horror movies since I was old enough to stay up all night on Fridays, and watch Chiller Theater with Dan Immel, and later with Fritz the Night Owl on WBNS-TV in Columbus, Ohio. I grew up being fearless in the daylight hours, and terrified at night to go past our attic in the dark--because I knew there was a Frankenstein pull-string doll in there.

Arguably the best of the horror movie franchises of the last 30 years is A Nightmare on Elm Street. Sure, John Carpenter's Halloween jump-started the "slasher flick" in 1978, and Sean S. Cunningham's Friday the 13th kept it going (by ripping it off) in 1980. But Wes Craven's Nightmare injected originality, humor, and the undeniable (and almost limitless) possibilities of nightmares. Anything can happen in nightmares, and everyone can relate to them.

I have watched all of the movies in this series multiple times (some more than others), and all of them have something to offer. Well, except part 6, unless you like Roseanne and Tom Arnold cameos. . .

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) - The first, and best in the series. The movie follows a group of teenagers, all experiencing the same bogeyman in their dreams. The seeming protagonist bites it early in the film, surprising the audience (oops, ***SPOILER***, sorry!). Another protagonist (Heather Langenkamp as Nancy) emerges, and becomes the icon of the series. Fred Krueger (Robert Englund) is far creepier in this film than in the sequels, and you're never quite sure what is a dream and what is reality. Johnny Depp did very well in this introductory role, and the only flaw in the film is the really bad performance by Ronee Blakley (which I've grown to love anyway). Awesome. ****
 

A Nightmare on Elm Street, Part 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985) - The obligatory sequel mostly ditches the "is it a dream or reality" hook of the first film, and tries to bring Freddy into the real world. Freddy becomes a little more of a quip-master, and there is a bit of an anti-gay undercurrent to the film. Fortunately, the protagonist (Mark Patton) acquits himself well, for a guy who spends much of the movie in his underpants! This movie is sort of a stop-gap, quickie cash-maker for New Line, before the superior sequel.  It is notable for a few iconic lines ("You've got the body, I've got the brains!"), and for a gay subtext that is so overt, it's just text. It's better than you remember, and doesn't really deserve its bad reputation. Especially when you consider that the other sequels break the rules too.**½
 



Image from Wikipedia

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) - They pulled out all the stops for this one, and what a fun movie it is. Even though Freddy has become almost an anti-hero, this film is nearly as good as the first--better maybe, except that the novelty is gone. Patricia Arquette (of Medium) did a great job, and the effects are top-notch. Several teenagers (in a mental institution) discover that they have powers in their dreams, and can band together to fight Freddy. Heather Langenkamp is back as the iconic Nancy, and the nightmare/reality scenario is played to the hilt. This film begins filling in Freddy's back-story, a theme that would continue in further sequels, sometimes to the series' detriment. ****

A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988) - Another goodie, with the power of protagonist shifted from Patricia Arquette's character (now played by another actress) to "The Dream Master," Alice, who has mastery of the dream world. Follows the setup of the last movie, with characters having powers in their dreams. The "is it a dream?" vibe is back. Very good, but Freddy's jokes are getting a little too calculated. ***

A Nightmare on Elm Street (5): The Dream Child (1989) - A logical continuation of part 4, but a little thin. Some great moments, and unfairly maligned as a bad entry. Plays like an extended addition to part 4. Still enjoyable, if you liked parts 1-4. **

Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991) - By far the weakest of the series, but still a must if you are a fan. Freddy has killed all of the kids, and must now branch out. Adds more mythology to Freddy's history, and feels a little shoe-horned in. Freddy "dies," but he's died in every installment. Still, Robert Englund is great. Finale 3-D sequence--rendered 2D on video--is lame. Johnny Depp has a cameo. Joins Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter in the "false title" game. *½

Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994) - Wes Craven is back, and it is obvious. This film takes the Freddy character into the real world, with the "spirit" of the character haunting the makers of the original film, including Heather Langenkamp, John Saxon and Wes Craven. Very well done, inventive and original. I love me some Heather. Where is she these days? A must for fans. ***

Freddy Vs. Jason (2003) - The inevitable (after New Line's acquisition of the Friday the 13th series) match up of Jason and Freddy. Much better than you might think (as I reported in my Friday the 13th reviews). A heck of a lot of fun, and the Freddy character has so much more to offer. You almost forget he was a child molester/murderer to begin with! Heh. ***

A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) - The remake is itself not bad. While I'm sure future audiences will find things in it dated, it is of course much less so to contemporary eyes than the obviously 80s original. It takes some interesting chances, and veers off into some different areas. But it is not as impactful as the original, it makes the odd choice of eliminating the iconic house, and it suffers greatly for not having Robert Englund as Freddy. **½

Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy (2010) - This documentary is an exhaustive (and a bit exhausting) collection of just about everything you ever wanted to know about the series. It his hosted by Heather Langenkamp, and is the best--by far--of its type. An absolute must for any horror fan, but pace yourself. ****

Blast from the Past: Class of '84, The Movies

This will be my last Class of '84 edition of Blast from the Past for a while. But my 30th class reunion was this weekend, and I missed it. So, I've still got that year 30 years ago on my mind. There were actually quite a lot of very good movies in 1984, and of course, a lot of schlock. My list is mixture, and includes some of my favorites.

1. A Nightmare on Elm Street - Most horror franchises are fairly thin on plot, heavy on mayhem. This one, by Wes Craven, started strong, at least as strong as the original Halloween in style and impact. It remains one of my favorite films from that year, or any year. Plus: Johnny Depp!

2. Ghostbusters - The silly theme song sticks with you (even if it was a ripoff of a Huey Lewis number), but the movie is timeless. Oh, sure, it's clearly an 80s flick, but the humor is transcendent. It's one of Bill Murray's (and Harold Ramis' and Rick Moranis') best.


3. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom - Yes, everyone thought this one was a weaker installment than Raiders of the Lost Ark. But they didn't know what was coming with Curse of the Crystal Skull, now, did they? I worked at a theater for this movie's entire run. I know every line. Harrison Ford is fantastic in it, and I don't care what anyone says, so was Kate Capshaw.

4. Supergirl - A flop, but a charming flop. Without it, we may not have had Helen Slater to kick around (and she was great in Ruthless People a couple of years later). Plus, you've got Faye Dunaway chewing the (cardboard) scenery, and dreamy Hart Bochner! It's time to revisit Kara Zor-El.



5. Gremlins - This is a very cute film, with a very cute puppet creature, and very cute leading actors of both sexes. Hard to top that. Plus, it's funny/gory. Maybe a first for that. My brother told me the story, line by line, and ruined it for me. But I won't do that to you, because I'm not a douche nozzle.

6. Top Secret! - By the same guys who did Airplane! and Police Squad!, this one spoofs cold war spy movies, war movies, Elvis movies, beach movies and The Blue Lagoon. Yes, it's kind of scattershot, but it's hilarious. It's in my top five all-time favorite comedies. And Val Kilmer was really great with his own singing and dancing. If you've never seen it, check it out.

7. The Terminator - Not nearly as slick and shiny as its immediate sequel, this one managed to grab you by the throat on a budget. Arnold Schwarzenegger found a role that he embodied perfectly.

8. Sixteen Candles - I came late to this one, which is odd, since I was part of the target audience. But when I finally got around to it, I did see the charm. And finally understood what "Long Duk Dong" was.



9. Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter - It was far from the final chapter. But it was--at the time--the best of the series, and the biggest money-maker as well. A notch above the rest of the sequels, but still just mindless fun. And hey, Crispin Glover!

10. Beverly Hills Cop - Eddie Murphy was only a smidge behind Michael Jackson in popularity in the early 80s. This film (with an assist from a very funny Bronson Pinchot) put Murphy further into orbit.



And that'll do it for the week, and for the topic for a while. Here's hoping this is a better week than last. Happy Monday!

Halloween Horrors: A Guide to A Nightmare on Elm Street Movies

This is the latest in a series of re-posts from previous years, to help you with your Halloween weekend scary movie viewing. With a few tweaks and edits.

Image from Wikipedia.com

This is of course October, month of Halloween, and season of the horror film. I've been a fan of horror movies since I was old enough to stay up all night on Fridays, and watch Chiller Theater with Dan Immel on WBNS-TV in Columbus, Ohio. I grew up being fearless in the daylight hours, and terrified at night to go past our attic in the dark--because I knew there was a Frankenstein pull-string doll in there.

Arguably the best of the horror movie franchises of the last 25 years is A Nightmare on Elm Street. Sure, John Carpenter's Halloween jump-started the "slasher flick" in 1978, and Sean S. Cunningham's Friday the 13th kept it going in 1980. But Wes Craven's Nightmare injected originality, humor, and the undeniable (and almost limitless) possibilities of nightmares. Anything can happen in nightmares, and everyone can relate to them.

I have watched all of the movies in this series multiple times (some more than others), and all of them have something to offer. Well, except part 6, unless you like Roseanne and Tom Arnold cameos. . .

Image from Wikipedia

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) - The first, and best in the series. The movie follows a group of teenagers, all experiencing the same bogeyman in their dreams. The seeming protagonist bites it early in the film, surprising the audience (oops, sorry!). Another protagonist (Heather Langenkamp as Nancy) emerges, and becomes the icon of the series. Robert Englund (Fred Krueger) is far creepier in this film than in the sequels, and you're never quite sure what is a dream and what is reality. Johnny Depp did very well in this introductory role, and the only flaw in the film is the really bad performance by Ronee Blakley (which I've grown to love anyway). Awesome. ****

A Nightmare on Elm Street, Part 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985) - The obligatory sequel mostly ditches the "is it a dream or reality" hook of the first film, and tries to bring Freddy into the real world. Freddy becomes a little more of a quip-master, and there is a disturbing anti-gay undercurrent to the film. Fortunately, the protagonist (Mark Patton) acquits himself well, and easy on the eyes. This movie is sort of a stop-gap, a quickie cash-maker for New Line, before the superior sequel.  It is notable for a few iconic lines ("You've got the body, I've got the brains!"), and for a gay subtext that is so overt, it's just text. **

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) - They pulled out all the stops for this one, and what a fun movie it is. Even though Freddy has become almost an anti-hero, this film is nearly as good as the first--better maybe, except the novelty is gone. Patricia Arquette (of Medium) did a great job, and the effects are top-notch. Several teenagers (in a mental institution) discover that they have powers in their dreams, and can band together to fight Freddy. Heather Langenkamp is back as the iconic Nancy, and the nightmare/reality scenario is played to the hilt. This film begins filling in Freddy's back-story, a theme that would continue in further sequels, sometimes to the series' detriment. ****

A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988) - Another goodie, with the power of protagonist shifted from Patricia Arquette's character (now played by another actress) to "The Dream Master," Alice, who has mastery of the dream world. Follows the setup of the last movie, with characters having powers in their dreams. The "is it a dream?" vibe is back. Very good, but Freddy's jokes are getting a little too calculated. ***

A Nightmare on Elm Street (5): The Dream Child (1989) - A logical extension of part 4, but a little thin. Some great moments, and unfairly maligned as a bad entry. Plays like an extended addition to part 4. Still enjoyable, if you liked parts 1-4. **

Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991) - By far the weakest of the series, but still a must if you are a fan. Freddy's killed all of the kids, and must now branch out. Adds more mythology to Freddy's history, and feels a little shoe-horned in. Freddy "dies," but he's died in every installment. Still, Robert Englund is great. Finale 3-D sequence--rendered 2D on video--is lame. Johnny Depp has a cameo. Joins Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter in the "false title" game. *½

Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994) - Wes Craven is back, and it is obvious. This film takes the Freddy character into the real world, with the "spirit" of the character haunting the makers of the original film, including Heather Langenkamp, John Saxon and Wes Craven. Very well done, inventive and original. I love me some Heather. Where is she these days? A must for fans. ***

Freddy Vs. Jason (2003) - The inevitable (after New Line's acquisition of the Friday the 13th series) match up of Jason and Freddy. Much better than you might think (as I reported in my Friday the 13th reviews). A heck of a lot of fun, and the Freddy character has so much more to offer. You almost forget he was a child molester/murderer to begin with! Heh. ***

A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) - The remake is itself not bad. While I'm sure future audiences will find things in it dated, it is of course much less so to contemporary eyes than the obviously 80s original. It takes some interesting chances, and veers off into some different areas. But it is not as impactful as the original, it makes the odd choice of eliminating the iconic house, and it suffers greatly for not having Robert Englund as Freddy. **½

Halloween Horrors, Blast from the Past!: DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince's Nightmare on MY Street

Here's one I haven't heard in a while. If I remember right, Will Smith got in trouble from New Line Cinema for using the musical cues without permission. But I suppose that could all have been part of the publicity. Anyway, some YouTuber put together a nifty video to go with it, perhaps a trifle long, but if you are a Nightmare on Elm Street fan, you'll dig it.

 

Halloween Horrors: Nightmare & Friday Documentaries are Bloody Good!



Image from Wikipedia

 I often will watch a movie or two on the weekend, and write up quick reviews on the blog.  I'm usually way late in my review, sometimes reviewing a flick that's a decade old. The weirdest reviews come from watching two completely different genres of film, and finding a connecting thread between the two.  But they're often disconnected to anything going on right now, other than the fact that I happened to pick them randomly.

This weekend, as a pre-Halloween treat to myself, I purchased two documentary films of iconic horror movie franchises, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th.  Both series caught me at precisely the right age and era in time.  I caught the first Friday film first-run, by sneaking into a drive-in theater at 14.  The first Nightmare was watched on VHS video, not long after it was released. The whole concept of home video was only a few years old, and horror movies were a driving force in that phenomenon (well, that and porn). At one time or another, I've owned them all--in multiple formats--and watched them many, many times.

I'm also one of those people who likes to watch outtakes, gag reels, retrospectives, and sometimes even listen to the director's or actors' commentary tracks. I'm the guy "DVD extras" were invented for. So, buying Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy and His Name was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th was a foregone conclusion. The Friday documentary was priced at $6.99, so that was an easy pill to swallow.  But I didn't even hesitate that the other one was $19.99.  Somehow, the pricing structure seemed appropriate to the quality of its respective franchise.  Little did I know, it also relates to the quality of the productions.



Image from Friday the 13th Blog

 His Name was Jason (2009) isn't bad, in fact I'd recommend it to any Friday the 13th fan.  It features a number of original cast members, which is akin to a class reunion, where you get to see how everyone's aged.  Betsy Palmer looks terrific by the way.  Each installment of the franchise is discussed, with every Jason actor interviewed (two of them in the case of Part 2).  If you're a hardcore fan, you probably know a lot of what's being discussed, but it's great to get it all in one place, from the mouths of people who were actually there.  They didn't cheap out by only covering the Paramount selections, or glossing over the New Line years. They even cover a bit of the remake.  It's good, hosted by Tom Savini, creator of the original Jason Voorhees makeup, though in a thoroughly cheeseball way.  Another interesting thing, is that the kills and gore, cursing and nekkid boobies are all here. A lot of documentaries would be a lot more censored, but this one pulls no punches.  There's even some unflattering things said about certain people involved, and acknowledgement of things that didn't work so well.  The film is only an hour and a half, so they don't get to spend much time on each film (of which there are so far 12 editions). Also, the special features are limited to some extended scenes with the various actors and stunt people who played Jason.  Well worth the $6.99 though.  By the way, series stars Kevin Bacon, Corey Feldman and Crispin Glover do not appear. But Amy Steel does, and that's all I cared about!

I was glad I watched Never Sleep Again second, but wish I'd started watching it earlier in the day. This sucker is long. 240 minutes, to be exact, and clearly a labor of love by all involved.  The Nightmare series spans nine films counting the remake (which is not covered, at least not in the main feature), not to mention that one of them actually crosses over with Friday.  Each edition is covered extensively, and I'm tempted to say too much, except that I was never tempted to turn it off.  It's narrated and executive produced by Heather Langenkamp, the most iconic star of the series, besides Robert Englund's Freddy Krueger.

Each edition is relatively self contained, with many of the original stars and crew interviewed, with plentiful clips and behind-the-scenes action. The motivations for what was included, what was left out, what worked and didn't are all discussed, including backstage friendships and feuds.  I can't think of much of anything a fan wants to know not being in the film. It's really a rip-roaring good time,and is highly recommended to any fan--though you may want to watch it in stages if you don't want to burn through an afternoon.

Unlike the Jason documentary, Never Sleep Again is chock full of special features, though I haven't gotten around to them yet. They include a filmmaker commentary, slashed scenes, Return to Elm Street, Freddy in comics and novels, a condensed A Nightmare on Elm Street in 10 Minutes and other stuff I haven't discovered yet. If there is any letdown, it is that stars Johnny Depp, Patricia Arquette and Jason Ritter (not in the Friday doc either) were not involved.

And though I know these two films were bound to be related, I did find a little connection that struck me as interesting.  Gay fans of horror films know that A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2 and Friday the 13th VII: The New Blood are "the gay ones."  ANOES2 because of actor Mark Patton (who is openly gay) and the film's so-much-more-than-subtext gay vibe; and F13VII because a large chunk of the cast was gay.  In Never Sleep Again, the issue is discussed at length with just the right touch, and with humor.  In Jason, the issue is never brought up.

DVD Review: A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge

Images from source, X-Entertainment



EDITOR'S NOTE: I started writing this post in the wee hours of Sunday morning. I decided to watch A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge right after the Betty White episode of Saturday Night Live. And then a funny thing happened. I was alternatively watching the DVD and typing my review, and I damned near fell asleep.  So, I saved my spot on both and hit the hay. Today, upon reflection, I'm not sure I know how to finish the write-up.  But I also didn't want to throw it away after all that typing. So what I'm going to do is tack on this prologue, followed by a quick epilogue, and then a link to a much better review! How's that for having your cake and eating it too?

ORIGINAL POST:

Inspired by the new "reboot" of the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, I decided to re-watch the first sequel to the original movie. The movie has long been considered to be the worst of the sequels, and has also been assigned to be the gayest horror movie ever.  I'm inclined to agree with the latter, but not with the former.

While part 2 is not on par with 3 or 4, (and the less said about 5 and 6, the better), it isn't bad. In fact, much of the feel of the original is present here.  And while it is absolutely skippable in the whole scheme of the Nightmare franchise (part 3 picks up the story after part 1), it is still a pretty good movie.

It must be a challenge for writers and actors in a Part 2 of any franchise that wasn't intended to have a sequel. They've got to keep the vibe of the original, without overly rehashing it, or betraying it. And they will hopefully make it better.  Part 2 doesn't make it better, but it doesn't trash it either.  The acting for one thing is well above average. The writing takes the plot a little far astray from the original--Freddy can be supernatural in the real world?--but the feel of the original is still there, in my opinion for the last time in the series. Part 3 set up a whole new direction in both look and feel.  Sidenote: you could argue that without part 2 there never would have been a franchise. It made lots of money, inspiring the studio (and Wes Craven) to pull out the stops for the third chapter. It also continued the iconography with the house, which carried on through most of them.

Mark Patton is the protagonist, Jesse, in this one. Which alone is a strange choice in a horror movie. The "last girl" is a horror movie cliche that has lasted far beyond the vintage of this picture.  So casting a young man in the part is right away a unique way to go.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with Patton as an actor--he's very good--but much has been made over the years of his androgyny. What? Really? Why?

He's not buff like Grady, Jesse's best friend, but he doesn't come off girly to me. Plus, Jesse has a girlfriend in Lisa (Kim Myers), who is probably the best actress the series has seen (possibly excepting Part 3's Patricia Arquette).  Jesse (who lives in the iconic Elm Street house of Part 1's "last girl," Nancy) and Lisa find Nancy's diary, and figure out that Freddy Krueger is haunting Jesse's sleeping and waking life.  Freddy is trying to break through to the real world by taking over Jesse's body.

So while the dreamworld is a little under-represented in this chapter, I don't think--like many fans of the series do--this anomaly is a bad thing. Freddy has tried a variety of ways to keep up his murder spree, so his attempt to take over Jesse's body is just one more thing he tried. But back to the gay stuff (and yes, I realize that Freddy wanting Jesse for his body--"You've got the body, I've got the brains!"--is just one more thing that makes this flick have a queer vibe.

I watched this movie for the first time in 1985 or '86, a time when I was well aware of my sexuality, but still keeping it under wraps. I was not as savvy to homoerotic allusions then, but I definitely noticed even then that this movie was working for me on more than one level! Some of it is overt and leans slightly homophobic. But casting Patton (who is very attractive in a non-threatening way) and Robert Rusler (Grady, who is very attractive in a bad boy way), and then getting them out of their clothing much of the time was much appreciated by me! And while Jesse's and Grady's relationship can only be seen as gay in subtext, I have to say I picked up on it, even in the 80s. I think only Jeepers Creepers 2 gives ANOES2 a run for its money for gay subtext in a mainstream horror film.

EPILOGUE: So that's where I left off, musing about the gayness of the movie. This particular facet of the film has been covered--and much better--by others. So rather than beat a dead horse, here is one of those better reviews.  But before you go there, you might want to read this excellent interview with the star, Mark Patton, who oddly enough has been "missing" for 25 years. That interview is here.  Now, onto the review.

[Excerpt]

A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge; The Man of Your Dreams is Back!

Nightmare On Elm Street 2 is probably the least heralded of all the Kruegerfests, and rightfully so. Compared to the rest of the series, Freddy's Revenge displays a severe lack in scares, gore, and yes - even the main man himself. I found the movie pretty watchable on the whole, but can easily understand why fans collectively aimed their assholes at it before taking a sh*t. If you erased this one from the continuity entirely, nobody would know the difference. . .


Read more at: X-Entertainment

Movie Review: A Nightmare on Elm Street

Image from Wikipedia


I've been a horror movie fan since I shook my fear of Frankenstein at about eight or nine. By the time I was in my teen years--and especially once video stores started popping up--I became a ravenous gore hound. Luckily for me, my late-teen to early-adult years were spent in the 1980s, the decade of the slasher movie (and slasher movie sequel) boom. I wasn't too fussy either. I could be just as happy with Terror Train or Hello, Mary Lou: Prom Night II as a genuinely scary movie.

Discriminating or not, I could appreciate the difference between schlock and quality.  The general pattern of the big horror movie franchise was that the first one was the best, the second occasionally okay, a few better-than average chapters sprinkled in, and most just a tick above crap.  Halloween started the trend with a genuinely excellent first chapter, a sequel that made folks like me happy, but left critics cold, and then a string of lesser and lesser sequels.  Friday the 13th cribbed from Halloween making a first installment that is only good due to nostalgia (and in comparison to the rest of the series).  And then A Nightmare on Elm Street managed to be different.

The first Nightmare is one of my all-time favorites. It's low budget to be sure, but diverted from the mindless killer stalking nubile teens motif of other shockers. Its villain, Fred Krueger, was a child murderer who was himself murdered by the neighborhood parents.  Somehow, Freddy manages to get revenge by attacking the neighborhood children in their dreams.  If you die in the dream, you're dead for real.  The genius of the first film is that as it is playing out, you are often unsure if what is happening is in the dream world, or the real one.  And the dreams had an authentic quality to them that was truly unsettling.  It didn't hurt that the actors were either good (Johnny Depp, Robert Englund), memorable (Heather Langenkamp, John Saxon) or endearingly bad (Ronee Blakely).  And the villain was extra creepy, and seemingly omnipotent in a way that made more sense than writers ever bothered to think up for Jason Vorhees or Michael Myers.

Part 2 diverted from the first by bringing Krueger into the real world (with mixed success), Part 3 had troubled teens with the ability to team up in the dream world (to great effect), Part 4 followed the theme of the previous one, and the rest don't much bear mentioning (though you can find a breakdown here if you are interested). And while I enjoy them all to one degree or other, the first was and remains one of the most-watched movies in my collection.  Still, there are those that argue that after 8 movies and a TV series, Freddy Krueger was over-exposed, and not scary anymore.  And so (finally), they decided to reboot.

The new A Nightmare on Elm Street attempts to start over at the beginning, giving a fresh take on the story. Freddy's original origin--which had been hinted at, then fleshed out  (continuity be damned) in the sequels--is changed to a much more disturbing one. The characters are all different (though a couple retain the same names), as is the story.  The previews are a little misleading here to a veteran Nightmare watcher, giving the impression that this is a shot-for-shot remake.  Not so, though several scenes take their inspiration from the original story.  What remains is a pretty good thriller, a definitely creepy Freddy, and an enjoyable, good time.

What makes this film difficult to review objectively (aside from presenting spoilers), is my extreme familiarity with the original and its sequels. They couldn't change much about Freddy, or fans would revolt. So they also couldn't surprise me very much. And since I've seen the original a couple dozen times, I can't say if it still holds up, or was even as good as I remember it to be. It is too colored with nostalgia, and my affinity for the original actors is too strong.  This was not a problem with the Friday the 13th remake, since the original wasn't all that great to begin with.  And I can't speak to the Halloween remake, which I still have not seen.  But I can tell you, it was better than I thought it would be, and I did not walk out disappointed.

What works: They kept the old Nightmare theme music. They kept "1, 2, Freddy's coming for you. . ." They explored the science of sleep deprivation more. Freddy looks like a real burn victim.  Freddy does not feel like an anti-hero in this one.  The ambiguous ending is different from, and better than the original.

What doesn't work as well: The slow-motion effect of the jump rope wasn't used, making it feel less like a dream. The main house looks far less iconic, both inside and out. The cast is capable, but the kids mostly look too old, or just. . .not special? There's no Heather Langenkamp or Johnny Depp in it, literally or figuratively. 

Over all, I have to recommend it to a newbie or an old-hand like myself.  It's a damned sight better than it could have been, and it is obvious that effort went in to make it a notch-above-average reboot.  But I doubt that I'll watch it 25 times. Oh, I'll get the DVD, maybe even the blu-ray. And who knows, maybe it will grow on me. But my copy of the original is not going anywhere.

Another Horror Movie Remake: Fright Night

Image from source, Bam! Kapow!

They say Hollywood is out of ideas, and it would seem they are right. Everything old is new again, and even newish movies like Spider-Man and Superman Returns are being rebooted (starting over from scratch). Remakes of Halloween and Friday the 13th have come out and are starting a whole new chain of sequels with A Nightmare on Elm Street hot on their heels. The results are mixed so far. New fans are probably born, but more often than not, the original fans are underwhelmed.

Star Trek seemed to please mostly everybody last year. So what will the next big one be? Gilligan's Island is on tap, though it can't be worse than the source material. And now, Fright Night is being remade. You many not have heard of the 80s vampire flick, but it was one of my favorites of the era. It starred Chris Sarandon (Susan's ex), William Ragsdale (Herman's Head), Amanda Bearse (Married. . .with Children) and Roddy McDowell. It is appreciated best with large doses of nostalgia, as the 80s vibe is thick on this one. The soundtrack is atrocious, the makeup effects a little sub-par. But I loved it enough to wear out the videotape, and then buy it on LaserDisc and DVD. I'm sure the Blu-ray will follow.

A remake could probably be worth a view. The original only really suffers for the era in which it was filmed, so an update just might be the ticket.

[Excerpt]

FRIGHT NIGHT Reboot starring Chekov?

Craig Gillespie, the director behind 2007’s “Lars and the Real Girl,” is helming the new version, which sticks to the concept of a teen being convinced that his new neighbor is a vampire, although no one will believe him.

The new iteration, written by Marti Noxon, keeps the character’s name the same as in the original: Charley Brewster. William Ragsdale, now seen on FX’s “Justified,” originated the role. . .

Read more at: Bam! Kapow!

Movies I Can't Wait to See: the New Nightmare on Elm Street

I. Can't. Wait. Please don't screw it up!

Source: We Are Movie Geeks

Halloween Horrors: Guide to A Nightmare On Elm Street

This is the latest in a series of re-posts from last year, to help you with your Halloween weekend scary movie viewing. With a few tweaks and edits.

Image from Wikipedia.com

This is of course October, month of Halloween, and season of the horror film. I've been a fan of horror movies since I was old enough to stay up all night on Fridays, and watch Chiller Theater with Dan Immel on WBNS-TV in Columbus, Ohio. I grew up being fearless in the daylight hours, and terrified at night to go past our attic in the dark--because I knew there was a Frankenstein pull-string doll in there.

Arguably the best of the horror movie franchises of the last 25 years is A Nightmare on Elm Street. Sure, John Carpenter's Halloween jump-started the "slasher flick" in 1978, and Sean S. Cunningham's Friday the 13th kept it going in 1980. But Wes Craven's Nightmare injected originality, humor, and the undeniable (and almost limitless) possibilities of nightmares. Anything can happen in nightmares, and everyone can relate to them.

I have watched all of the movies in this series multiple times (some more than others), and all of them have something to offer. Well, except part 6, unless you like Roseanne and Tom Arnold cameos. . .

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) - The first, and best in the series. The movie follows a group of teenagers, all experiencing the same bogeyman in their dreams. The seeming protagonist bites it early in the film, surprising the audience (oops, sorry!). Another protagonist (Heather Langenkamp as Nancy) emerges, and becomes the icon of the series. Robert Englund (Fred Krueger) is far creepier in this film than in the sequels, and you're never quite sure what is a dream and what is reality. Johnny Depp did very well in this introductory role, and the only flaw in the film is the really bad performance by Ronee Blakley. Awesome. ****

A Nightmare on Elm Street, Part 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985) - The obligatory sequel ditches the "is it a dream or reality" hook of the first film, and tries to bring Freddy into the real world. Freddy becomes a little more of a quip-master, and there is a disturbing anti-gay undercurrent to the film. Fortunately, the protagonist (Mark Patton) acquits himself well, and easy on the eyes. This movie is sort of a stop-gap, a quickie cash-maker for New Line, before the superior sequel. **

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) - They pulled out all the stops for this one, and what a fun movie it is. Even though Freddy has become almost an anti-hero, this film is nearly as good as the first--better maybe, except the novelty is gone. Patricia Arquette (of Medium) did a great job, and the effects are top-notch. Several teenagers (in a mental institution) discover that they have powers in their dreams, and can band together to fight Freddy. Heather Langenkamp is back as the iconic Nancy, and the nightmare/reality scenario is played to the hilt. This film begins filling in Freddy's back-story, a theme that would continue in further sequels, sometimes to the series' detriment. ****

A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988) - Another goodie, with the power of protagonist shifted from Patricia Arquette's character (now played by another actress) to "The Dream Master," Alice, who has mastery of the dream world. Follows the setup of the last movie, with characters having powers in their dreams. The "is it a dream?" vibe is back. Very good, but Freddy's jokes are getting a little too calculated. ***

A Nightmare on Elm Street (5): The Dream Child (1989) - A logical extension of part 4, but a little thin. Some great moments, and unfairly maligned as a bad entry. Plays like an extended addition to part 4. Still enjoyable, if you liked parts 1-4. **

Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991) - By far the weakest of the series, but still a must if you are a fan. Freddy's killed all of the kids, and must now branch out. Adds more mythology to Freddy's history, and feels a little shoe-horned in. Freddy "dies," but he's died in every installment. Still, Robert Englund is great. Finale 3-D sequence--rendered 2D on video--is lame. Johnny Depp has a cameo. Joins Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter in the "false title" game. *1/2

Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994) - Wes Craven is back, and it is obvious. This film takes the Freddy character into the real world, with the "spirit" of the character haunting the makers of the original film, including Heather Langenkamp, John Saxon and Wes Craven. Very well done, inventive and original. I love me some Heather. Where is she these days? A must for fans. ***

Freddy Vs. Jason (2003) - The inevitable (after New Line's acquisition of the Friday the 13th series) match up of Jason and Freddy. Much better than you might think (as I reported in my Friday the 13th reviews). A heck of a lot of fun, and the Freddy character has so much more to offer. You almost forget he was a child molester/murderer to begin with! Heh. ***

I hope that helps with your Halloween movie rentals! Stay tuned for more!

A final note: This is one franchise that would be utterly spoiled by a "reboot," like Halloween or Friday the 13th. Nobody, but NOBODY could play Freddy like Robert Englund. Only if he should pass away should any other actor play the part.

UPDATE: It would seem that Hollywood has not heeded my advice from last year, and the Nightmare series is on for a remake.

Billy Bob Thornton to play Freddy Krueger?

Photo from source, DListed

Krueger image from source, Wikipedia

I'm a big 70s and 80s horror movie fan, which has been (over) documented here in the past. One of the very best of the genre, in my estimation, is A Nightmare on Elm Street by Wes Craven. The original film has had its reputation altered--sometimes enhanced, sometimes not--by countless sequels, spinoffs and merchandising. Even though I'm a fan of nearly all of that, somewhere along the way, audiences began to like the villain, Freddy Krueger, rather than fear him.

Krueger, played by Robert Englund, was a horrifying creation--a child murderer, and presumably molester--who haunted teenagers in their dreams. The hook of the first film was that you were never quite sure what was real and what was a dream. The original film, and some of its sequels, are beloved by horror movie fans. And Englund is so closely associated with the series that a remake without him is something akin to blasphemy.

But Hollywood has never much respected horror films. Since Universal's heyday with Frankenstein and Dracula, they've churned out sequels, spoofs, team-ups and remakes. Sometimes it works. Most times, it doesn't.

Billy Bob Thornton is a good choice to play Krueger, though. He's creepy in real life, so imagine him with Hollywood magic. Still, I'm wary.

[Excerpt]

Billy Bob Thornton As Freddy Krueger?!

One...two....Billy Bob's coming for you. No. That doesn't have a nice ring to it. Michael Bay is currently working on butchering the classic "Nightmare on Elm Street," and apparently he's signed Billy Bob Thornton to play Freddy Krueger. Billy Bob would make a better Crypt Keeper instead. . .

Read more at: DListed

Halloween Horrors: A Nightmare on Elm Street

Image from Wikipedia.com

Back to frivolity. This is of course October, month of Halloween, and season of the horror film. I've been a fan of horror movies since I was old enough to stay up all night on Fridays, and watch Chiller Theater with Dan Immel on WBNS-TV in Columbus, Ohio. I grew up being fearless in the daylight hours, and terrified at night to go past our attic in the dark--because I knew there was a Frankenstein pull-string doll in there.

Arguably the best of the horror movie franchises of the last 25 years is A Nightmare on Elm Street. Sure, John Carpenter's Halloween jump-started the "slasher flick" in 1978, and Sean S. Cunningham's Friday the 13th kept it going in 1980. But Wes Craven's Nightmare injected originality, humor, and the undeniable (and almost limitless) possibilities of nightmares. Anything can happen in nightmares, and everyone can relate to them.

I have watched all of the movies in this series multiple times (some more than others), and all of them have something to offer. Well, except part 6, unless you like Roseanne and Tom Arnold cameos. . .

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) - The first, and best in the series. The movie follows a group of teenagers, all experiencing the same bogeyman in their dreams. The seeming protagonist bites it early in the film, surprising the audience (oops, sorry!). Another protagonist (Heather Langenkamp as Nancy) emerges, and becomes the icon of the series. Robert Englund (Fred Krueger) is far creepier in this film than in the sequels, and you're never quite sure what is a dream and what is reality. Johnny Depp did very well in this introductory role, and the only flaw in the film is the really bad performance by Ronee Blakley. Awesome. ****

A Nightmare on Elm Street, Part 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985) - The obligatory sequel ditches the "is it a dream or reality" hook of the first film, and tries to bring Freddy into the real world. Freddy becomes a little more of a quip-master, and there is a disturbing anti-gay undercurrent to the film. Fortunately, the protagonist (Mark Patton) acquits himself well, and is also very cute. This movie is sort of a stop-gap, before the superior sequel. **

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) - They pulled out all the stops for this one, and what a fun movie it is. Even though Freddy has become almost an anti-hero, this film is nearly as good as the first--better maybe, except the novelty is gone. Patricia Arquette (of Medium) did a great job, and the effects are top-notch. Several teenagers (in a mental institution) discover that they have powers in their dreams, and can band together to fight Freddy. Heather Langenkamp is back as the iconic Nancy, and the nightmare/reality scenario is played to the hilt. ****

A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988) - Another goodie, with the power of protagonist shifted from Patricia Arquette's character (now played by another actress) to "The Dream Master," Alice, who has mastery of the dream world. Follows the setup of the last movie, with characters having powers in their dreams. Very good, but Freddy's jokes are getting a little too calculated. ***

A Nightmare on Elm Street (5): The Dream Child (1989) - A logical extension of part 4, but a little thin. Some great moments, and unfairly maligned as a bad entry. Plays like an extended addition to part 4. Still enjoyable, if you liked parts 1-4. **

Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991) - By far the weakest of the series, but still a must if you are a fan. Freddy's killed all of the kids, and must now branch out. Adds more mythology to Freddy's history, and feels a little shoe-horned in. Freddy "dies," but he's died in every installment. Still, Robert Englund is great. Finale 3-D sequence--rendered 2D on video--is lame. Johnny Depp has a cameo. *1/2

Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994) - Wes Craven is back, and it is obvious. This film takes the Freddy character into the real world, with the "spirit" of the character haunting the makers of the original film, including Heather Langenkamp and Wes Craven. Very well done, inventive and original. I love me some Heather. Where is she these days? A must for fans. ***

Freddy Vs. Jason (2003) - The inevitable (after New Line's acquisition of the Friday the 13th series) match up of Jason and Freddy. Much better than you might think (as I reported in my Friday the 13th reviews). A heck of a lot of fun, and the Freddy character has so much more to offer. You almost forget he was a child molester/murderer to begin with! Heh. ***

I hope that helps with your Halloween movie rentals! Stay tuned for more!

A final note: This is one franchise that would be utterly spoiled by a "reboot," like Halloween or Friday the 13th. Nobody, but NOBODY could play Freddy like Robert Englund. Only if he should pass away should any other actor play the part.