A Nightmare on Elm Street in HD
Michael Bay has made a name for himself by doing two things: blowing shit up, and producing crappy, unimaginative remakes of classic horror flicks like Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Hitcher, The Amityville Horror, and Friday the 13th. (Actually, his Friday the 13th was superior to the original films, but that’s not saying a lot. The original Friday series sucked hard.) Next year, Bay once again dives headfirst into creative bankruptcy with his production of the Samuel Bayer-directed remake of Wes Craven’s classic A Nightmare On Elm Street.
As a longtime Nightmare fan, I’ve been dreading this movie ever since it was announced. The original is one of the most enduring horror films ever created, and Robert Englund’s Freddy Krueger has become an iconic figure in movie history. So while I understand why the movie is being made ($$$), I seriously doubt anyone has ever watched Craven’s original version and thought, “Hey, this movie really needs to be remade, because it sucks.”
Now that the trailer for Bay/Bayer’s quasi-reimagining has been unleashed, we’ve had our first glimpse of what the movie will be like. And since I have a tendency to be a judgmental ass, I figured I would share my initial thoughts about the movie.
Let’s start out with the positive stuff: I love the casting of Jackie Early Haley. He’s a great actor who portrays creepiness very well, and it looks like he’s portraying Freddy more like the savage slasher of the first two films, instead of the wise-cracking villain that’s become the more accepted personality for the character. I would definitely have preferred it if Englund was returning to the role he made famous, but at least they found a suitable replacement. And I like that the new film actually shows the origin of Freddy, as opposed to Craven’s version, which merely talked about it.
That’s pretty much it for the good stuff. I hate the fact that they used the exact same character design as the original; that they’re copying specific scenes from the original (The bathtub scene!); that it looks like this version of Freddy may have actually not been a child killer. And, most of all, I hate that Bay and Bayer aren’t just making a sequel instead of a remake. That at least would have been somewhat original. There’s no way it’s going to live up to Craven’s version, so why even try?
Despite my curmudgeonly grumblings, at some point I will check out the new movie. I may even go see it in theaters, though I think a Redbox rental is more likely. What can I say? I like Freddy Krueger, and I’ve always been a slave to my morbid curiosity.
October 3rd, 2009 at 1:11 am
I think they’re playing him more realistic this time. He’s a sick man who kills children and when confronted he denies it. Especially knowing he’s going to meet a violent end. I think it’s wrong to have that line in the movie as it makes it seem like he may NOT have been a child molester/killer. Look how many actual murderers CRY and SCREAM that they did nothing and the evidence comes to light showing that they did and suddenly they just kind of mumble that they didnt. It looks ok to me.
October 3rd, 2009 at 6:31 am
It looks decent. Idk, I am an eternal optimist so I find the bright side of everything. I hope to see it but probably won’t until it hits HBO due to my gf hating horror movies & the only thing creepier than Kruger is the dude seeing it at the theater alone.
I am hoping for the unlikely Will Smith cameo where he finally gets what is coming to him from the end of that song.
October 3rd, 2009 at 2:00 pm
O come on Mario, Nightmare on My Street at the time was awesome. When that first came out there were top 40 stations and even a few urban stations that refused to play it on the grounds that it was ‘too scary’. Totally classic stuff….
And poor Jazzy Jeff…..HAHAHAHAHHAHA
October 3rd, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Oh come on… I’ve posted that Onion/Michael Bay link here before and it’s been let through. So what if the F word is in the link? It’s funny, and it sums Michael Bay’s work perfectly. You wrote the word “shitty” in your article, but you’ll censor my post for having the word “fuck” in it? Whatever.
October 3rd, 2009 at 6:56 pm
he wears the same hat and sweater every single day even if its hot outside he wears it anyway!!…Im gonna go see this when it comes out.This is what a “Reboot”is supposed to be.I think reboot is a term thats used way too loosely nowadays.Hope this as good as the trailer hints at.
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:00 pm
You wrote the word “shitty” in your article, but you’ll censor my post for having the word “fuck” in it? Whatever.
I have no idea what you are talking about. I’ve been at work all day.