I'll pretty much see any horror movie that comes out. I was really drawn into a few scenes depicted in the initial trailer for A Nightmare on Elm Street that look very much like fine art photographs reminiscent of Gregory Crewdson, such as the suburban bedroom filled with snow. The film is a remake of the 1984 classic originally written and directed by Wes Craven, it stays fairly true to the original story. As someone who is from the more gruesome torture and blood driven generation of horror films, I was never a huge fan of the original. Freddy Kreuger was always a little too cheesy in demeanor for me personally, more like that creepy guy on the corner with bad inappropriate jokes than a nightmare haunting murderer. However I can appreciate what he has brought to the genre as a whole.
A Nightmare on Elm Street is based finger knife wielding Fred Kreuger, a former school grounds keeper and accused child molester who was brutally burned alive in an abandoned building by his victims parents. Years later he begins to haunt dreams of teenager who fight for their lives to stay awake once they realize if you die in your dreams you die for real.
As dark as it is, as well as taboo subject matter, I like the Kreuger story. It is reminiscent of old exploitation films that push the boundaries of what could be acceptable subject matter. I did enjoy Jackie Earle Haley's (Shutter Island, Watchmen, Little Children) portrayal of Kreuger, he made the character much darker and less of a jokester than the original making the movie all around a bit scarier and uneasy. The acting was not terrible as long as one goes into it without pretentious expectations and wants to be creeped out and entertained I'd say its worth a watch on a fall night with friends.A Nightmare on Elm Street
Released 2009
Directed by Samuel Bayer
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