A Nightmare on Elm Street

Rated: R for strong bloody horror violence, disturbing images, terror and language.
Release Date: 2010-04-30
Starring: Wesley Strick, Eric Heisserer
Director(s):
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Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: http://www.nightmareonelmstreet.com/

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If anyone remembers the original ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ from 1984, you’ll most likely remember how scary it was. Not the case with this vapid, inconsequential remake.  Like Rob Zombie’s Halloween, this film is part prequel, part remake. This re-imagining of the horror icon Freddy Krueger, a serial-killer who wields a glove with four blades embedded in the fingers and kills people in their dreams, resulting in their real death in reality, is bland and absent of the fright the original possessed.

The reason this version doesn’t work is mostly due to miscasting. Jackie Earle Haley is too small and frail for the part, in contrast to Robert Englund’s lanky, slim frame. Haley looks like the “classic” Freddy in silhouette, but the illusion disappears in close-up. His make up appears vaguely reptilian, like an old guy with a bad skin condition. I’m not going to get too in depth with this, but know that Haley isn’t scaring anybody.

For those of you that love the Krueger and are curious to see for yourself how unscary this new Nightmare is, go ahead and watch it. It’s fate should’ve been the DVD shelves to begin with.