subject: Nine, Ten, Freddy's Back Again [print this page] When it comes to horror movie villains, one of the crown jewels has long been Wes Craven's supernatural serial killer Freddy Krueger. Krueger, who takes his victims out in their own dreams, has long been considered one of the scariest slasher villains of all time due to the fact that unlike Michael Myers or Jason Vorhees, Freddy does not wear a mask. His burnt face is exposed at all times, and he openly mocks his victims as he terrorizes them. After being out of commission for nearly twenty years (because Freddy vs. Jason does not really count) Freddy is poised to return in the Nightmare on Elm Street reboot, appropriately enough titled A Nightmare on Elm Street.
In the reboot, the premise is simply an updated version of the original. A point of fan outcry, however, was the choice to replace actor Robert Englund, who has played Freddy Krueger in every film since the series began. However, Englund has expressed that he is fine with passing the torch, or in this case striped sweater and claw glove, to another actor. He has also been noted as very pleased with the choice of who the new Freddy will be: Acclaimed actor Jackie Earl Hailey. Hailey is best known to moviegoers for roles in movies such as little children, and for his fan favorite role as insane superhero Rorschach from the adaptation of the classic graphic novel Watchmen.
The remake, however, has not had a completely smooth production. Wes Craven, the series creator, expressed disappointment that he was not invited to be involved with the reboot, especially after other remakes of his films went out of their way to include him in the production. And the studio had also ordered a rewrite, new scenes, and reshoots after the movie had already been completed after a rough cut shown to a reviewer received only so so response. However, the reshoots have been said by some insiders to be have made the film stronger. Since the film has been targeted more towards a new audience, so perhaps it will resonate better with a new audience.
It remains to be seen whether or not this new Nightmare on Elm Street will make as big a mark as the original did, but many are holding out hope that some new plot twists (which some are saying are real game changers to the series) will rejuvenate the franchise.
