JUST when you thought it was safe to close your eyes and go back to sleep, everyone’s favourite paedophile burns victim Freddy Krueger is back – and just in time for Halloween as well.
The original Wes Craven film about a group of teenagers who are terrorised in their dreams by a vengeful psychopath, wearing a fedora, a stripy jumper and with knives for fingers, was one of the seminal horrors of the 1980s and spawned a string of increasingly awful sequels.
Following the trend of franchises such as Batman and now Spiderman, Hollywood has opted to freshen up the Elm Street brand by going back to the beginning.
In his feature film debut director Samuel Bayer thankfully decided not to make a straightforward scene by scene remake and has, surprisingly, delivered a movie which stands on its own and is a welcome return to form for the franchise.
Oscar nominee Jackie Earle Haley plays the new Freddy, complete with an even more realistically melted face.
While he had some big shoes to fill, he makes the character his own, toning down Robert Egland’s camp, cartoonish monster and giving us an altogether more creepy and sinister killer.
The young cast of terrified teens hold their own but despite some genuine chills, it’s an overly familiar formula now and you can’t help second guessing Freddy’s every move.
It will be interesting to see where they decide to go next with the story but although this horror revamp has a good stab at reliving Freddy’s glory (or should I say gory?) days, it will always be in the shadow of the original.
DVD Special Features
Freddy Krueger Reborn featurette
Blu-ray Special Features
Freddy Krueger Reborn featurette
Maximum Movie Mode (PiP)
Focus Points – Make-up Makes the Character, Micronaps, The Hat, Practical Fire, The Sweater, The Glove, The Victims
Deleted scenes – Hospital Opening, Nightmare Street, Alternate Ending
A Nightmare On Elm Street is out now on DVD and Blu-ray.
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