The reboot starring Jackie Earle Haley as the title character opens April 30 next year. One of the early images.
Please,no!
Can't you guys in H-wood come up with ORIGINAL ideas?
There are PLENTY of historical people and events to movies about
Seems that even they realize the problem with recasting such an iconic character as Freddy Kreuger. Both the poster and the still hide the new guy's face in the shadows.
Somehow I doubt that has anything to do with it. For one thing, he's going to be covered in makeup, just as Robert Englund was, so it's not like it's going to be that easy for the typical, casual moviegoer to notice the difference.
In addition, horror films have a very narrow target age demographic, 17 - 34. The target audience of these upcoming films wasn't even alive when the original franchise was in full swing. A 17-year-old today was a year from being born when the last Nightmare on Elm Street movie came out, and was only 11 when Freddy vs. Jason came out, assuming they were allowed to see it.
I have a feeling that keeping Freddy/Haley's face in shadow is simply to create anticipation in the public. Typically horror movies don't want to show all the scariest parts in them in the pre-publicity anyway.
I watched this Saturday, May 1st, and I have mixed feelings about this reboot.
Cinematically speaking, it's brilliant. With state-of-the-art specials effects, this film doesn't blow the budget on them. And when they were used, I have no objection, they were done right. I didn't care for the combination of title credits mixed with childrens' handwritten credits.
I did have a problem with Freddy. It took 3 films for us to get a REALLY good look at Freddy (Englund) for us to grow accustomed and appreciate his look. I'm sure the same will be true for this Freddy (Haley) years from now when this film will seem dated and corn-ball. But for now, this Freddy just comes off as Voldemort in burn makeup. Even the voice acting is akin to the Dark Lord, or else he's channeling Christian Bale's Batman voice.
Haley's natural voice over Englund's modulated voice fails to impress. That's okay; that's artistic license. Englund has big, buggy eyes. Haley's eyes are almost enitrely dilated pupils.
The elements reused from the previous ANOES chain were, for the most part, satisfactory. The jokes, however, are not delivered with as much panache. They just fall flat. Especially for those who followed any or all of the previous chapters.
Here's where I start spoiling. Not the ending. Anyone knows how it ends providing the rules aren't so radically changed. Just certain details:
Just when I thought I knew who the film's requiste princess/jock heroes were, they were dispatched early. The two surviving teens are ordinary in appearance, which is a welcomed relief. This was true at the start of the last franchise. The main princess or jock became increasingly sexier right up to Freddy Vs. Jason.
The absence of nudity and sex, and a surefire foreshadowing of who's the next target, is also a welcomed relief. It saves this film from being smeared as another thin excuse of a vehicle for cheap sexploitation.
No shower scene. However, Nancy's bath scene was recycled. No attack occured, so it's not as though this film plagiarizes itself word-for-word, scene-by-scene.
This isn't the first time computers were used to research elements such as sleep deprivation and medications. But this film does it a little better by seeking out Nancy's classmates.
And the YouTube-like video of the kid chronicling his struggles was paid off by a plea that if anyone else is experiencing what he's experiencing to tell him what it's all about. I wonder what his comment responses are by those who are unsympathetic: "You're nuts, dude!" and other crude and expletive remarks.
I got to see Clancy Brown for the first time. All I've known about him are his voice-over roles; usually as heavies/villains. (Gargoyles, Superman, Justice League, and the like). If I didn't already know he was in the film, I'd've recognized his voice quickly anyway.
Bottom line: If you've never seen ANOES before, this film may thrill and scare you in a way you'd expect, and in a good way. If you have followed the Krueger mythology, either from the start or beginning with FvJ, you'll probably go "Meh!" This film doesn't exactly break new ground.
Once again Hollywood shows a lack of originality by a remake that no one wanted or asked for.
There will never be another Freddy Kruger. Robert Englund owned the part, IMO.
My favourite thing about this remake is Julianna Guill.
Sorry my mistake I misread the thread title as I thought it was referring to the Friday the 13th remake.
Please delete my above message and this one.
It's okay, Matthew. These things happen.