Chris_Pandolfi
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Rating:
+3
A NIGHTMARE ON ELM ST.
Remakes are a crazy thing because no matter what people will have certain expectations for it, even if they don't mean to. In this day and age remakes are becoming the norm while originality is becoming a thing of the past, kinda. Don't get me wrong I like remakes for the most part because I believe that they help to showcase something that once was off to a new generation. But the end results are mostly negative with the exception of a few remakes, but even the ones you hate are liked by some one else
So when I heard that "A Nightmare on Elm St." was being remade I was kinda excited, until I learned Robert Englund was not playing Freddy. I am not one to hate on someone for trying something new though so I quickly got back to high spirits for this. Now I tried not to have expectations but I fear I did a little, whether it hurt the film or not is up for debate. I say that because I also learned it was being produced by Michael Bay which I knew for most people would mean doom. I though am not a Bay hater and in fact think he is capable of making entertaining films, those mostly have things that go "boom" in them. I though his other horror productions were ok for the most part, "Friday The 13th" was ok for what it was as was "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" films. So I thought this had a chance of being at least entertaining.
This is basically a straight retelling of the first film about the kids who are now in high school having dreams about a burnt man. This burnt man of course is every one's favorite dream demon Freddy and he is out for revenge. It seems he used to really care for these kids and look after them until that day he was burned alive by the parents. Why did they do that, well that is the question the kids are trying answer themselves before he kills them. They are not safe any where in this film including the police station, if the sleep they die, simple.
This movie is basically the same film but with one [other than a new Freddy {more on that later}] thing totally different, the feel of the film. The first film actually felt like a horror film and had a great atmosphere about it. This one on the other hand feels more like a murder mystery since it wants to make you feel like Freddy was wrongfully killed. Not sure if it is just me here but my brother and I felt the exact same way about this. If fact he was the first to voice that it felt like a murder mystery, well done Bro. that of course takes the dread out of the film but once again could just be me.
Another thing that was kinda good and bad at the same time was the young cast, that acting here is kinda off. At times the young victims in this movie do well while at others they feel just like your average horror movie body waiting for a death. I am sure if you have seen it you know what I am talking about, I guess that is what they were going for. Director Samuel Bayer did a good job visually here as the film looks good and the deaths look great but that is also kind of a mixed bag. While the film does look great it forgets the grittiness of the original which takes me back to the lack of dread in the atmosphere here. I can see what Bayer and writer Wesley Strick were trying to do but it kinda hurt the film.
I will say that I did like Jackie Earley Harley in this film; he made for a good new Freddy since he looks and sounds creepy in the film. I also like the fact that they made Freddy evil again and it seems most people agree with that point. Also the film is not as bad as it sounds reading this; it just feels like your average new age horror flick. I know people who liked this, loved this, and ones who hated it so like I said earlier it worked for some people. I would recommend this as a rental because it might be for you; I kinda liked it since I was warned ahead of time.
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Madpenguin
June 11, 2011
Some folks came into it hating it and it's in the tone in their reviews. When it comes down to remakes, I'll read revgiews from certian folks I trust. but I'll skip all the others and see it for myself. In anycase, there's no way in hell this is worst than 2, 5, and 6.
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cenobite7
January 20, 2011
I wasn't too thrilled about this one and I watched it twice just so I could be fair in my analysis. Being a long-time fan of the original, I was rather disappointed. Jackie Earle Haley is a great actor and he really tried to pull it off but he just wasn't scary to me. And Rooney Mara is no substitute for Heather Langenkamp. I really enjoyed reading your review and am anxious to see what films you'll review next. Good job.
FM_ALEX
February 19, 2011
Felt the same way
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woopak_the_thrill
November 12, 2010
This was ....meh. I guess it was alright (since the new Freddy was competent) but it sure wasn't impressive. Nice review.
FM_ALEX
November 12, 2010
Yeah it was alright
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More A Nightmare on Elm Street (201... reviews
* out of **** The remake of "A Nightmare on Elm Street" is a mad failure of a horror film; a horror movie trying to seduce us through visuals that aren't even the creation of the director or the writer (or even the visual effects designer), as well as that ever-so generic feeling of horror. Yes, I know that this remake isn't the first, of many, to suck. But since "A Nightmare on Elm Street" was originally a good movie, with all its surrealism and intelligent ideas, I would … more
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Compliments (12)
...of a world with NO Remakes. Hurm....Hurm... The original “Nightmare on Elm Street” was a film experienced that broadened the scope of “Slasher” films. Wes Craven managed to bring an imaginative twist to the 80’s slasher fare that “Friday the 13th” or “Halloween” could not match; “Nightmare” brought forth a deformed, burned entity that preys on his victims when they are most vulnerable--while … more
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Compliments (129)
I'll admit that Wes Craven's ANOES was perhaps one of the most influential, if not innovative scripts of the eighties. In light of that, it's almost impossible to believe that any sequels or needless remakes could ever recapture that charm in it's entirety. Nevertheless, I've seen virtually every sequel ever made & even had a razor glove as a kid which I bought from Toy R Us. Naturally, it would only make sense that I'd manage to find a way of seeing the remake in opening … more
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Compliments (72)
In the town of Springwood, teenagers are suffering from nightmares and they're doing everything possible to keep from falling asleep. They all mention a terrifying looking man pursuing them in their dreams with murderous intentions. After several of them end up dead, Nancy (Rooney Mara) and Quentin (Kyle Gallner) come to believe that this man has the ability to kill them in their dreams. In addition, he also has something to do with their childhood past. Together, they attempt to put a stop … more
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Compliments (24)
I'm honestly not sure why they bothered to make this movie. It's not that this new take of Wes Craven's classic Nightmare on Elm Street is bad. It's well-made, polished and dark and gleaming, and has some truly memorable scenes. There's a scene in a supermarket, flickering in and out of dreams, that I found particularly effective and well-done. But here's the thing - it's not very engaging, it's not very funny, and … more
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Compliments (24)
If asked to describe the man of your dreams, what would you say? Would you call him "dreamy" or any other cliche term? Although this particular man has been known by many since the '80s to be associated with dreams, I bet only a few if any would think of him in this context. In fact, Freddy would probably be the last person you'd name, however after this weekend he will be the one man in everyone's dreams. From the opening scene and straight … more
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Compliments (24)
While there's really no reason to remake Wes Craven's cult original, I wondered what 20 years and a pile of mediocre sequels would breathe into the franchise and, of course, who would play Freddy. Following in the footsteps of Robert Englund is no small feat but Jackie Earle Haley (of Watchmen fame) was a great casting decision, and carries out the sadomasochistic teen-slashing quite convincingly. He does this despite the script so kudos for making something out of nothing. … more
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review by Ianmat.
May 03, 2010
In 1984 Wes Craven introduced us to a little character named Freddy Kruger, a true boogeyman. This film introduced us to a new type of slasher featuring one of the scariest villians ever created, pretty much jump started Johnny Depp's acting career and spawned 8 sequels. This is one of the best horror movies ever made and when I heard that a re-make was being made I was really disappointed as I feared it would suffer the fate of well...all horror remakes and end up being … more
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There's no doubt that if you're looking for a film to give you some jolts, you won't do wrong renting this piece. On the other hand, if you're more selective, there are other adventures that are more worthwhile. I've never actually seen the 1984 classic, which gives me all the advantages and disadvantages that come with seeing only the remake. This dream sequence slasher film is done effectively enough by Jackie Earle Haley in the title role, but the mayhem gets tiresome with … more
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Nightmare on Elm Street reboot was terrible. I didn't care for the cheap scares, the bad acting, the terrible writing and the plain Jane actresses. When the women wear less make-up than the guys, somethings wrong. I wished the made a sequel to the series a la Predators instead of this ill advised remake for the "Twilight" crowd. The use of twenty something teenagers is starting to bother me. The new Freddy was real laughable and not scary at all. … more
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About the reviewer
FM_ALEX
Ranked #4
Ranked #4
I basically am just a normal person obbsessed with Mixed Martial Arts, pro wrestling, movies of all kinds, music of all kinds, books of all kinds, and of course foods of all kinds. Just trying to keep … more
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About this movie
Michael Bay (Transformers,Pearl Harbor) produced this remake of Wes Craven's 1985 horror classicA Nightmare on Elm Street, which means updated shocks, computer-driven special effects, and a brand-new Freddy Krueger, this time played by Oscar nominee Jackie Earle Haley. Unfortunately, it also means a mechanical, largely scare-free carbon of the original film--the same fate suffered by Bay's remakes ofThe Texas Chainsaw MassacreandFriday the 13th. Director Samuel Bayer, best known for helming videos for Nirvana and Green Day, does well by the film's visuals, which hew toward stylized doominess, but the film itself limps from set piece to set piece, with the ones borrowed directly from Craven's original scoring the most impact. What's left are a group of dull teens on the run from Haley's Freddy, who proves unsettling, if not the dynamo that Robert Englund was in the previous franchise entries. Speaking of which, the picture ends on a note that suggests a follow-up is imminent, though some more inspiration is clearly needed if Bay'sNightmareintends to have the longevity of the first series.--Paul Gaita
"
Nightmare on Elm Street is a reboot of the popular Freddy Krueger franchise from the eighties and nineties. Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen) will take on the razor glove as the new Freddy. It is scheduled for release on April 30th 2010.
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"
Nightmare on Elm Street is a reboot of the popular Freddy Krueger franchise from the eighties and nineties. Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen) will take on the razor glove as the new Freddy. It is scheduled for release on April 30th 2010.
A Nightmare on Elm Street is a 2010 American slasher film directed by Samuel Bayer, ...
Cast:
Jackie Earle Haley,
Rooney Mara
Director:
Samuel Bayer
Genre:
Horror
Release Date:
April 10th 2010
MPAA Rating:
R
Screen Writer:
Wes Craven
DVD Release Date:
October 5, 2010
Runtime:
95 minutes
Studio:
Platinum Dunes,
New Line Cinema
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