A Nightmare On Elm Street

RELEASED: 7 May 2010

CERTIFICATE: 18

DIRECTOR: Samuel Bayer

CAST: Jackie Earle Haley, Kyle Gallner, Rooney Mara

RUNNING TIME: 95 Min

CORN ON A GREASY COB OF CHEESE.

As I vacated the cinema I could not help but ask myself, ‘did I actually like this film?’ Each time I recalled the events A Nightmare On Elm Street kept becoming lower and lower in my estimation. I feel like I have watched a remake of all 8 A Nightmare on Elm Street films combined, with no originality or twist. I was expecting elaborate deaths in the dream sequences, due to advances of technology; however, they were exact to the initial horror films. If anything the original horror films were more gory and realistic. Nevertheless, I have to credit the structure of the film. The opening was enticing and certainly drew me into the storyline while the flashbacks of the past explaining how Freddie Krueger had become a child killer was attention-grabbing and innovative.

The film focused on several teenagers who all went to the same high school, however, they were unaware they knew each other when they were 4 and 5 years old. One by one the film shifts emphasis on each teenager, and as the original horror films, one by one each dies in their dreams. Freddie Krueger is not your conventional murderer, he comes for you in your dreams where there is no one to protect you and all sense of reality disappears. We discover he was a child molester and was burnt alive by the children’s mums and dad’s in an old warehouse, consequently from the parents finding out about his revelations. The parents never spoke of Freddie Krueger again, hence why these youngsters were unaware of their friendship prior to high school.

My overall feelings towards this film are unenthusiastic. I feel disgruntled, I thought id come away from the cinema compelled, and instead I felt cheated. Other members of the audience were amused at parts, such as the killing scenes and when Freddie Krueger spoke to the victims in their dreams! Jackie Earle Haley played Freddie Krueger; I felt his performance was feeble in some aspects. I was not convinced by his performance, the costume and facemask was amazing and realistic, however, when he spoke I did not have an overwhelming sensation of horror similar to the originals. Instead the only thing making me jump was the use of music and sense of surprise when I was unaware of his presence.

An admirable soundtrack, the use of silence to create suspense and the chilling recognisable song sang by the young children certainly supplemented to the films terror. In spite of this, I just can’t help thinking that there should have been more to this film! Judging by the exact ending of one of the original A Nightmare on Elm Street films, there are possibilities of a sequel, except I find myself fed up at this prospect. Why could they not have created a twist, or an unfamiliar ending that meant Freddie Krueger was unable to contain his reign of terror?

I am overall disappointed by the outcome of this long anticipated remake; I do not think I am in minority either. If there is a sequel let’s hope they take the advice of us critics out here!

VERDICT:

♣♣♣♣♣

2 out of 5. This remake is repetitive, unoriginal, disappointing and I substituted screams for laughter!