Friday, October 19, 2018

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984): Wes Craven, Freddy Krueger and Johnny Depp


     Although he is responsible for many modern Horror Classics, Wes Craven's most enduring creation is certainly the knife-fingered killer, Freddy Krueger. When A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) was released, it was slightly different that the usual serial killer/slasher movies. By having the crimes take place in a dreamscape, with the victims being killed in their sleep, Craven upped the audience fright level significantly. No place was a safe haven anymore. A Nightmare on Elm Street was a huge success, spawning a franchise, though none of the half-dozen or so sequels are comparable to the original. It also is a much better film, artistically, than it is often given credit for. A Nightmare on Elm Street is also significant in that it was the first role (although it is probably not a highlight on his resume) for Johnny Depp, the most versatile actor of our time.
     The story centers on a group of high school kids (including Johnny Depp) that are having nightmares about the same man... 

A Nightmare on Elm Street. 1984: Johnny Depp

     He is a burned up man, named Fred Krueger (Robert Englund), wearing a glove with knives attached to the fingers... 

A Nightmare on Elm Street. 1984

      He is attacking, and killing them, in their dreams... 

A Nightmare on Elm Street. 1984

     one by one... 

A Nightmare on Elm Street. 1984

     Freddy Krueger has not chosen these victims at random. The only safety for them is to stay awake... 

A Nightmare on Elm Street. 1984

     Something must be done. They have to sleep sometime...

A Nightmare on Elm Street. 1984