Directed By: Samuel Bayer
Written By: Wesley Strick & Eric Heisserer
Story By: Wesley Strick
Based On Characters Created By: Wes Craven
Cinematography: Jeff Cutter
Editor: Glen Scantelbury
Cast: Jackie Earle Haley, Rooney Mara, Connie Britton, Clancy Brown, Kyle Gallner, Katie Cassidy, Thomas Dekker, Kellan Lutz
Death stalks the dreams of several young adults to claim its revenge on the killing of Freddy Kruger. Chased and chastised by this finger-bladed demon, it is the awakening of old memories and the denials of a past of retribution that spurns this hellish vision of a dreamlike state and turns death into a nightmare reality.
Originally this film was supposed to be a prequel. The idea was dropped instead to be a reboot. Where original writer and director Wes craven was not approached about and publicly spoke out against the film.
This film has plenty of eye popping visuals that are rich and vivid, but that is all this version has. Everything else is either run of the mill or bad.
Jackie Earle Haley’s performance as Freddy Kruger owes more to the original incantation. As pure evil and more of a boogeyman. Not the later iteration of the wise cracking ghoul. Though Haley’s Freddy goes more the way of portraying him in a more humanistic killer reality who haunts dreams. The make-up renders him almost featureless then distinct.
The violence is more brutal then the originals. Yet except for maybe two kills they aren’t really that spectacular. Neither is the film.
Even though I watched this film recently I have a hard time remembering anything about it. Other then this was an early lead role for Rooney Mara. The film has no distinction or character that makes anything it any of it special. It feels like a run of the mill big budgeted remake that feels like it came off an assembly line and misses all the allure of the original.
Rooney Mara who stars has gone on to say she hated filming this movie one of her first films as lead. She has gone onto better. As she has said that she hated working on this film so much she considered quitting acting. As soon she would go onto give unforgettable star making performances. Here other than being a pretty face like the rest of the cast. Yet leaves little impression on the audience.
One of the ways they could have made the film maybe a bit more interesting is if part of the film was based in the idea that Freddy might have been innocent. When it came to be being accused as a child murderer. Yes remember that is what her was. When the accuser might have been motivated to lie, coached. So that they lynch mob was wrong and he is nearly taking revenge for his false accusations against him and this is his way of justice. Then when the teenagers believe if they bring this to light it will save them, but prove he is petty by the end and still killing. Where it would really hurt those who murdered him. The characters in addition to trying to survive have to solve the mystery.
It’s a shame as the film has what seems to be a decent cast. Who are left with horrible material.
The original film one is a fan of and Wes Craven shows his talent and imagination with that filmmaking. It stays captivating and scary without having to resort to Unnecessary brutal violence.
I can understand wanting to make it different and put your own stamp on it, but maybe they should have gotten a team behind this film that was a fan of the original and revere that film. So that this Could be a reimagining that tries to improve on the original.Though really there was no need to do it. Except that it might have been in fashion at the time. The film was a financial success though after negative reactions from critics and audiences the idea of a sequel was scrapped.
I suggest just watching the original and skip on this attempt at catching lighting in a bottle.
Grade: F
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