Allow me to take a break from the “norm” blog post I usually do. The one where I pick a specific 518 local topic and just “go with it”. Sometimes I like to sprinkle in some “miscellaneous” posts and this one is one of those.

Many of you who have read my blog since I started blogging last year know that I am a horror-geek. I just lover my horror movies. In particular, the slasher franchises. The Halloweens, Friday the 13ths, the Nightmare on Elm Streets….and everything in between. Love them! Miss them!

One of the highlights of my year thus far (regarding movies) has been the re-booting of the Friday the 13th franchise. At the time when I first saw it, I loved to remake. Maybe it’s because I can easily take the movie as it is as opposed to breaking down and comparing a remake to an original. I have done that in the past with previous remakes, but maybe I hold a special place in my heart for Friday the 13th, who knows.

Regardless of the reasoning I enjoyed the remake and I will definitely own the DVD when it comes out tomorrow. No doubt about it. But now that I have seen it a couple times I am able to see the differences between the originals and the new addition more clearly. And to a small extent, I’m able to offer an opinion on these differences. I will say that regardless of these, I still loved the movie.

With all of that being said, let’s shift gears. Off the heels of the great success that Friday the 13th had in theatres this past spring, comes another reboot of a slasher icon, Freddy Krueger.

I’ve been following news of the new remake online for a while now and only recently has the news been really informative, offering an inside look at the film.

When the rumors started piling on about the film, I was really upset to see that Robert Englund was not reprised as Freddy. Although I find that to be really stupid I do understand the thinking behind it. The one thing that made me feel a little better was the news that rumors indicating that Billy Bob Thornton would be taking over the role were not true. Thank god, Billy seems to be a prick and I doubt I’d be too thrilled having him involved in one of my favorite movie franchises.

I did like the selection of Jackie Earle Haley as the new Freddy. He does look similar to Freddy (without the makeup) and I’ve heard nothing but great things about his film work and acting ability.

Now I realize many people online, according to what I have read, really hate Platinum Dunes, who are producing a ton of remakes (including Friday the 13th, Hills Have Eyes, Texas Chainsaw Massacre), and I can’t say I have much love for them anyways. I really wasn’t too thrilled when I read how Wes Craven is really adamant about being included in some capacity with the remake and how PD isn’t even talking to him. Great job guys!!

I do like PD for the effort. I like seeing new inventions of popular film franchises, if done right. I’m a horror movie fan through and through, so this is exactly what a fan like me wants to see. So for that, PD gets some kudos.

What I hate is the big changes PD makes to the original. I understand you need to make the movie your own and bring it up to present day, but certain plot elements need to stay the same.

If you want to see a royal fuck up, watch Rob Zombie’s Halloween. Although he did a brilliant job for the first half of the movie (Michaels childhood) he fuct up the 2nd part BAD, when he changed elements of the first film. Not only were certain kills eliminated he ignored the one key element that made the first Halloween so kick ass….the suspense. He SPED to the end and never allowed Michael to establish that “stalking, creepy, scary” feel the original captured flawlessly.

PD seems to be going down that road. I am all for the idea of making Freddy darker and more evil, so I am on board with that. But I have read recently about some bigger changes that really leave a sour taste in this fans mouth.

One example is in the original Nightmare on Elm Street; Krueger is a local janitor and child killer who gets torched by an angry mob in a boiler room after a court technicality sets him free. Perfect back-story….but PD just has to go fuck with it. Much like they did in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre remakes where they left Leatherfaces deranged brother out of the new movies, PD makes some changes to the Nightmare remake. Fred Krueger is no longer the evil janitor child killer who gets off on a technicality and meets his demise at the hands of an angry mob in an old boiler room. Freddy is now a day care worker who molests kids. Parents find out about this and burn him down at a chemical lab….what?!? The twist here is (according to the script reviews I have read) that the movie is going to pose a question to viewers…Was Freddy wrongly accused? Wrongly murdered?

Are you kidding me?!?!? Make him evil, make him witty, make him deranged, and don’t change the formula! IDIOTS!!!

On top of that, the main character Nancy, is no longer a social butterfly good girl, she is now an anti-social Goth chick. WHAT?!?!?

I really hope PD doesn’t botch this new Nightmare for us horror fans. They had flaws in the F13 remake but I still enjoyed it. But Freddy is a character with personality and a dialogue…so I hope that what I have been reading about the new Freddy isn’t true!

I am leaving some links below to some articles discussing this in greater detail. Check it out and let me know what you think. Are you for the remake? Against it? Or do you even care?

Here are the links:
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/40854
http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/03/25/nightmare-on-elm-street-remake-plot-details-revealed/
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art11241.asp

Until next post!

Cheers!