← Back to Reviews
in
MovieMeditation presents...
HIS FILM DIARY 2015
total movie count ........... current day count
292 .......................... 337
__________________________
September 1st
—— 1994 ——
WES CRAVEN'S
NEW NIGHTMARE
—— horror ——
REWATCH
Don't sleep on Freddy...
or he will get you...
Contains excerpts from my horror list review
After endlessly expanding this franchise far beyond its expiration date, I wasn’t at all sure if the appropriate approach to this would be to jump with sheer joy or just to get it over with. The only excitement to be had around here, was that the master creator himself, Wes Craven, was back in the director’s chair, with the queen of nightmares, Heather Langenkamp, returning as the lead brunette in the film. Oh yes, and of course, the one and only, Robert Englund, was back in the iconic Freddy Krueger role! Despite of doing a very long character introduction here, it wasn’t all done for nothing, because this leads me to the fact that the cast actually plays themselves throughout the film. I have seen people react negatively to this concept, saying that it ruins the scare-factor of the previous films by telling the audience Freddy Kruger is not actually real… You got to be kidding me, right? Anyways, I personally see this as a fresh and modern twist on a tired old franchise, which has been lying dead for a long time, and is now finally brought back to its roots in grand style…
What I really love about ‘New Nightmare’ apart from its original and effective idea is that it is finally trying to create some great scares once again – and while Freddy appears as a new incarnation of the iconic dream master, both in terms of physical and psychological appearance, he isn’t departing too much from his old self, and I’m not one of those who is turned off by his new updated appearance either. I also think that the only way to create a good sequel at this point, was to come up with something new and extremely original; whether it is in relation to the story, or the refreshing update on returning characters... But of course, the film isn’t only about Freddy being brought into the real world and how he might manage that magic trick – it is also a very witty commentary on its own franchise and the never-dying follow-ups in a successful franchise, as well as the evil of horror itself. Freddy is like a fairytale told from hell, leaving breadcrumbs, no wait, sleeping pills and being trapped in the book of the dead. Actually, he is everything; he is like some kind of Santa Claus, a ghost story, a legend, an ancient mythology. He is the ultimate evil; the ringleader in the circle of fire… The Devil himself.
Wes Craven really brings back this franchise and finally finds the balance of horror and humor like we know and love it from the original. Talking about original, this film definitely has one hell of a concept from hell, but unfortunately it is rather underdeveloped. Also, the movie isn’t actually great until the new nightmare starts to become an actual nightmare, which is over an hour into the movie. It is simply too slow in its build-up, but the pay-off is excellent! I also love all the meta stuff in between and the little references here and there; it is almost like Wes is working with this film as both homage and humiliation of the franchise and what he, himself, created twenty years ago. What is even better about this, is how the film is never shy on being self-aware, kind of working in the same vein as Craven himself did more than fifteen years later, with the fourth ‘Scream’ movie. The only difference here is, that this doesn’t try to adapt to a new and younger generation – this is the Freddy we know and love, appearing as iconic and intimidating as ever, with many references to previous films and a concept that can definitely stand on its own as well. The idea of the film isn't followed all the way through, but who cares really? Freddy is here and ready again to haunt your nightmares!
The fascinating character of Freddy Krueger looked to be lost forever, right until Wes Craven chose to step back into the nightmarish franchise, upping the originality and former brilliance of the series, by re-shaping and re-sharpening the very idea behind the burned-out killer. The franchise was back to form, and while a lot more scary than the previous few outings, it still remained a whole lot of fun in the vein of the first film. But there is no doubt that what keeps it interesting is the fact that Freddy is finally back! He was now more evil and more menacing than ever, and basically… a whole new kind of nightmare. I love how the film ends with a reading of the script (highlight to see), accepting that horror is everywhere and is here to stay… the legacy of horror will most definitely live on and his legacy is eternal and will never die. Rest in piece to a horror master, mr. Wes Craven...
__________________________
HIS FILM DIARY 2015
total movie count ........... current day count
292 .......................... 337
__________________________
September 1st
—— 1994 ——
WES CRAVEN'S
NEW NIGHTMARE
—— horror ——
REWATCH
Don't sleep on Freddy...
or he will get you...
Contains excerpts from my horror list review
After endlessly expanding this franchise far beyond its expiration date, I wasn’t at all sure if the appropriate approach to this would be to jump with sheer joy or just to get it over with. The only excitement to be had around here, was that the master creator himself, Wes Craven, was back in the director’s chair, with the queen of nightmares, Heather Langenkamp, returning as the lead brunette in the film. Oh yes, and of course, the one and only, Robert Englund, was back in the iconic Freddy Krueger role! Despite of doing a very long character introduction here, it wasn’t all done for nothing, because this leads me to the fact that the cast actually plays themselves throughout the film. I have seen people react negatively to this concept, saying that it ruins the scare-factor of the previous films by telling the audience Freddy Kruger is not actually real… You got to be kidding me, right? Anyways, I personally see this as a fresh and modern twist on a tired old franchise, which has been lying dead for a long time, and is now finally brought back to its roots in grand style…
What I really love about ‘New Nightmare’ apart from its original and effective idea is that it is finally trying to create some great scares once again – and while Freddy appears as a new incarnation of the iconic dream master, both in terms of physical and psychological appearance, he isn’t departing too much from his old self, and I’m not one of those who is turned off by his new updated appearance either. I also think that the only way to create a good sequel at this point, was to come up with something new and extremely original; whether it is in relation to the story, or the refreshing update on returning characters... But of course, the film isn’t only about Freddy being brought into the real world and how he might manage that magic trick – it is also a very witty commentary on its own franchise and the never-dying follow-ups in a successful franchise, as well as the evil of horror itself. Freddy is like a fairytale told from hell, leaving breadcrumbs, no wait, sleeping pills and being trapped in the book of the dead. Actually, he is everything; he is like some kind of Santa Claus, a ghost story, a legend, an ancient mythology. He is the ultimate evil; the ringleader in the circle of fire… The Devil himself.
Wes Craven really brings back this franchise and finally finds the balance of horror and humor like we know and love it from the original. Talking about original, this film definitely has one hell of a concept from hell, but unfortunately it is rather underdeveloped. Also, the movie isn’t actually great until the new nightmare starts to become an actual nightmare, which is over an hour into the movie. It is simply too slow in its build-up, but the pay-off is excellent! I also love all the meta stuff in between and the little references here and there; it is almost like Wes is working with this film as both homage and humiliation of the franchise and what he, himself, created twenty years ago. What is even better about this, is how the film is never shy on being self-aware, kind of working in the same vein as Craven himself did more than fifteen years later, with the fourth ‘Scream’ movie. The only difference here is, that this doesn’t try to adapt to a new and younger generation – this is the Freddy we know and love, appearing as iconic and intimidating as ever, with many references to previous films and a concept that can definitely stand on its own as well. The idea of the film isn't followed all the way through, but who cares really? Freddy is here and ready again to haunt your nightmares!
The fascinating character of Freddy Krueger looked to be lost forever, right until Wes Craven chose to step back into the nightmarish franchise, upping the originality and former brilliance of the series, by re-shaping and re-sharpening the very idea behind the burned-out killer. The franchise was back to form, and while a lot more scary than the previous few outings, it still remained a whole lot of fun in the vein of the first film. But there is no doubt that what keeps it interesting is the fact that Freddy is finally back! He was now more evil and more menacing than ever, and basically… a whole new kind of nightmare. I love how the film ends with a reading of the script (highlight to see), accepting that horror is everywhere and is here to stay… the legacy of horror will most definitely live on and his legacy is eternal and will never die. Rest in piece to a horror master, mr. Wes Craven...
__________________________