As far as horror remakes go, I still think remaking the classic Nightmare on Elm Street is a bad idea, even if it is coming from the same folks who did the remake of Texas Chainsaw Massacre. After all, as enjoyable as the TCM remake was (thanks mostly to R. Lee Ermey), let’s not forget it also led to the bland Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning which ruined what little credit the remake had gotten people like producer Michael Bay.
Not everyone is bummed about the idea of remaking Nightmare on Elm Street. In fact, some positive comments are coming from the most unlikely of sources: original Freddy Krueger actor Robert Englund. Englund, who has been overseas working on another film until just recently, spoke with Bloody-Disgusting about the remake and gave some surprisingly positive comments.
”If any of these movies are need of a remake with the use of new technologies it would seem that A Nightmare on Elm Street is one of them.” Englund said of his former franchise. ”It really does beg for the new technology, if you could think about the original with the benefit of CG it wouldn’t be a detriment. I don’t think it would hurt it because it’s such a great story and strong classical myth. I don’t know what that means, is he in overalls because he is a janitor, no more sweater, maybe a tool belt or some sort of creative reinterpretation of the original.”
Now hold on a minute. I’m not crazy about reimagining the franchise to the point that we’re completely retooling the key character. No sweater? Overalls and a tool belt? Actually, those aren’t terrible ideas, but still…
The one nice phrase that Englund keeps tossing around is he likes the idea, ”if it has Wes Craven’s blessing.” That’s definitely a concern since Craven’s name has barely been mentioned so far as the remake is concerned. We know Bay and company would be producing, but is Craven okay with the idea? Mum’s the word so far.
And then there’s the question everyone is asking: Would Englund be involved? As I pointed out in previous reports, the actor is getting up there, so asking him to play such an iconic figure featured so heavily in the film might be a challenge. That’s pretty much Englund’s response as well: ”I could probably don the makeup, but they would certainly need a stunt double for the action stuff. I’m only good for about one take; then I get kind of sore.” Even if he doesn’t take on the mantle of Freddy, Englund wouldn’t mind being involved, however. ”I wouldn’t mind playing a cameo; it would be interesting to see if I could play the dream psychiatrist.”
Despite Englund’s positive comments, I’m still not sold on this idea. Why can’t we just appreciate the brilliance of the original without having to remake it? Surely there is another filmmaker out there right now with an equally creative idea as Freddy Krueger once was, right? Let’s search for that instead of remaking an icon.
