'Nightmare' Changes Hardly a Dream Come True

In the words of Marge Gunderson, "I'm not sure I agree with you a hundred percent on your police work, there, Lou" You see, Brad Fuller , one of the movie-remakin'est SOBs in all of Hollywood says he's changing Freddy Krueger's backstory for the upcoming Nightmare on Elm Street remake. Sitting down with Devin Faraci of CHUD , Fuller explains that because of the notoriety of Freddy's crimes before the films started, something will need to be changed to accommodate the 21st century. "If there were a child killer in 2009 it would be on the internet and everyone would know about it," the producer claims. Here's where his logic is a little shoddy: Fuller is forgetting that Krueger's crimes happened over a decade before he started invading dreams.

"The concept of the original A Nightmare on Elm Street wouldn't work. The concept of the movie is the kids discovering what happened, and the kids paying the price for their parent's sins. What we're struggling with is how do we have his crimes in a way where the kids can't just type in 'Freddy Krueger' [into Google] and come up with his arrest record."

That's true up to a point; the kids would have to know what they were looking for, and even in the original, there was some pact made by the parents to never mention what they did or Krueger's name again. Of course, if I remember correctly, they didn't even talk about Krueger to the teens until after the killings started.But, yes, if kids got curious enough to Google, say, "Elm Street murderer," then maybe they could pick up on it. Then again, in the 1980s, wouldn't there be microfiche in the library? Couldn't kids find that information in an old newspaper? I don't see why that point is such a big deal. Ultimately, while it's troubling that they're ditching the backstory of the character for any reason, it's needless for two more: 1) It's Nightmare on Elm Street; if audience members are thinking the big reveal is hard to swallow, they're really going to have trouble with the rest of the movie. You know, the part about the guy killing people in their dreams? 2)This movie should be the prequel, anyway. CHUD reports that Fuller sees the production kicking off this spring in Chicago, although there's no director attached yet. Because Freddy is the best character of any of the horror movie killers, there is undoubtedly hope for the new franchise. It won't be Robert Englund under the fedora, so that needs to be determined, as well. Call me crazy, but without a director and a Freddy, can they really get this moving in just a few months?

Comments

[Lillian James]

Oh wow, I agree. They should definitely be making a prequel instead. That would be epic.

[D. P. Fredrick]

Sure, why not change the back story and update it? Because, then it wouldn't be a remake, it would just be another lame attempt to capitalize on someone else's ORIGINAL and brilliant idea! A prequel would be the only way fans would endorse and new Elm Street movie; and they would have to use Englund. Who cares what his age is...he is and will always be the ONLY Freddy.