Jackie Earl Hayley:  Freddy Krueger
Rooney Mara:  Nancy Holbrook
Kyle Gallner:  Quentin O’Grady
Katie Cassidy:  Kris Fowles
Thomas Dekker:  Jesse Braun
Clancy Brown:  Allan Smith

Release Date: April 30th, 2010
Studio: Platinum Dunes /
New Line Cinema
Genre:  Horror / Thriller
Rated: R    1 hr 35 mins

CAST:

A Nightmare on Elm Street - 2010

May 7, 2010

Reviewer: Rottenbucher

DIRECTOR:

Samuel Bayer

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The last of the major slashers has been remade. As with new versions of Leatherface, Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger gets a facelift and a new lease on life. And like the previous remakes, A Nightmare on Elm Street wasn’t worth the investment.

Freddy Kruger is still that burn victim bent on nocturnal vengeance.  Jackie Earl Haley does a pretty good job as his version of Kruger is rather menacing but unfortunately ultimately soulless. While there are no painful punch lines, there is nothing all that terrifying or memorable about him here. This time around Krueger is back to kill the kids he used to molest but the kids have no clue who he is until most of them have been carved up.  The parents now are portrayed as they shouldn’t have torched the guy who was abusing their kids while the kids, now teetering on being able to vote, are the weakest bunch of wimps ever. The film does us a favor getting rid of most of them before they could bore us with vapid dialogue. Nancy (Rooney Mara) is still the reluctant hero but this Nancy probably would have been snuffed out in Act I in the original as all this one can do is paint, listen to music and pout.

Of course this version of A Nightmare on Elm Street is completely unnecessary, just like Halloween, Friday the 13^th and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre were.  None of these films offer anything new or if they did it was so ludicrous it was a mistake from the get-go.  Yes, Krueger got an update in back story and a gag order on the jokes but even with the gruesome looks, guttural voice and a glove that is more identifiable than Michael Jackson’s, he’s too one-dimensional.  And why would a child molester bother to fillet his past victims?  Wouldn’t he want to continue the abuse?  That would have been a much more sinister angle and gotten the film an NC-17 rating due just to subject, but it’s better than “but mom, he’s getting even with us in our dreams.”

While nowhere nearly as dreadful as Halloween or as forgettable as Friday the 13^th, A Nightmare on Elm Street is a so-so affair, much like 2003’s return trip through Texas. Those who have never seen the original or its sequels may even find it to be a good popcorn creeper as there are eerie moments and images (that were lifted right from the original).  While those who are familiar the original will wonder why this film really doesn’t take place on Elm Street.

This version of A Nightmare on Elm Street didn’t trash its own legacy like Rob Zombie did with his nauseating spin on the de facto babysitter killer.  Director Samuel Bayer (who has helmed several memorable music videos) may have neutered Freddy Kruger and zombified Nancy but the film really isn’t a chore to watch. Unfortunately he copied some of Craven’s imagery and direction too closely and then the purpose of this film becomes even more questionable.

Since Freddy Vs. Jason 2 is in developmental/rumor hell, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is rumored to be rebooted again (in 3D), Friday the 13^th part 11 and reboot part 2 have been shelved and Halloween 3 will be… you guess it, in 3D, A Nightmare on Elm Street may just end up being the best of the slasher remakes.