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As excitement builds among horror movie fans, the first glimpses of a contemporary re-imagining of the Wes Craven classic, A Nightmare on Elm Street, have been made available on MySpace in a newly released trailer. This much anticipated remake, due to hit theaters on April 30, 2010, is already generating Internet buzz and, judging from the trailer, is likely to be as horrifying as the original source material.
The first Nightmare movie was released in 1984, launching the most successful horror franchise in history, spawning a long line of sequels, and establishing its murderous main character, Freddy Krueger, as a horror movie icon. Like the original, this new incarnation will center around a group of teenagers who are being tormented by Krueger, a disfigured killer, in their dreams.
Replacing Nightmare veteran Robert Englund, Jackie Earle Haley (Watchman and Little Children) will be taking on the role of Freddy, wearing the infamous red and green sweater, fedora, and bladed glove — all of which have become trademarks of the series. The replacement of Englund has already caused some controversy among fans in the blogosphere. However, in a recent interview, Mr. Englund has given the new production and the new Freddy his blessing.
“Jackie is not big, and I think that Jackie's size is gonna really work for him as Freddy Krueger," said Englund. "Because I've always in my mindset imagined… one of the metaphors or one of the images I've used for Freddy is a little rabid dog that just bites your ankle and holds on.”
Based on the trailer, it seems that this new take on the Nightmare story will be presented in a sleek, stylish fashion with an attractive young cast of "victims" and an assortment of new movie-making technologies. This updated version will, no doubt, benefit from CGI technology that was not available 25 years ago, allowing the movie to explore areas that the original could not.
Krueger's grotesque appearance will also be re-envisioned in the new movie. The short glimpse of Freddy (post burns) seen at the end of the trailer suggests that the filmmakers are trying to achieve a more life-like look for his scarred skin. In the clip, his face truly resembles that of a burn victim.
Further, it appears that the jovial, jokester nature that Freddy gradually adopted in the sequels will be abandoned in the remake, returning the character to more sinister territory. Mr. Haley has been quoted as saying, "I think this Freddy's going to be a little darker, a little bit more serious, a little more scary."
In addition to Haley, the film will also star an ensemble of young actors including Kyle Gallner (The Haunting in Connecticut), Kate Cassidy (Taken), Rooney Mara (Urban Legend), Thomas Dekker (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), and Kellan Lutz (Twilight). It is being produced by Michael Bay and directed by Samuel Bayer, who is known for his music video work with bands such as Green Day and Nirvana. The screenplay is by Wesley Strick and Wesley Heisserer.
View the trailer at MySpace.
