Unfilmable 37: A Nightmare on Elm Street
Added 2022-03-23 21:00:03 +0000 UTC1, 2, Freddy's coming for you. 3, 4, the gates are open. This slasher classic bucked the trend of wordless, stoic villains in favor of a killer with a distinct personality who was obviously having fun. The teens of Elm Street don't know what's coming for them, as Freddy Krueger invades their dreams, attacking, killing, and sexually menacing them. That is until one girl gets the idea to fight back. We kind of wondered whether or not this would hold up, and we're happy to report that it does.
Comments
In the sleep clinic: that “pervert” is Roger Rabbit
Richard Van Deusen
2022-05-08 21:14:50 +0000 UTCI find the comment about the potential inaccuracy of the science around dreams very funny. Yes, it does seem like we should know more about dreams. However, I am a sleep scientist and have worked on dream studies and can confirm that we do not really know anything about why people dreams. The current theories are, at best, well-informed speculation.
Matthew Orr
2022-04-16 19:07:48 +0000 UTCThat Epstein comment was hilarious!
Andy Donnachie
2022-03-29 11:03:50 +0000 UTCI'm glad you guys enjoyed. I agree it holds up really well but not so much with the idea that 2 and 3 do. But given that you were sad that Freddy isn't a quipmeister in this movie, I think maybe we're looking for slightly different things in the franchise, which is cool. For me, the original movie is really, really scary, to the point where when I originally watched it some years back (but as an adult, long after its debut), I had trouble sleeping for multiple nights thereafter. It doesn't quite hit that level for me these days, but it's still so atmospheric and creepy. For me Freddy's wisecracks take me *right* out of that mood (though admittedly I remembered him as being mostly silent and menacing, Jason-style, in this one and no, he's maliciously taunting them, it just feels very...sadistic...rather than standup routine.). To say nothing of some pretty goofy moments in the later movies, like the evil parakeet in 2. (Which is really the only bit of that movie that's stayed in my brain.) If you're just there to appreciate some inventive kills and goofs, then it's probably a series that stays watchable a lot longer. But I wanted fear, and I don't get it after the first one. (I have similar feelings about the later Evil Dead movies, although those lean hard enough into comedy that they work for me on that basis.) My candidate for the second best movie in the franchise wouldn't be 2 or 3, but Wes Craven's New Nightmare, which takes Freddy metafictional and has him haunting the actual cast and crew. It's full schlocky quips by that point so it's nowhere near as compelling for me but it's still a great premise.
Barac Wiley
2022-03-28 23:38:49 +0000 UTC'Gremlins', yes!
Tracewidth
2022-03-28 19:48:03 +0000 UTCThe Nightmare movies after 3 get progressively dumber and dumber (I have a soft spot for the particular 90's schlock of Freddy's Dead but I am sick) but the effects setpieces get cooler and cooler
Tom Jacques
2022-03-26 12:29:02 +0000 UTCYou guys should do It Follows. Also Gremlins.
Nicholas Basile
2022-03-25 01:54:20 +0000 UTCAs someone that has watched the 4-hour+ documentary on this franchise multiple times to the point that my wife actively enjoys it while hating the series, this is exactly my shit.
Christopher Hilson
2022-03-24 22:36:54 +0000 UTCSure did. It's a bop too
Duckfeed.tv
2022-03-24 17:47:42 +0000 UTCDokken!
Kyle C.
2022-03-24 16:54:14 +0000 UTCDidn't Nightmare 3 had that ridiculous hair metal theme song.
Ipoop4U
2022-03-24 15:45:55 +0000 UTCThere is a Nightmare on Elm St 2 documentary called Scream Queen! thats definitely worth a watch. The main actor in that film was closeted at the time and the obvious gay undertones for the era basically destroyed his career and caused huge emotional turmoil. The script writer still to this day denies there are any gay themes in the film. Regardless, glad that Nightmare 2 has been reclaimed.
Kyle C.
2022-03-24 14:57:05 +0000 UTCLemme just go watch Elm Street 2 real quick, on the basis of your ... recommendation.
Tracewidth
2022-03-24 05:31:36 +0000 UTCEvery time I smoke weed and go to sleep, I don’t dream. It feels like a long blink followed with waking up fully rested. Yet whenever I slept sober, I’d have super vivid dreams that I’d remember for days. I don’t know the science behind it but hearing you guys talk about preventing dreams felt like a 4th wall breaking moment. Great work as always!
TheEarthquake
2022-03-24 03:22:09 +0000 UTCNever really thought about how guys like Jason and Leatherface (he just squeals) and Michael never really talked but Freddy always talks. A true duality. I guess the guy in Black Christmas talked but I mean. I don’t know his name.
Malek Douglas
2022-03-24 00:49:03 +0000 UTCJust in time for my commute home! One of the sequels that might be fun for you to either watch or just read the wiki synopsis is Wes Craven’s New Nightmare. Very meta and seems like a loving send off to Freddy.
Stephen Veilleux
2022-03-23 21:33:22 +0000 UTC
