Horror fandom was shocked when the long litigation over the rights to remake A Nightmare on Elm Street was finally settled, and Paramount Pictures won the bid. And a new remake is now imminent. From what we can glean, Paramount only has the rights to Wes Craven’s original 1984 screenplay. But that’s enough to recreate Freddy Krueger for a new generation. But we’ve been down this road before. And fans largely disliked the 2010 remake, for a variety of reasons. Can the third time be the charm? We think there are several key elements to getting Freddy right this time.
More Scary Freddy, Less Goofy Freddy
Before the one-liners and visual gags, Freddy Krueger in Craven’s original film was just plain scary. The original A Nightmare on Elm Street presented him as a terrifying night stalker. A killer who lurked in the shadows and rarely showed his full face. The 2010 remake tried to get back to that, but it was just too glossy and polished. And it lost the grit of Craven’s version, perfected by Robert Englund. A child killer who wears deadly finger knives? It should be absolutely terrifying. Whoever winds up directing this version needs to remember what scared audiences long before they ever bought cute Freddy merchandise.
But Keep Some of the Signature Freddy Krueger Dark Humor
Having said all that, even in the first film, Freddy was still cheeky. He taunted Nancy, the film’s final girl, and there was some very dark comedy coming from Frederick in that first film. It was expanded upon much more in later films, but that didn’t come out of nowhere. He was never a silent slasher, like so many others. So have some humor in this new version, just don’t overdo it. No one wants to see the Looney Tunes version of our favorite slasher, like he was in Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare. Let us retire Freddy as Bugs Bunny for good, please. We want humor, just make sure it’s sick and twisted humor. And in measured doses.
Make Sure Robert Englund Is Involved
Robert Englund, who embodied Freddy for an entire generation, has publicly stated that he’s aged out of playing the role. And we get it; he’s nearly 80 years old. And that makeup process is hell even for someone half his age. Having said that, no shade to Oscar nominee Jackie Earle Haley, but Robert IS Freddy. We expect his look, his voice. Freddy is not Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees, covered in a mask. Englund gave Freddy his personality. Maybe they just get Englund on as a producer, and he helps choose the next Freddy actor. Or, if you want to get really creative, someone else plays Freddy’s body, and Englund provides the voice. In one form or another, we think whatever new Nightmare Paramount concocts needs Robert Englund’s blessing.
Honor the Original Elm Street Final Girl, Nancy Thompson
Look, we love Jamie Lee Curtis as Halloween’s Laurie Strode, and she set the template. But our favorite slasher final girl is still the original Nightmare’s Nancy Thompson. Unlike other final girls, Nancy took the fight to Freddy in his realm, and in the first movie. Yes, eventually Laurie Strode and Ellen Ripley would do the same. But Nancy didn’t wait till later movies to set booby traps for her tormentor. Which is why she’s the GOAT. Despite being super talented, Rooney Mara, the reboot’s Nancy (NOT Nancy Thompson, but Nancy Holbrook), really never held a candle to Heather Langenkamp’s version. Since this won’t be a legacy sequel, even though we kind of wish it was, Langenkamp can’t return as Nancy. But the remake needs to keep the character and make her the badass she was originally. It’s essential. Don’t do our girl Nancy dirty, Paramount.
Keep the Iconic A Nightmare on Elm Street Theme Music
Right now, as far as we can tell, Paramount has the rights only to Wes Craven’s script for the original A Nightmare on Elm Street. They didn’t get the rights to anything else. In Craven’s script, Freddy’s sweater was described as red and yellow, not red and green. Does that mean New Line owns the red and green version? The style and look of the 1428 Elm Street house? We’re not sure, but there is one thing they really need to license at all costs: Charles Bernstein’s theme. We associate that atmospheric music with Freddy, as much as we associate John Carpenter’s Halloween theme with Michael Myers. If Paramount is going to license anything from New Line Cinema’s version, make sure it’s that iconic theme music.
Of course, there are other important ingredients needed for a new A Nightmare on Elm Street remake/reimagining to work in the 2020s. But we think without these key ingredients, it’s doomed to failure. And we want what’s best for the quintessential man of our dreams.