The Not-So-Many Faces of Freddy Krueger

With the upcoming A Nightmare On Elm Street remake to hit cinemas this spring (Friday 7 May 2010) I thought it would be interesting to ponder whether or not the “new” Freddy Krueger will be a success.

For those of you who don’t know (anyone?), legendary Freddy actor Robert Englund will not be reprising the role he made his own when the original was released 26 years ago. Unlike fellow popular slasher franchises Friday The 13th, Halloween and A Texas Chainsaw Massacre (who have chopped, changed and rearranged the actors for their iconic villains more times than Jason, Michael and Leatherface have chopped, changed and rearranged their victim’s bodies) Englund has played antagonist Freddy Krueger in every A Nightmare On Elm Street movie, even the short lived TV series Freddy’s Nightmares.

With Englund’s age sure to be a factor, Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes have recruited Jackie Earle Haley to slip on the dirty, striped sweater and razorblade glove. Haley (probably best known for appearing as Rorschach in the recent comic adaptation Watchmen) sure looks the part, but will he be able to win over the extremely loyal Englund fans?

The rival slasher franchises have remained popular no matter who dons Jason Voorhees’s hockey mask, Michael Myers’s William-Shatner-tribute mask, or Leatherface’s second-skin - but certain actors have proved more popular than others. Stuntman/actor Kane Hodder played Jason in four Friday The 13th movies and is clearly a fan-favourite. There was even an angry online petition to reinstate him as Jason when he was replaced by Ken Kirzinger for 2003’s match up with Krueger, Freddy Vs Jason. However, that movie did massive numbers at the box office and proved that Hodder’s absence didn’t ruin the experience.

One key factor as to why the rotation of these actors doesn’t have much detrimental effect is that neither Jason, Michael or Leatherface talk. None of these characters have uttered a word in any of these movies. Freddy Krueger developed a personality. While he didn’t use much dialogue until he became the wisecracking, antihero seen in A Nightmare On Elm Street Part 3: The Dream Warriors onwards, his wit and sarcasm was largely the work of Englund, who had a huge say in the character’s traits. I personally prefer the Freddy of the first two movies: he was dark, intense and brooding. The dialogue was used sparingly, and was all the better for it.

I’ve seen the trailer for the new movie and it looks very good. Jackie Earle Haley (so far) looks to be the perfect replacement for Robert Englund. I don’t think it will harm the movie (I actually think it will blow up the box office) but only time will tell! What does everyone else think? Are you pissed off that Englund is not returning or do you believe that due to his age, or the new director’s “individual vision”, it was necessary to make this change?

- MORGANONYX

Jimboeth says: Check out a sample of the furore caused on the STYD site when the news that Robert Englund was to be replaced was announced, back in 2008:

You have got to be fucl( ing kidding me!!! They are going to make a movie with the words Nightmare on Elm Street in it and it’s not going to have Robert Englund? Well, I swear on my balls I won’t go see it. **** that ****. I WOULD LOVE TO STICK A PLUNGER UP THE ASS OF THE ****ING PIECE OF **** IDIOT WHO COME UP WITH THAT IDEA. Robert Englund is Freddy. I never thought I’d have to worry about something like this happening. I mean…You **** over Kane Hodder for **** head Ken Kirzinger and now you **** over Englund….Bull ****!!!!!!! DO IT MUTHER****ERS AND YOU’LL NEVER SEE MY 9 BUCKS! kiss my ass you robert englund hating bastards…Just come off the cash and go with what works ****heads. I mean, imagine John Goodman playing the role of Tom Cruise in Top Gun. Doesn’t ****ing work…same damn thing !!!!! DAMN I ****ING ****ED UP NOW BECAUSE OF THIS ****ING BULL **** YOU ****ERS LAY ON ME!