 |
| $18.99 |
Directed by Samuel Bayer
| List Price: | $28.98 |
| Price: | $18.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.Details |
Customer Reviews
Please pass the salt....
*sigh*
All right, I've said many times in my reviews how I'm a purist when it comes to film, ESPECIALLY horror films, and even MORE especially when it comes to what I (and most others of my ilk) consider to be classics of the genre. I've often slammed other remakes (or the more PC "re-imaginings") as gimmicky attempts to use modern special effects to make a bundle of money riding the coattails of other's originality...
I suppose a lesson in humility is good for the soul.
This vision of the unredoubtable 80s staple of the horror genre has received a lot of bad press from the horror community; many cite the new backstory (and ANYone other than Robert Englund playing the role) of the iconic Freddy Kruger as blasphemy; many think the characters are pale, one-dimensional shadows of the originals who are merely fodder for the film's sake; Wes Craven himself has spoken out against the film.
I myself, before seeing the film, made the comment on many occasions that I felt this movie would be a bland attempt by the producers to simply cash in on the new 're-imagining' kick, and refused to pony up ten bucks to see it in the theater.
Well, I found myself at a friends over the weekend, and his fourteen year old daughter had rented the flick, so I saw an opportunity to watch it at no cost to me, and honestly settled in to bash the film at every turn...
...an hour and a half later, having watched his daughter cringe and huddle behind a blanket and having myself felt that old familiar cringe and sense of mystery and fear, was dazed at my own reactions...
The original movie put a new face on fear; it forced upon us a grudging fascination of the darkness that may permeate reality, and turned the genre on it's ear. Craven's masterpiece was genuinely a SCARY film in a sea of cookie-cutter teen slashers...the sequels, sadly, saw the character of Freddy become something of a mockery of horror baddies, his methods and omnipresent quips and one-liners taking a lot of steam from the fear factor (excepting of course "New Nightmare", which was the only other entry in the series to prey once more upon our short hairs rather than our funny bones)...but the original gave us something we were sorely lacking in that time...honest to God FEAR.
...and as pained as I am to admit (and spent a day or two in denial before I am writing this), this new film brings that back.
...so back to the other night; when it was all over, I was stunned. I can't help it folks, I loved it. I thought it took the franchise back to where it belonged. I'm sure I'll get crucified by my peers who enjoyed the "comical" Freddy, and those who feel he's an untouchable giant of the genre (as I MYSELF did, just a few days ago), but I have to be honest...
...I found this film downright scary, having the same atmospheric dread that the original captured, but in a modern setting. I felt it was realistic and compelling. I DID care about the characters; I was right there with them in their tribulations, all the sassy comments I had prepared taking a backseat to my silent apprehension...I had no issue with the new backstory, as to me it was just a more detailed explanation of the origins of the hated Kruger; indeed, I found myself wondering if the filmakers had chosen to make a different interpretation of Freddy's rage, and despite initial reservations, decided it may well make the character even more frightening (I can't be more detailed and still remain spoiler-free; watch the film and you can't miss what I'm talking about). This didn't happen, and the film was STILL frightening, but the fact that it made me reconsider age-old concepts was interesting and fresh. The new make-up was to me much more realistic in what it was supposed to look like, and Haley's performance was very menacing while holding onto the humor in a much darker and sardonic way. All in all, I think all due honors were payed to the original without capitalizing on them and making a mere 'copy'.
Do I think it's BETTER than the original? I can't really say that; classics are STILL classics, and Englund will always be Freddy Kruger in my mind's eye...however, I CAN say that unlike the new "Amityville Horror" and "Friday the 13th", I do NOT relegate this flick to "crappy remake" status; I can say that I consider this to be a true retelling for a new generation, and I'm not sure if I'm delighted or ashamed.
If you loved the original, you should give this one a rental and watch it with an open mind; remove your preconceptions and see it for what it is, and I think you'll find a gem...on the other hand, if you're like I THOUGHT I was and hung up enough on the originals that you're going to hate it no matter what, then my advice is to walk on...
...but if you're a new generation horror-phile, DEFINITELY pick this one up; it heartens me to know that you can experience what I believe to be the same kind of fearful feeling guys like ME did watching the original back in the early eighties.
I'm going to order myself a copy of this, then get back to eating my crow...not too bad with a little oregano...
Sweet dreams!
Product Description
Five teenage friends living on one street all dream of a sinister man with a disfigured face, a frightening voice and a gardener's glove with knives for fingers. One by one, he terrorizes them within their dreams--where the rules are his and the only way out is to wake up. But when one among them dies, they soon realize that what happens in their dreams happens for real and the only way to stay alive is to stay awake. Buried in their past is a debt that has just come due. To save themselves, they must plunge into the mind of the most twisted nightmare of all: Freddy Krueger. Jackie Earle Haley plays the legendary evildoer in this contemporary reimagining of the seminal horror classic.
Product Details
- Brand: NEW Line Home Video
- Released on: 2010-10-05
- Rating: R (Restricted)
- Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Formats: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
- Original language: English
- Dimensions: .15 pounds
- Running time: 95 minutes
You may also like:
| Jonah Hex (2010)Megan Fox (Actor) Josh Brolin (Actor) Format: DVD | ||
You may also like:
| 30 Days of Night: Dark Days (2010)Kiele Sanchez (Actor) Rhys Coiro (Actor) Ben Ketai(Director) Format: DVD | ||
You may also like:
| Predators (2010)Adrien Brody (Actor) Laurence Fishburne (Actor) Nimród Antal(Director) Format: DVD |
No comments:
Post a Comment