I’m not really sure how to feel about a remake of A Nightmare on Elm St. I’m not really the sort of person who moans and groans the thought of Horror remakes. Truthfully I feel most horror movies have the sorts of stories that could easily be repackaged or re-imagined for a newer audience, and have a place alongside the original. For example see the long string of comments for the Saturday Matinee of Dawn of the Dead (2004).

That being said, A Nightmare on Elm St. is my favorite horror franchise of all time, and I love Robert Englund. Like give anything he’s in a chance love him. Englund not only made a cold blooded child molesting serial killer frightening, but charismatic and likable all at the same time… Not an easy task. And unlike say every Friday 13th pre part III, Wes Craven’s original directorial turns at Nightmare have aged very well in my opinion. I know it’s simply Freddy’s turn to be the next Slasher franchise revived, I just feel unlike Leatherface, Jason & Michael Myers this remake is going to be way more of an uphill battle to convert longtime fans than those ever were.

While Jackie Earle Haley (Rorschach in Watchmen) may do a good job as a burned up, glove wielding supernatural killer; he has some ridiculously big shoes to fill when it comes to becoming Freddy. Robert Englund made Freddy much more than just a killing machine with a cool glove and  I just hope Michael Bay realized as much when he passed over Englund to reprise the role. Much of A Nightmare on Elm St.’s success (no knock on Wes’ part) was do in most part to Englund’s portrayal of the character and not just frenzied blood lust of gorehounds and adrenaline junkies.

Either way I’ll be their opening night 2010, and hope to leave happy.

- My Pal the Crook