A Nightmare on Elm street (2010)

Yesterday afternoon my friend and I decided to see the new remake of the classic ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ due to our mutual love of horror films, and I’m very glad we did.
The film is very similar to the original but obviously has a new depth in terms of graphics, and if anything the storyline is a lot clearer. I was on the edge of my seat for most of the film, jumping out of my skin at the most predictable of moments which is exactly what I want from a horror film.
The film begins with a character we don’t see in the original. The scene is set in a diner and the whole dream killings aspect of the film is brought to our attention immediately.

The complexities of the Krueger-nightmare phenomenon are delved into in a more visually explicit way for the first scenes of the film. We don’t see the blonde just looking worried about a nightmare before getting killed as we do in the original, we get a bigger window to look through into her suffering.

The next two deaths in the film are similar to those of the original, however the rest are not. You won’t see a Johnny Depp getting swallowed by his bed this time, but where the ridiculous deaths are lacking the storyline is enriched. We learn a lot more about the character of Krueger, more about his victims, and we even see exactly how the parents took their revenge; How Krueger became such a monster.

It is definitely worth seeing alongside the original movie and it should be respected in it’s own right as  Wesley Strick takes us on a new ride.
The story takes on twists unlike that of the original. For a while we are given the impression that perhaps Krueger is not a villain after all, merely taking revenge because of false accusations resulting in his brutal murder, but we learn soon enough how sadistic Freddy was and why his memories were kept in the dark by the parents of children he came in contact with.
If you’re one for comedy-horror, this film has elements of that too. Freddy’s quotes for exaple ‘How’s this for a wet dream?’ had my friend and I in stitches. This film doesn’t take itself too seriously, and you shouldn’t either.
Watch this film with an open mind, use your knowledge of the original to appreciate the new levels this remake unlocks. If you’re a horror lover, it’s worth a see.

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