Post by doomedbloodwork on Sept 9, 2004 10:33:35 GMT -5
It's hard to believe that the potential and possibility to do something as elaborate and well-loved as LORD OF THE RINGS stemmed from a knives-for-fingers killer of teenagers in their dreams and provided one of the talking points of the eighties. Robert Shaye produced one of the start-off points for New Line and paved the way for the success in the last three years of Peter Jackson's epic adaptation.
Although the likes of Heather Langenkamp, Amanda Wyss and Nick Corri didn't quite reach the heights of their co-star Johnny Depp, their contribution to this classic chiller must not be underestimated, in the same way that the likes of Jamie Lee Curtis in HALLOWEEN and Marilyn Burns in the original TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE did in their respective offerings.
Based on a real-life incident, in much the same way that THE HILLS HAVE EYES was on 16th Century tales, which director Wes Craven read about, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET takes an innovative idea and transforms it into an imaginative crowd-pleaser. It clearly worked, as after a limited release over a few months in 1985, the film became the talking point amongst horror fans, myself included.
Nancy Thompson (Langenkamp) is arriving at high school when she learns from her friends (Wyss and Depp) that they have been sharing similar nightmares. At a sleepover that night, Wyss' boyfriend (Corri) comes over. Nancy wanders out into the garden after seeing small stones pelt her window and is confronted by what appears to be a person in her nightmare........!!
The subsequent sequels tended to dampen the impact, the old rule of law of diminishing returns, not least in light of the expectation. However, it is a clear reminder and testament to the original film of how powerful such movies can be if handled with flair and talent.
It is a pity that Wes Craven in recent films has seen fit to focus on why people like horror films in NEW NIGHTMARE (borrowed in part from Fulci's CAT IN THE BRAIN / NIGHTMARE CONCERT, in which the director plays himself) and SCREAM, rather than looking for a bit of inspiration and imagination which personified the likes of THE HILLS HAVE EYES, LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT and NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET.
Although the likes of Heather Langenkamp, Amanda Wyss and Nick Corri didn't quite reach the heights of their co-star Johnny Depp, their contribution to this classic chiller must not be underestimated, in the same way that the likes of Jamie Lee Curtis in HALLOWEEN and Marilyn Burns in the original TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE did in their respective offerings.
Based on a real-life incident, in much the same way that THE HILLS HAVE EYES was on 16th Century tales, which director Wes Craven read about, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET takes an innovative idea and transforms it into an imaginative crowd-pleaser. It clearly worked, as after a limited release over a few months in 1985, the film became the talking point amongst horror fans, myself included.
Nancy Thompson (Langenkamp) is arriving at high school when she learns from her friends (Wyss and Depp) that they have been sharing similar nightmares. At a sleepover that night, Wyss' boyfriend (Corri) comes over. Nancy wanders out into the garden after seeing small stones pelt her window and is confronted by what appears to be a person in her nightmare........!!
The subsequent sequels tended to dampen the impact, the old rule of law of diminishing returns, not least in light of the expectation. However, it is a clear reminder and testament to the original film of how powerful such movies can be if handled with flair and talent.
It is a pity that Wes Craven in recent films has seen fit to focus on why people like horror films in NEW NIGHTMARE (borrowed in part from Fulci's CAT IN THE BRAIN / NIGHTMARE CONCERT, in which the director plays himself) and SCREAM, rather than looking for a bit of inspiration and imagination which personified the likes of THE HILLS HAVE EYES, LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT and NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET.
--- Thanks Crash! You will die Freddy!--- 