I think that out of all the Freddy films, this is the most miss-understood. It is a very dark tale and it manages to stand on its own two feet. It is a sequel to the 1984 original, but it doesn’t really follow the story religiously, which is good in my opinion. It’s really a stand-alone Freddy film. The story concerns a young teenage boy and his family, who move into the famous ‘Freddy’ house. Once snug in his bed he begins to have horrifying nightmares of a burnt madman, who states that he wants to take over Jesse’s (that’s the boy’s name) body, so he can continue his reign of terror in the real world. Jesse resist’s, along with several deaths, until Freddy finally gets his own way at the end of the film, and makes his way to a pool party where he proceeds to slice and dice the young clientele. Also, which I’m sure many people, including myself until it was brought to my attention, have mist, this film also contains a profound subtext. That subtext revolves around sexuality, more importantly, homosexuality. Firstly the lead hero is exactly that, a hero. Not a heroine, as it usually is in horror films. Jesse always states that ’something is trying to come out of me’, obviously that something is Freddy but it could also be a metaphor. I know this sounds absurd, but maybe Freddy embodies his sexuality. Also, the actor who plays Jesse looks quite feminine. This whole film could just be about Jesse trying to find out what he really is. Apart from this, though, one of the deaths helps to prove my point, too. You will know which one when you see it. Another good thing is that Freddy is still quite dark here. He’s heard cracking a few jokes, but not many. This film is also full of striking visual moments. A bus ride that goes straight to hell, demonic dogs with human faces and the highlight of the film is when Freddy, literally, rips out of Jesse’s body. Great stuff. So, all in all, don’t believe all the negative comments surrounding this film. Watch it with an open mind.
A Nightmare on Elm | kasisi