Wes Craven's New Nightmare

Mortal Envelope · November 21, 2007, 11:35:32 AM

Uggg...just put myself through this one recently. Although I do like the self-parody (good precursor to Scream) and the cameos, I found this to be very mediocre. It seems to be a lackluster attempt to revitalize Freddy, who's an old dog that should have been taken out back and shot like Ol' yeller about 4 sequels ago. Fortunately, he was better revitalized in Freddy vs Jason, but this is a different kind of movie altogether.

I like the hommage to the other films and all, but the movie just seemed to drag and drag. I still hold that the original NMOES was the best. But, at least they tried something different here; I'll give them that. I have yet to decide if it's worth a written review.

Mr. DS · November 21, 2007, 11:49:43 AM

I was a severely odd approach to a film. I can't say I love it or hate it really. I thought the kid who played the son was highly annoying.

Derf · November 21, 2007, 01:25:34 PM

While I agree that the first NMOES was the best of the series (and still a darned creepy movie even now), I rather enjoyed the New Nightmare when I saw it in the theater. Yes, it was a bit contrived, but I enjoyed the then novel approach, and ***SPOILERS*** the way the movie ended with the opening credits was cool in my opinion ***END SPOILERS***

Jack · November 21, 2007, 01:37:13 PM

I just thought it was boring. Couldn't have cared less about the female protagonist, the thing seemed to drag, stuff that was supposed to be foreboding just made me yawn. The first NOES was great, but I can't say I cared for any of the sequels, especially not this one.

akiratubo · November 21, 2007, 03:36:51 PM

New Nightmare had a good idea but the execution was pretty poor. The only part of the movie that I thought really worked was the little kid's toy dinosaur fighting Freddy every night. It was the only detail that managed to hit just the right emotional chord.

HappyGilmore · November 21, 2007, 10:31:37 PM

First NOES- Great. New Nightmare- I liked it, but can't say it compares. Definitely different.

I gotta say that as much as I love the Nightmare franchise (going so far as to buying the box set dvd's), it says a lot when Wes Craven, the creator, flat out states that before doing New Nightmare, he rewatched the previous 6 and "Couldn't even follow or figure out the storyline that has followed throughout the series."

Shame when it gets into other people's hands.

Robert Englund rocks as Freddy though. In other movies too. But he makes Freddy.

Bonehead-XL · November 23, 2007, 02:52:43 AM

"New Nightmare" is actually my favorite, and IMO, the best of the series. Subtextually I find it alot stronger and appealing then the first film.

316zombie · November 23, 2007, 02:45:33 PM

i also own the complete set,and while the 1st IS the best,i like new nightmare better than the 3 preceding it,the storyline did get rather muddled.on their own,they are fine silly horror,but as part of the series?meh...

Torgo · November 23, 2007, 08:31:30 PM

New Nightmare had a fantastic premise in terms of deconstructing the 1st Elm Street film but at times I felt like Wes Craven was just going through the motions in terms of his handling of certain scenes. The movie works in spite of his direction rather than because of it IMO. He was coming off a huge career slump at that point (Shocker, People Under the Staires, Vampire in Brooklyn) and this was pretty much the only way that he could get work at that point of any substantial importance.

HappyGilmore · November 23, 2007, 09:16:17 PM

Quote from: 316zombie on November 23, 2007, 02:45:33 PM
i also own the complete set,and while the 1st IS the best,i like new nightmare better than the 3 preceding it,the storyline did get rather muddled.on their own,they are fine silly horror,but as part of the series?meh...

I agree with you there. Individually, the Nightmare movies work. In my opinion, much better than the Friday movies, although I'm a fan of both. However, when you actually sit down and watch them back to back, or over the course of a few days, the storyline's just like, "Wha? What are they smoking?"

Allhallowsday · November 24, 2007, 12:30:04 AM

Quote from: Torgo on November 23, 2007, 08:31:30 PM
New Nightmare had a fantastic premise in terms of deconstructing the 1st Elm Street film but at times I felt like Wes Craven was just going through the motions in terms of his handling of certain scenes. The movie works in spite of his direction rather than because of it IMO. He was coming off a huge career slump at that point (Shocker, People Under the Staires, Vampire in Brooklyn) and this was pretty much the only way that he could get work at that point of any substantial importance.

I thought PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS (clearly a flop) was very interesting and stylized. I am not a fan of NMOES at all; I saw it in the theatre when it was new, and though it had its shocks and thrills, kind of struck me as dumb (oop, there's that word again sorry the darksider). I really remember liking WES CRAVEN'S NEW NIGHTMARE which is not "great" but much better than anyone expected, with a new kind of gentle creepiness, really it seemed to me a major step in the right direction and an innovative film.

KYGOTC · November 24, 2007, 01:13:23 AM

I havent seen this one. Heck, Ive only seen the first one, but any Nightmare movie past 2 doesnt look like its worth watching.

Mofo Rising · November 24, 2007, 01:44:07 AM

I really enjoyed New Nightmare, mostly because of its "meta" commentary on the horror franchise, which seemed fresh and new back when it came out. Much better than the self-parody of the Scream series. In fact, the movie only fell apart for me when Freddy actually showed up at the end and was back to his old stupid tricks (the giant tongue).

I think it's one of Craven's stronger movies, in a career that is, for someone so well regarded, filled with filler.

According to IMDb, they're remaking Shocker.

Mortal Envelope · November 24, 2007, 11:47:46 AM

Shocker hahah - I'm in the process of reviewing that one...uh boy. It's pretty darn funny in retrospect because I'm more familiar with the killer from the X-files. And who could forget the Dudes of Wrath!

But yeah New Nightmare - good premise, poor execution IMO. Freddy was just plain worn-out at that point, although they were somewhat successful in making him creepy again, but it was too little too late. We needed a long break from him before he was able to bring "it" back like in Freddy vs Jason.

It was cool to see Nancy again, and some of the other original cast but I think the biggest downfall of this one was the annoying kid. I swear it seems like the annoying kid is required in b-movies.

316zombie · November 25, 2007, 07:26:39 PM

HUGE fan of people under the stairs!with a bias,though,as the crazy couple were on twin peaks,and it was like their personalities were kind of exchanged from the peaks characters..besides the fact that it's one of the funniest movies i've ever seen