A Look Back at A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET – Screening This Weekend at Marcus Wehrenberg Theatres

Article by Jake Billingsley

Wes​ ​Craven’s​ ​A​ ​Nightmare​ ​on​ ​Elm​ ​Street​ ​is​ ​the​ ​second​ ​film​ ​in​ ​Marcus​ ​Wehrenberg Theatre’s​ ​friday​ ​night​ ​series.​ ​The​ ​film​ ​will​ ​be​ ​shown​ ​October​ ​12-14,​ ​and​ ​there​ ​will​ ​be​ ​one screening​ ​each​ ​night​ ​at​ ​10​ ​PM.​ ​Admission​ ​is​ ​only​ ​$5.​ ​For​ ​more​ ​details​ ​and​ ​a​ ​list​ ​of participating​ ​theaters,​ ​go​ ​HERE

Wes Craven’s hit slasher film A Nightmare on Elm Street was a fresh take on horror through a fearsome, distinct character. The comics will address him commonly as the “Springwood Killer,” but in the films we see him as a striped sweater wearing serial killer. Freddy Krueger is a burnt, psychopathic, unrelenting, child killer that hungers for revenge; in total, he stays hungry for 9 films. Craven’s genius is evident with the concept he explores throughout the original film. If you fall asleep, you are going to die. How are you going to die? A man with 4 razor sharp claws latched to a glove, a popular costume accessory for this Halloween season, is going to chase you and catch you; freddy catching you is inevitable, unless you wake up. With a budget of only $1.8 million, the film was a major hit. The total domestic gross New Line Cinema arrives at with “A Nightmare on Elm Street” is just over $25.5 million. How could the franchise stop there? It never seems like the sequels are better than the originals when it comes to films in a horror series. When it comes to debating the films in this series, Johnny Depp catalyzes the win. Who doesn’t want to see Johnny Depp get torn apart and swallowed by the claws of Krueger? Does his blood have to fly from the depths of his mattress showering the ceiling? Of course it does. Johnny Depp is the star that radiates off the cast list nearly 33 years later. Born in 1963, Depp landed on the silver screen 21 years later in Craven’s slasher. It was his first role, and he can thank Craven’s teenage daughter at the time for that; she had to choose between Depp and another actor to play Glen, but chose Depp because of her attraction towards him. Some may not be surprised by her choice, but may be surprised as to how Depp reached auditions. Depp originally moved out to Hollywood as an aspiring rock musician, but his friend Nicolas Cage persuaded him to take on Glen’s part for some extra cash. I think it’s safe to say we are all glad he didn’t turn his back on acting. If you missed The Shining last weekend, then this is the perfect time to get a good scare in. A Nightmare on Elm Street is a classic 80’s horror flick that will not disappoint. It doesn’t matter what taste you have when it comes to movies; if you go watch Freddy Krueger, you will either close your eyes, laugh, scream, or just be flat out entertained. $5 is the perfect price for whichever one fits you.