- AKA “Wes Craven’s New Nightmare”
- Directed by: Wes Craven
- Written by: Wes Craven
- Stars: Heather Langenkamp, Robert Englund, Miko Hughes
- Run Time: 1 Hour, 52 Minutes
- Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQw9sjwf0O8
Spoiler-Free Judgment Zone
The idea is interesting having Wes Craven, Heather Langenkamp, and others playing themselves – sort of – in a movie about movies. Freddy is back even darker than he was in the first movie, without the humor, trying to force his way into the real world. Alas, it was too long and drags, especially in the first half, and we found ourselves being mostly bored with it.
Spoilery Synopsis
We watch as a man in a red sweater assembles a robot hand with knives on his fingers. Then he cuts off his hand and… CUT! It’s a movie being filmed based on Freddy Krueger. Heather Langenkamp is there, she’s the star of the movie, and she’s got her son Dylan, along with Chase, who is a special effects guy. The animatronic knife-hand goes berserk and causes mayhem on the set– no it’s just a dream as Heather and her family experience a real-world earthquake.
Chase asks if Heather’s still getting phone calls from her stalker. She has, but she’s got an interview scheduled for today. Her nightmares and the constant earthquakes aren’t helping. Julie the babysitter arrives, and Heather gets a call from the stalker again.
On the way to the interview, the limo driver recognizes Heather; he’s seen the movies. It’s been ten years since the first film, and then there were five sequels. The interviewer brings out Robert Englund, in full costume, who makes Heather really uncomfortable. Later, we see him out of costume, and he’s very normal.
She gets a call from New Line, who wants to talk about a new deal. Bob Shaye wants to make “The Definitive Nightmare,” since the fans want more. Wes Craven’s having nightmares, which has led to a new script. They’ve already got Chase working on a new glove prototype. She asks him if weird things have been happening, and he’s strangely upset by the question.
When she gets home, Dylan is having a fit about never sleeping again, and his toy dinosaur has a big slash in the side. Dylan says some creepy things about a mean man who wants to get him while he sleeps. Heather calls Chase to come home, but it’s a long drive, and he nods off on the road. He doesn’t make it home.
The police come to Heather’s door to tell them what happened with Chase. She goes to the very busy, very crowded morgue to identify the body, and he’s a mess– he’s got claw marks on his chest.
At the funeral, we see many familiar faces from earlier films. There’s an earthquake in the middle of it, and it may be the worst funeral ever. But most of that was Heather dreaming it after she got knocked out. That night, she finds Dylan watching her old movies on TV. He says, “That man down there is trying to get up into our world.” She talks to co-star John Saxon, who thinks Dylan’s behavior is completely understandable. As they talk, Dylan goes somewhere very dangerous and nearly gets killed.
Heather calls Robert England, who knows all about her “Freddy stalker.” The Freddy she’s dreaming out is darker and more evil than his version. They talk about Wes’s script, and it kinda matches what’s been going on. We see that Robert’s got his own problems with visions.
After another scary incident, Heather takes Dylan to the hospital, and they think it might be schizophrenia. The radio people talk about the earthquake fault under the city as Heather drives through wreckage. She calls Robert, whose answering machine says he’s going to be out of town for some time. She goes to talk to Wes Craven, who’s as upset about his script as she is. He knows it’s all becoming real, and the only way to stop is to make another movie.
One night, Freddy finally shows up and chases Heather around her bedroom. He slashes her arm before getting pulled away. She goes to the hospital, where Dylan is in intensive care and an oxygen tent. The doctor thinks Heather is losing her mind.
Some evil nurses inject Dylan with something to help him sleep, and only Julie is there to watch him. Outside, Heather is being interrogated by the doctor and two security guards about her drug use. The doctor starts talking about putting Dylan in foster care. Everyone watches as the invisible Freddy does terrible things to Julie on the ceiling of one of the hospital rooms.
Dylan vanishes from the hospital, and Heather calls John. She stops him crossing the freeway with Freddy’s help. Dylan finds his way home, where John is waiting for them. He starts calling her Nancy, and now, he’s suddenly the sheriff again, just like in the movie. As they play out a scene from that film, Freddy arises inside the house… on Elm Street.
Dylan has left a trail of sleeping pills so that Heather can find him. She takes the pills and soon finds herself in Freddy’s world. She finds the script to this movie and reads that there’s no movie, only her real life.
Freddy reveals himself, and both Heather and Dylan fight him. Together, they’re pretty effective at hurting him. Dylan locks him in the furnace, just like in Hansel and Gretel, his favorite story. Freddyworld explodes as the two make their way home.
They find the script again, and it’s got an ending now.
Brian’s Commentary
It’s just full of cameos from real Hollywood and New Line people, mostly playing themselves. It may be the most “meta” Hollywood horror movie ever. It’s an interesting concept that the old movies were holding back the real evil.
Miko Hughes, as Dylan, really stands out in this one; he’s the same kid from the original “Pet Sematary” (1989), and he’s only gotten creepier. The others play their parts, some of them as themselves, and they’re… OK. This time around, they’ve dropped all Freddy’s humor and made him much more like he was in the original film.
It’s far too long and drawn out. It’s an hour and ten minutes before Freddy actually shows up and then the battle doesn’t really go on for very long. Nope. I didn’t like it.
Kevin’s Commentary
I did like the concept behind this, but it really should have been tightened up. It drags out the meta stuff too long and takes too long to get to the good stuff. There are some bright moments, but overall I didn’t care for it. And after some thought I’m adding this statement that I’d call it my least favorite of all the Nightmare movies.