A Nightmare On Elm 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985)

After re-watching the series for the first time in years, starting with part six and going back, I can honestly tell you one thing. After sitting through the awfulness that is Dream Child and Freddy's Dead I no longer consider Freddy's Revenge to be the bottom of the barrel of the Elm Street films. This one seems to fall into the "take it or leave it" category amongst fans, myself formerly included. I like to consider this one the "quirky" entry, as it's just so different than the rest of the series. I mean, what other Elm Street movie is going to give you a Freddy possession/haunted house vibe, exploding parakeets, a Meryl Streep doppelganger and enough underlying homosexual undertones to, to, well...do something.

It's five years after the first film (1989?) and a new family has moved into "the" house on Elm Street. You know, the one with the barred windows and where a young girl went insane after seeing her boyfriend murdered across the street? Yep...that's the one. This all doesn't bode well for teen Jesse and his family, as a certain undead child killer is trying to possess Jesse so he can kill again...and again, and again, and again. As the film progresses and dead bodies start piling up, Jesse isn't sure if he's the one doing the killing or Freddy, and it's up to his girlfriend Lisa (Kim Myers) to help him figure it all out. Well, if that's all you got Jesse, I think you're fucked pal.

Freddy's Revenge really does not deserve the hatred that it seems to get. I used to really not like this film, and I guess it's taken a number of years between viewings to appreciate it. One reason that I think my opinion has changed may come from the fact that after watching the series in reverse, it's cool to see Freddy played as still being scary. It may have taken four films to completely neuter the character, and while he does get more lines in this film, he's still played as a mean, murdering, son of a bitch. Sure, you get some of the standard one liners like "you've got the body, and I've got the brain", but it's still played for "ha ha sick funny" than "ha ha funny". Yes, there is a difference. Robert Englund gets to stretch out a bit in the role, and the infamous "poolside slaughter" sequence is indeed a classic. Most memorable line goes to Freddy, who, after a teen try's to "talk him down" by offering his help replies "help yourself fucker" before throwing the poor schmuck into a fire. Now that's the Freddy I know and love.

Director Jack Shloder throws in some rather stylish sequences, and the lighting and atmosphere is all rather good here. It feels like a Nightmare film should. The confusion as to whether or not you're watching Jesse awake or asleep is used nicely, keeping you guessing as to what is real time/dream time. The special effects are also especially good, and you appreciate them even better when you realize how low the budget was for this one. The sequence of Freddy "ripping" out (or is it "coming" out) of Jesse is pretty nifty and left a bit of an impression on me as a kid. Watching the remastered print off the recent box set, it's cool to see how good some of the fx looks when you can actually see it, compared to the old dark Media Entertainment VHS tapes. Freddy's pulsing brain is one example...good stuff there. There are little things in this film that I enjoyed, like the way Freddy's blades retract off the bus seats with a notable "snap" during the infamous opening scene, Krueger's tongue slipping out of Jesse during a make-out scene with his girlfriend, Freddy biting said girlfriends leg, and the way Freddy wave's his arms while declaring "you're all my children now". Cool little touches that you never get in any of the later sequels.

Acting wise things are actually not to shabby, Mark Patton as Jesse does alright as Freddy's whipping boy, though he does scream like a major league sissy. Actress Kim Myers is fair complected and cute, but she also shows some acting ability. Her character is also rather spunky. I mean, what other chick after witnessing a demon/maniac slaughter half her friends at her pool party then walk away disappearing into flames would hop into her car and drive, alone mind you, out to a deserted power plant where she knows said creature resides? Jeez. Robert Englund IS Fred Krueger and he's got the Freddy shtick down pat by now.

Being the followup to an instant classic like the original is going to be almost impossible, because how can you top a classic? You can't, and people are going to be a little more critical of any sequel/followup. I think that line of thought has plagued this film for years as many fans, myself included, never really gave this one much of a chance. That's not to say that the film is perfect, far from it, but as a slice of mid-eighties horror and after seeing how weak the series would become years later, Freddy's Revenge was a pretty good time. Oh, one last thing. As far as the "homosexual undertones" are concerned....wow. This is one "gay" film! But, in a way, it sorta adds another unique dimension to the film. How many sequels to a mega-successful film would dare to throw in subliminal comments on homosexuality? As for any previous comments on this film, I stand corrected. It sure isn't a masterpiece, but compared to what would come several years down the road in the series, it ain't half bad.