Micro Review: A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)

Slick production values and a capable new incarnation of Freddy Krueger in the form of Jackie Earle Haley can't save this otherwise flat, boring remake Wes Craven's 1984 classic. A prime example of if it ain't broke, don't fix it. What was once a creepy, campy, low-budget excursion into slasher-horror has become just another Hollywood product void of fun, energy and, sadly, scares. Rooney Mara may look good, but her Nancy lacks any of the charm Heather Langenkamp brought to the role. The other characters are just as lifeless as the corpses Freddy leaves in his wake. A Bad review from this Basement dweller.

Click here to check out a review by frequent contributor Mike S.

Guest Review: "A Nightmare on Elm Street"

Since Wes Craven's "My Soul to Take" premiered last night, Mike S thought we would watch and review the Samuel Bayer directed "re-imagining" of the classic Wes Craven's "A Nightmare on Elm Street":

"This is a slicker looking version of Wes Craven's Nightmare... and not much more.

If you've seen the original, you'll be able to easily predict much of the events that happen, and the roles that the various characters fulfill. For a "reimagining", there really isn't that much imagination in this film.

Jackie Earle Haley does a decent job of portraying Freddy Krueger, but lacked that magic that Robert Eglund had. He just seems to be going through the paces of getting revenge- rather than enjoying the torment he was inflicting.

The characters are pretty flat, and rather bland. Even Nancy, the heroine, was simplistic and interchangable with pretty much any other character in the movie.

The one really nice touch I appreciated was the fleshing out of how the characters fit into Krueger's need for revenge.

For looks, this movie is pretty good, but for everything else, I'll take Wes Craven's original, and rate this one as Bad."

"My Soul to Take"- Wes Craven in 3D

Wes Craven returns to the horror genre with "My Soul to Take", and follows other big name directors by going 3D.  Will it take your breath away, or will it wind up be souless eye candy?  You'll be able to find out for yourself since this movie opens tonight in theatres.

Seven people born on the same day as a serial killer was killed.  A sleepy little town sixteen years after the killers death.  People vanishing.  Is it the killer... or someone else?

The trailer looks like this movie has potential- and Wes Craven has always had a solid understanding of the horror genre, having done "Nightmare on Elm Street", and "Scream".  All we can hope is that he's not simply trying to cash in on the 3D technology that's out there.

Check out this trailer and let us know what you think.

David Fincher Finds His Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Sony Pictures announced today that Rooney Mara of the recent Nightmare On Elm Street remake will star alongside Daniel Craig in the Hollywood version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. She will play the film's lead, computer hacker Lisbeth Salander.

Duh.

Reports also suggest Mara is signed on for film versions of all three books in the trilogy, including The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, provided the North American films prove as popular as the Swedish ones of the same name.

Mara is no stranger to Fincher, having filmed a role in his upcoming Facebook drama The Social Network. While some have complained Mara's performance in Elm Street was too wooden (don't know, haven't seen it yet) one must have faith that Fincher tends to bring out the best in actors.

The film starts shooting next month in Sweden. To hear our review of the Swedish film just click on the handy dandy embedded player to your right.