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‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ Remake Writer Blames Director for Failure

Eric Heisserer. writer of the 2010 remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street, lays much of the blame for the film’s failure at the feet of director Samuel Bayer.

Published

5 years ago

March 23, 2019

Michael Carpenter

If there’s one thing that seems inevitable about Hollywood horror, it’s that every major – and even many minor – horror film will someday get remade, if not more than once. To date, one of the biggest duds among this crop was 2010’s hated A Nightmare on Elm Street remake.

While the movie made a profit in theaters – earning $115 million worldwide on a budget of $35 million – the resulting backlash against it from fans, critics, and even casual viewers resulted in the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise entering hibernation for the past decade.

It remains to be seen when Freddy Krueger will be resurrected – although Robert Englund recently said he might be up for one more movie – but most would agree that the 2010 remake was a disaster. This includes writer Eric Heisserer, who feels his script was ruined.

In fact, Heisserer puts most of the blame for the film at the feet of director Samuel Bayer. During a recent Twitter thread, Heisserer – who’s since written Final Destination 5 and Netflix’s Bird Box, among others – looked back on the film and its many grave mistakes.

As @bradmiska might remember, the draft that we thought was going to be shot was different in many ways, some big and some subtle. This happens a lot, but I still have memories of arriving to set and recognizing nothing from the script on the shooting schedule.

— Eric Heisserer (on hiatus) (@HIGHzurrer) March 17, 2019

In case you were wondering, this is NOT how it works. And that was one of so many things I saw undone. One of the New Line guys and I worked hard to sidestep tropes in the script. An example: Freddy appearing while two characters are driving in car.

— Eric Heisserer (on hiatus) (@HIGHzurrer) March 17, 2019

So we had Freddy rise up in the back seat, taunt Quentin (driving) as he gores Nancy through the chair, blood spraying the windshield, Nancy screaming at Quentin WAKE UP and he snaps to realize he'd drifted off while driving and the two crash the car into a tree.

— Eric Heisserer (on hiatus) (@HIGHzurrer) March 17, 2019

There are a thousand reasons why things like this happen, but with the right team in place, you have collaborators who plus up the project versus make it a different thing than what it was originally designed to be.

— Eric Heisserer (on hiatus) (@HIGHzurrer) March 17, 2019

Why? Because it meant Wes Craven was not given story credit. For characters and a world he invented. For a plot twist akin to PSYCHO that was his idea — you don't realize Nancy is the heroine for the first act. I petitioned to have him included and lost.

— Eric Heisserer (on hiatus) (@HIGHzurrer) March 17, 2019

All of this a really long-winded way of saying: Yes, this should be remade. I'm not advocating my script from back then, but just have it made by people who have a love and expertise of not just NOES but horror. There are some amazing voices today for it.

— Eric Heisserer (on hiatus) (@HIGHzurrer) March 17, 2019

While Heisserer doesn’t mention Bayer by name in the thread above, in other replies, he makes clear that’s who he’s talking about with regard to all the script changes. Scripts getting changed on set is certainly not a new phenomenon, but one wonders what could’ve been.

In the meantime, here’s hoping New Line gets in touch with Englund and takes him up on that offer to play Freddy one more time. I know I’d love to see it, and most Nightmare fans would too. I do feel kinda bad for Jackie Earle Haley though, who wasn’t too bad as Freddy.

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Movies

First Look: On Set of ‘Welcome to Derry’ & Interview with Andy Muschietti

Published

6 hours ago

May 10, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Rising from the sewers, drag performer and horror movie enthusiast The Real Elvirus took her fans behind the scenes of the MAX series Welcome to Derry in an exclusive hot-set tour. The show is scheduled to release sometime in 2025, but a firm date has not been set.

Filming is taking place in Canada in Port Hope, a stand-in for the fictional New England town of Derry located within the Stephen King universe. The sleepy location has been transformed into a township from the 1960s.

Welcome to Derry is the prequel series to director Andrew Muschietti’s two-part adaptation of King’s It. The series is interesting in that it’s not only about It, but all the people who live in Derry — which includes some iconic characters from the King ouvre.

Elvirus, dressed as Pennywise, tours the hot set, careful not to reveal any spoilers, and speaks with Muschietti himself, who reveals exactly how to pronounce his name: Moose-Key-etti.

The comical drag queen was given an all-access pass to the location and uses that privilege to explore props, facades and interview crew members. It’s also revealed that a second season is already greenlit.

Take a look below and let us know what you think. And are you looking forward to the MAX series Welcome to Derry?

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News

New Trailer For This Year’s Nauseating ‘In a Violent Nature’ Drops

Published

11 hours ago

May 10, 2024

Timothy Rawles

We recently ran a story about how one audience member who watched In a Violent Nature became sick and puked. That tracks, especially if you read the reviews after its premiere at this year’s Sundance Film Festival where one critic from USA Today said it had “The gnarliest kills I’ve ever seen.”

What makes this slasher unique is that it’s mostly viewed from the killer’s perspective which may be a factor in why one audience member tossed their cookies during a recent screening at Chicago Critics Film Fest.

Those of you with strong stomachs can watch the movie upon its limited release in theaters on May 31. Those who want to be closer to their own john can wait until it releases on Shudder sometime after.

For now, take a look at the newest trailer below:

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News

James McAvoy Leads a Stellar Cast in the New Psychological Thriller “Control”

Published

12 hours ago

May 10, 2024

Anthony Pernicka

James McAvoy is back in action, this time in the psychological thriller “Control”. Known for his ability to elevate any film, McAvoy’s latest role promises to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. Production is now underway, a joint effort between Studiocanal and The Picture Company, with filming taking place in Berlin at Studio Babelsberg.

“Control” is inspired by a podcast by Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie and features McAvoy as Doctor Conway, a man who wakes up one day to the sound of a voice that begins to command him with chilling demands. The voice challenges his grip on reality, pushing him towards extreme actions. Julianne Moore joins McAvoy, playing a key, enigmatic character in Conway’s story.

Clockwise From Top L-R: Sarah Bolger, Nick Mohammed, Jenna Coleman, Rudi Dharmalingam, Kyle Soller, August Diehl and Martina Gedeck

The ensemble cast also includes talented actors such as Sarah Bolger, Nick Mohammed, Jenna Coleman, Rudi Dharmalingam, Kyle Soller, August Diehl, and Martina Gedeck. They’re directed by Robert Schwentke, known for the action-comedy “Red,” who brings his distinctive style to this thriller.

Besides “Control,” McAvoy fans can catch him in the horror remake “Speak No Evil,” set for a September 13 release. The film, also featuring Mackenzie Davis and Scoot McNairy, follows an American family whose dream holiday turns into a nightmare.

With James McAvoy in a leading role, “Control” is poised to be a standout thriller. Its intriguing premise, coupled with a stellar cast, makes it one to keep on your radar.