Welcome to Crystal Lake: Friday the 13th (2009)

Platinum Dunes. They began the remake wave that had flooded Hollywood in early 00s. They had a hand in bringing new takes on Texas Chainsaw Massacre that consisted of two films, the Amityville Horror and The Hitcher. Each one of these were largely successful. My favorite probably being The Hitcher. They took the original ideas and amped them up or reimagined them completely. At the time, it was my first experience with Texas Chainsaw Massacre. 

After a few years, Platinum Dunes announced that they'd be working with Paramount and New Line Cinema to bring us a new Friday the 13th. I was excited about it. I had seen a couple of the Friday films, but hadn't seen all of them yet. So it was interesting to see what they would do. 

Well, for one, they gave us a Friday the 13th that may be considered the best in the franchise. This is a rollercoaster of a film. It covers a lot of ground in it's runtime. Even more so if you are watching the Unrated Extended Edition of the film. To some, it could even be considered a Greatest Hits of the franchise that remixes situations and events from the first four films.

The film opens with a black and white flashback to the night in 1979. The night that is so infamous in the original film. Alice is on the run from Mrs. Voorhees. Then they come face to face and Alice decapitates Pamela. Honestly I was a bit surprised they did this. It covers the original ending so fast and swift. That before the audience has time to think, it's already over. But the thing that is different this time around is the perspective of the events. With it being in black and white, it already even sets it apart from the rest of the film. I partially believe it as if it's Jason's memory of the events. As by the end of the sequence, we do see a young Jason picking up Mama's head and machete to exit stage right. And the idea that a young Jason didn't drown and was still alive. That was a small bit of a game changer with the lore. 

Next up, we are introduced to our characters in present day. They are hiking the Crystal Lake woods. They decide that it's time for a break and set up camp. It is here we get a fun recap of the Legend of Jason. Two of the kids decide to go for a walk to just get away and some air. They happen to uncover the remains of Camp Crystal Lake. Eventually, they happen across Jason and have to make a run for it. The best part or this film is that they are not shy of saying that not everyone will make it out alive. Quickly and brutally each of our characters are dispatched. Yes, there is a new take on the sleeping bag kill. And it is pretty awesome. 

This whole opening - it is a film unto itself. It gives you a beginning, middle and end to these characters. Short, simple, effective...the fact that only one character, Whitney, made it out alive sets the tone for what is to come. 

Now, we are finally introduced to our main group of characters. This is like a half hour into the film already. By this point, I can see why some people may check out of the film. It already set up things twice to quickly subvert expectations. Well, that and allow time to just let Jason do what he does best. Back to our group of characters - Trent (our weekend host), his girlfriend Jenna, Nolan and Chelsea, Lawrence, Chewie and Bree. They run into Clay, who is looking for his sister Whitney. There are quite a few characters. And all, besides Clay, fit the horror genre stereotypes. Ya know what they are, by now. So I'm not going to rehash. They've been roughly the same for so many years now. 

Trent is a complete douche. He thinks he's untouchable and can do no wrong. His whole plan for the weekend seemed to try to woo Jenna into sleeping with him - which was the whole reason he invited their friends to his father's house for the weekend. After his plan fails because of his mastery in douchebagness, Trent ends up hooking up with Bree. The whole purpose of Bree's character in this film is to be the easy one. 

Lawrence and Chewie. They are here to party. And smoke a lot. They are our stoners. Lawrence wants to become a rapper and picked the wrong weekend to join this band of misfits. Chewie just wants to enjoy life, make peace and smoke as much as he can. 

Nolan and Chelsea. They are super simple. Probably the most simple out of the whole group. They are just there. There's not much to their characters. And thats probably for good reason as they are the first to encounter Jason.

Jenna. Trent's girlfriend. However, she just gets sick and tired of his shit. She sees that he's a douche. Especially after they treat Clay badly because he just tried asking for help to find his sister. I don't think there's much more to Clays character either. He's a nice call back to Part 4. They go look for his sister together. Clay kinda makes eyes at Jenna as well. 

Then there's Jason. He grew up to be a bit of a woodsman. He is quick to punish those that step foot on his property. This take has a bit of smarts. He was able to create a series of underground tunnels and paths that span the entire campground. He also sets a few traps for his victims. He also is so quick and a unrelenting force. The times we see Jason run in this film are awesome. Plus he has some weapon skills - he could win an archery and axe throwing contest for sure. This is kinda what I was hoping for from a modern take on the character. 

The deaths in this film are pretty great. They definitely fit in with the other films. Some even going as far as recreating or amplifying previous deaths in the series. I would say that Jason using Lawrence to try to lure the others out, by leaving him with an axe in his back. That was pretty awesome. I think the most shocking death to me was Jenna's. I was hoping that she would make it to the end..however in the tunnels, she was unsuccessful. It was quick and unexpected. The same could be said for the Sheriff, as Jason drops down and stabs him in the head. The most fulfilling death, by far, Trent. Trent deserved it so much. He was a douche. He only cared for himself. He treated everyone like shit. When he was thrown onto the back of the tow truck, I cheered. Almost every time I cheer. 

Now, there's something that a lot of people have problems with. Jason keeping Whitney chained up and alive. Oh, but it goes against Jason's character. No..no..no. It doesn't. In Jason's mind, she reminds him of his mother. It makes sense that is why Jason would want to keep her near him. Because at this point, his mother's head had been decaying. So maybe he was beginning to forget what she looked like. Maybe with time, he was losing his mother. Losing the memories he had of her. So, with kidnapping Whitney, it reminded him of her love and of her. It kept those memories at the forefront of his mind. To me, this makes sense. 

Also, they created an awesome unmasked look for Jason. It is super creepy. They spent a lot of time on this concept it seemed. If they spent time doing it, why not show it off more. I get that we got bag mask and the hockey mask. These are both iconic looks for the character. However, the unmasked look that I have seen for this Jason. It surpasses both of those looks for me. It's a shame and a missed opportunity. Especially considering the most time we have seen this look is through photos, behind the scenes footage and the NECA figure. 

The actors and actresses all around did a fantastic job with the material. The largest standout is Derek Mears. He brings so much in his physicality and presence. He is so terrifying. It's a shame that this never received a sequel. I hope that whenever the legal battle is settled that we can see Derek return to the role. It's a character that he seems to love so much.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

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It Was Only A Dream: Nightmare On Elm Street (2010)

A Nightmare On Elm Street. It is a film that has a lot of meaning to a lot of people. For me, it was one of my initial entries into the horror genre. It absolutely changed the way I looked at films as I grew up. With each new viewing, there was a new layer that would present itself. And to this day, as I find myself now a parent and growing older. I find myself now viewing the parents side of the story. Honestly, there's a whole film that could work beautifully if it was explored from the perspective of the parents. 

When Friday the 13th (2009) was released, I enjoyed it a lot. It paid a lot of respect to the franchise. When I had heard that Nightmare On Elm Street was next to be reimagined, I was ecstatic. I was sold on the film because I wanted to see how they would approach the material. 

Then the next set of news came, Jackie Earle Haley was to be Freddy Krueger. I was floored. I had seen him in Watchmen as Rorschach. It was fantastic. Rooney Mara was announced as Nancy. As each new casting was announced, I kept getting more excited for the film. I mean, come on we get Clancy Brown in an Elm Street movie. 

I remember following every single bit of news that was released. That's how excited I was for this film. I would read the set visits at least three to four times. 

Then I remember sitting in the theater on opening day. The film began and I was pulled in. But something felt off. Something wasn't right..this was Elm Street. But again, something wasn't right. 

After some time, I began to think about the film. I've spent a lot of time thinking about it. This has been a piece that I've been working on for the last two weeks. And I thought 'Well you are visiting Crystal Lake for Friday the 13th. Why not make a pit stop at Elm Street to make your peace?'. 

So here it is. It's going to be brutal. It's going to be honest. It's going to be in depth. It's going to be my thoughts on Nightmare On Elm Street (2010). 

Nightmare On Elm Street (2010) should have been a bigger hit. It should have been a better film that it was. It should have been something memorable. It should have been what the original film was to us to a whole new generation. It should have reinvigorated Freddy Krueger, not kill it.

Yet, here we stand. It's been eleven years. We have not seen a sequel. We have not even heard a mention of Fred Krueger - no, a cameo on The Goldbergs doesn't count. 

It's not Samuel Bayer's fault. It's not Wesley Strick or Eric Heisserer's fault either. No, the large part of the blame for the 2010's problems lay with the studio. But that's getting ahead of myself here. 

Alright, here's the cliff notes for the film:

- Dean (Kellan Lutz) chilling at diner. Hears noise. Inverstigates and jumpscared by Freddy. Wakes up and talks to his ex, Kris (Katie Cassidy). She goes to bathroom. Dean micronapped by Freddy to death. 

- Nancy (Rooney Mara) is a waitress at the diner.

- Kris' boyfriend Jesse (Thomas Dekker) is a tool.

- Quentin (Kyle Gallner) is friends with Jesse and eyes for Nancy. 

- Following funeral, Kris learns they all knew each other back in preschool. 

- Freddy begins nightcreepin on Kris. 

- Jesse stops by to comfort Kris. 

- Freddy nightcreeps again and recreates the Tina death from '84. 

- Jesse runs for it and creeps to Nancy. Tells her what happened then arrested by cops.

- Jesse locked up and is sleepcreeped to death by Freddy. 

- Quentin and Nancy talkin. 

- Nancy asks Mom (Connie Britton) if they knew each other back in preschool. Mom denies. 

- Quentin micronaps Freddy's burning while at swim practice. Confronts his Dad (Clancy Brown) and told to drop it. 

- Nancy visited in tub by Freddy and then sees Preschool. 

- Quentin and Nancy go on their own, after a hospital trip. Quentin snags adrenaline. Nancy micronapped by Freddy in pharmacy. 

- They go to preschool. Find Freddy's creepy spot. Learn how sick Freddy is and what happened to them. They confront Freddy and bring him out of dream. Kill him. 

- Nancy and Mom returns home. Nancy sees Freddy in mirror, who then pulls Mom into mirror. 

That's basically the movie. All the hot points of it. Sounds like a bland movie to me. 

What happened? Studio started questioning the decisions made by the creatives of the film. They started getting cold feet at the feedback from test screenings. They order reshoots and said do it this way. 

In the years since the film's release, it's been documented how much was cut from the film and what that was. After I heard the details, it pains me that this is the version we received. 

There was an original beginning that focused on a pool party. It's a nice call back to Part 2. It would have seen Kris and Nancy seeing Dean on rooftop talking to himself before leaping off of it. If it was done right, this would have been a hell of a way to open the movie. Much better than the way it opens now. 

There was also another beginning. It showed a burnt patient in a hospital. But then we see him flatline. The assumption being that this was supposed to be Freddy. This one never sat with me really. It's a simple beginning, but it doesn't provide any details or worth to the audience. And it's not like we would be able to connect with Freddy because we don't know who it is at first.

There was a different version of Kris' attic scene. Instead of Freddy jumpscaring Kris by lunging at her, it would have been a more slow tense scene. While shes investigating the attic, she shines her light and comes to a set of boxes. Behind the boxes, a figure with a hat stares at her.  That's definitely more creepy than what we got. 

Another notable scene would have been Freddy confronting Kris in his candlelit lair. It sounds like in the original script that there was a lot of mentions towards a candlelit lair. For me, it would have been an interesting approach. Instead we received the same ol' same ol' boiler room approach in the dreamscape. 

Actually that's something that I'm going to talk about right now. What the hell with this film? Why couldn't we get a more unique design for the dreamscape of Freddy? Why did it have to be so bland and cookie cutter? I understand that it's modeled after the preschool. But it just felt like there wasn't enough of a memorable design to it. At least if there'd been a candlelit lair, that could have been cool. It would've been different approach. 

During a dream sequence, Nancy would have been tormented by Kris, whose mouth was blood filled and she was sinking in blood. This was one that I didn't feel like we missed anything. It would have still felt like an homage to the original film. But ultimately one that would have been unnecessary. 

There was also sequences with Quentin. It would have been as if Quentin would have been called to the candlelit lair with each of his dreams. Ultimately by the end of the film, it would have led Quentin confronting Freddy in a dilapidated church. Honestly, why wasn't this a thing? Oh wait, it's because they wanted to 'remake' the original and that meant we had to have Nancy. Gotta follow that through. Play it safe in a way. 

Honestly, looking back at all these different things that were cut. It would have added a lot to the film. It would have given the film a unique approach and visual style. It would've been a bit of a risk. It probably would have had a bit of depth to it. However, it would have to be better than what we got. 

Now with what we got, I will say that I do still enjoy it to a degree. I liked that they added some more personality to Nancy's character with her drawings. It definitely added to the character and helped define it for this version. I liked Quentin as a character. It was interesting seeing Freddy's burning through Quentin's POV in the dream sequence. Jackie Earle Haley as Freddy, I enjoyed a little. The concept of micronaps. This was something that I am 100 percent behind. This felt like a breath of fresh air for the lore. It made sense that we would see some negative effect for forcing yourself to stay awake for so long. It added a sense of tension. Plus, I loved the pharmacy scene with Nancy slipping in and out with Freddy pursing her. 

Outside of those things, there isn't much to like. The rest of the characters felt very shallow. 

Kris and Jesse both were very underutilized. They were shallow and honestly a bit forgettable. The only reason why they are in the film is because they are the same as Tina and Rod. That's it. They serve the same purpose that we have seen before. There's nothing that's unique for them. Nor is there any use of them outside of Nancy.

Quentin's Dad. I love Clancy Brown. I remember hearing when he was initially cast, he was supposed to be playing Nancy's Dad - the Sheriff. That would have been awesome. Yeah, I know it would have had one more connection to Nancy. However, if you gonna have it following Nancy and already doing it - double down on your plans. 

There are really not many set pieces either. It's all very bland. There's no personality to it. And ultimately a bit forgettable. The film does rehash the Freddy coming out the wall (bad CGI), Tina death, Nancy in the tub, Freddy killing Nancy's mom (much better in this version) from the original. 

Also why? Why did they feel the need to show that Freddy actually committed those things. Why? What purpose did it service? Absolutely nothing. It would've hit harder if it would have been revealed that it was the kids that had lied about it. Yeah, it would have given Freddy more of a sympathetic feel to him. But it would have felt more earned. Instead, we get Yeah, Freddy did those things. They were right about him all along. Which honestly doesn't feel different from Freddy in the original series. It's more of a subtle way covered. But it's basically the same way.

The ending did feel like it could go into more interesting territory. I wouldn't have minded a dip into Dream Warriors feel for a sequel.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5. 

(I'm going to keep telling myself that it was only a dream...)

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