The terrifying killer Freddy Krueger from the cult franchise “A Nightmare on Elm Street” is one of the most popular cinematic maniacs in history. Although horror fans have watched this popular film countless times over the years, some facts about Freddy have likely escaped their attention.
Nintendo Did Not Want to Be Associated with Freddy Krueger
In the film “A Nightmare on Elm Street 6: Freddy’s Dead,” Krueger had a Power Glove for the Nintendo gaming console. The filmmakers approached the company for permission to use its slogan “Play with Power” in the script, but Nintendo refused, fearing their product would be associated with a cinematic maniac.
Peter Jackson Wrote a Script About Freddy Krueger
Throughout the franchise’s existence, rights holders—New Line Cinema—accumulated many scripts about the famous maniac. One of them, still in the studio’s collection, was written by the renowned director of “The Lord of the Rings,” Peter Jackson. It would be intriguing to see his creation; judging by Jackson’s usual scope, it would have been epic.
Only Seven Minutes
Fans of the film have calculated that throughout the first “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” Freddy Krueger is on screen for only seven minutes. But that was enough to terrify the entire world.
Want to Learn More About Freddy Krueger’s Life Before the First Film?
Interested parties should check out the series “Freddy’s Nightmares.” It delves into his early life—from high school prom to being burned alive. The series aired from 1988 to 1990, with two seasons in total. It didn’t gain much fame.
Freddy Appeared Not Only in Dreams and Movies But Also in Cartoons
Freddy appeared three times in “The Simpsons,” twice in “South Park,” once in “Family Guy,” and “Friday the 13th.” This makes Freddy not only a film character but also a cartoon one.
The Sweater Color
The brownish-red striped sweater did not appear on Freddy by accident. Wes Craven, the director, paid great attention to details. He chose two colors perceived as the most alarming and difficult to distinguish and combined them. So, Freddy’s sweater serves as both camouflage and a warning signal.
A Difficult Role
Actor Robert Englund has often admitted that playing Freddy was not easy. He spent over three hours each day in the makeup room. First, a special latex mask was glued to his face, and then makeup artists painted it in several layers. The makeup removal process was somewhat shorter but no less painful: removing a large portion of glue from the face is very difficult, as Englund confirmed.
Based on Real Events
Wes Craven admitted that “A Nightmare on Elm Street” was based on events from his own life. The first inspiration was a series of articles in the local press about a strange epidemic among children who went to bed healthy and energetic, only to never wake up. The mystery of this story deeply moved the director.
The second inspiration was a childhood impression of a strange old man that the future director saw from his window. The man, in a rough dirty sweater and a wide-brimmed hat, walked slowly down the street, then stopped and looked directly into the window where Craven was watching.
Seeing the boy staring at him, the old man turned and walked toward the house’s door. Little Wes quickly ran from the window and hid in the house, terribly frightened. He never knew who the man was, but that person surely became the prototype for Freddy Krueger.
Freddy Krueger in Rap
Freddy Krueger has appeared in at least two rap compositions. The group Fat Boys dedicated the song “Are You Ready for Freddy?” to him, and DJ Jazzy Jeff along with Will Smith created the single “Nightmare on My Street.” Neither brought much acclaim to their creators, proving that Freddy is not suited to be a rap mascot.
Wes Craven Played Freddy
In 1996, twelve years after “A Nightmare on Elm Street” was released, director Wes Craven played Freddy Krueger himself. This occurred in a small cameo in “Scream.” Craven appears on screen briefly as a janitor wearing a wide-brimmed hat, a brownish-red striped sweater, and named Fred.
“A Nightmare on Elm Street” Was Johnny Depp’s First Film
“A Nightmare on Elm Street” was Johnny Depp’s first film. However, his character, Glenn, did not last long on screen as Freddy Krueger killed him first. This did not hinder Depp’s subsequent career rise.
Freddy’s Father Was Alice Cooper
In “A Nightmare on Elm Street 6: Freddy’s Dead,” there is a flashback scene where Freddy is with his father. First, the father beats Freddy with a belt, then Freddy kills him—nothing surprising. However, the role of Freddy’s father was played by Alice Cooper. Notably, in this scene, both Alice Cooper and Robert Englund appeared without makeup.
Keeping Up with the Times
“A Nightmare on Elm Street 6: Freddy’s Dead” was the first film in the franchise shot in 3D. The official complete edition of the “Krueger saga” includes 3D glasses so viewers can watch “Freddy’s Dead” in full splendor.
Freddy’s Day
Many years ago, fans of “A Nightmare on Elm Street” started celebrating an unofficial Freddy Day on September 13. The celebrations are especially grand if the day falls on a Friday. On this day, film fans wear Krueger latex masks and roam the streets, scaring people. Thankfully, no one has died from fear, but many have been frightened to the point of hiccups. So, be careful on September 13.