10 Horror Movie Reboots (And Scoring How Successful They Were)
4. A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)
This remake fared well commercially, but the critical response ranged from vitriolic to indifferent.
The major difference in the film is the new casting for Freddy Krueger, with Jackie Earle Haley replacing the iconic Robert Englund in the role. Haley’s Freddy is a meaner, less pantomime villain than Englund’s rendition; Freddy’s past as a child molester - something that was hinted at in previous films - is made more explicit in this remake.
It was necessary to change Freddy’s character, as after eight films he’d become a figure of fun, famous for his quips and one-liners as he despatched his victims.
However, Haley’s comparatively low energy, dourer Freddy Krueger failed to resonate with fans of the series in the same way that Englund’s manic version of the killer did.
The performance of Freddy is key to the success of the Elm Street franchise. Other slasher films rely on hulking silent killers who only need to bring a physicality and menace to their role, but Robert Englund made Freddy so much his own that he was difficult to replace.
Reboot rating: 5/10