10 Film Sequels That Went In Wildly Different Directions

2. Wes Craven's New Nightmare

New Line Cinema
New Line Cinema

Wes Craven had seen his output bowdlerized over the years, with the Nightmare On Elm Street series getting campier and Swamp Thing resurrected for a daft sequel. It was this experience perhaps that shaped an unexpected stab/slash at another Elm Street movie, 1994's New Nightmare. Before Freddy had truly crossed over from nightmare to game show host, removed from his origins as a terrifying torturer.

Krueger entry no.7 placed the razor-fingered antagonist in the real world, where he rubbed shoulders with stars Robert Englund, Heather Langenkamp and even the helmer himself. The tone ditched the wisecracks and aimed for something more contemplative and sinister, setting the story against the backdrop of LA earth tremors and the blurring of fantasy and reality.

Craven also decided to change Freddy from a gory gurner to a redesigned reckoner with a ghoulish appearance, as opposed to the established "pizza face" look. It was a one off, and predated the creator's influential, postmodern antics on the Scream films.

Contributor
Contributor

I am a journalist and comedian who enjoys American movies of the 70s, Amicus horror compendiums, Doctor Who, Twin Peaks, Naomi Watts and sitting down. My short fiction has been published as part of the Iris Wildthyme range from Obverse Books.