10 Things You Didn't Know About A Nightmare On Elm Street
2. The Special Effects Tricks Didn't Always Go To Plan
When CGI effects go wrong, all it takes is a few clicks to smooth them out - but that’s something that really couldn't be said for one of the more ambitious set pieces in the first Nightmare movie, that was achieved practically.
Glen's infamous death scene where he's sucked through his bed and turned into a geyser of blood was achieved through an upside down rotating set, in which a giant hole was created and 500 gallons of fake blood pumped through for The Shining-inspired take. However, when the take was first shot, the room was actually rotated the wrong way - meaning thousands of dollars worth of equipment was ruined instantaneously from kayo syrup and water in what Craven dubs 'the Ferris wheel from hell'.
As for another less disastrous effect, the scene where Nancy is subdued by sticky stairs was actually created with pancake mix and oatmeal. A far more delicious way to die than what we saw, at the very least.