Wes Craven's New Nightmare better than the original?

[SteveSzyk]

What's everyones thoughts on WES CRAVEN'S NEW NIGHTMARE compared to the original?

This is quite tough for me to decide. Both are A+ in my book, and both were quite scary. The acting in NEW NIGHTMARE was certainly better than the original. But it was also longer, and a little slower. The original had some great death scenes, that I think were better than NEW NIGHTMARE, which were also pretty good. NEW NIGHTMARE's twist end was very strange, and very good, better than the end of the original.

In the first, Freddy was much meaner, and darker, although NEW NIGHTMARE's Freddy was also dark. I thought NEW NIGHTMARE's Freddy looked much cooler, which his new glove and coat.

NEW NIGHTMARE, although still scary as hell, starts off as more of a Drama, were as the original was straight out horror from beginning to end. I liked how NEW NIGHTMARE wasn't a teen flick, like all the other NIGHTMARES. It was a very original story line, that adds to the original's story line.

Theres much more to say, but all in all I think they both are pretty much the same, but if I had to choose one, the original would be the better.

[The Claw]

boy new nightmare sucked, how can people like that crap,

[JasonSlasher]

how could you NOT?

[Antonio Del Lago]

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984) Directed by Wes Craven. Excellent slasher-supernatural hybrid centering around lynched child molester and murderer Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund in his star-making role), who haunts the teen children of his assailants in their nightmares. Heather Langenkamp stars as the film's heroine Nancy Thompson, who attempts to bring Freddy out of her nightmares and into reality, where she hopes to battle him on her own turf. Among the excellent supporting cast: John Saxon of BLACK CHRISTMAS fame as Langenkamp's policeman father; Ronee Blakley (an Oscar-nominee for NASHVILLE) as her alcoholic mother; a very young Johnny Depp (in his film debut) as the innocent boyfriend; Amanda Wyss (who has the Janet Leigh role) as the best friend; and Nick Corri as Wyss's rebellious bad boy boyfriend. This mega-hit spawned one of the better horror film series to date (even better than the more popular HALLOWEEN and FRIDAY THE 13TH series). The film's only flaws are Langenkamp's uneven acting (excellent in some scenes, bland in others), and the stupid, stupid, stupid ending which mars an otherwise top-notch horror movie. Craven's finest hour (until the debut of SCREAM in 1996). This film catapulted Englund to horror movie superstardom. My grade: B+

WES CRAVEN'S NEW NIGHTMARE (1994) Directed by (you guessed it!) Wes Craven. Ten years after the success of the original ELM STREET, this film-within-a-film (which predates Craven's similar-themed SCREAM 3) centers around the cast and crew of the popular horror series, who are murdered one-by-one by an evil entity. John Saxon and Heather Langenkamp (who survived Part 1, but NOT Part 3), star as themselves AND their ELM STREET characters, while the story focuses on Heather's FX artist hubby (David Newsom) and their young son (Miko Hughes of PET SEMATARY fame), who are targeted by the real-life Freddy specter. Robert Englund portrays himself and his Krueger persona, and Wes Craven appears in a cameo. Not as confusing as it sounds. One of the more original horror films from the early 90's. My grade for this new NIGHTMARE: B

[This message has been edited by Antonio Del Lago (edited 08-06-2001).]

[SteveSzyk]

CLAW, What din't you like about it?

[Mike]

It is a tough one, I liked them both. But I think I'll go with Wes Cravens: New Nightmare, it was a very clever and creative horror movie...

[Jo-Jo]

Steve - I thought Part 2 was your favorite??

[SteveSzyk]

I said that 2 was better than 3, and so far it was my favorite sequel. That was before I saw NEW NIGHTMARE.

[This message has been edited by SteveSzyk (edited 08-07-2001).]

[THE DARK]

This is indeed a tough call.
I'd have to put my money on NEW NIGHTMARE. I enjoyed the original just as much as anybody else, but that spawned some real awful sequals that didnt live up to the original. The only other film that came close to it was NEW NIGHTMARE.

The story was different, the reality/nightmare overflowing into each other. Also, and without doubt, this was Freddies darkest hour. The new glove, attached to the arm, the new burn makeup, all added to an all over darker twist to the ghoul that preyed on kids. The mythology was a little more realistic.
Just the overall darkness of the movie, the creepyness, it was no longer about terrorizing little high school kids, there were some pretty harsh underlying messages too. I mean, lets face it, it a monster that preys on kids through their self-made fantasies, isnt too far from reality.

Wes Cravens last decent movie. NEW NIGHTMARE. I liked everything about this movie, contrary to popular belief, this was a better sequal.

[zombiejazon]

i recently watched New Nightmare amd NOES again and must say that NN is a much better film. Wes Craven really put his heart and soul into making a great horror film and did it. To me NOES is a ground-breaker, but not brilliant like NN.

[Horror whore]

VERY VERY TOUGH QUESTION!! But I'll go with New Nightmare....I love that movie!! (Is it just me or is the score in New Nightmare awesome??)

[SteveSzyk]

Horror Whore, I agree. The score to NEW NIGHTMARE was great! My favorite score of the whole series.

[JenDan05]

I'm sorry to break the trend, but I go with the original. Without NOES, we wouldn't have Wes Craven's New Nightmare, but they were both very good. Wes Craven's New Nightmare is almost the same movie as Nightmare on Elm Street, well not really the same, but the death scenes and........ I DUNNO!!!!!!! THIS IS TOUGH, but I go with the original. I think? lol

[Fettdog]

Both of these films are great. It's unfair really to put one up against the other because they're set in 2 different realities.

NOES was (and still is) a classic of the stalk and slash genre - often imitated, rarely bettered. WCNN on the other hand is a step removed by placing the events in 'real life' - I really liked the idea that Freddy was just a manifestation of evil/legend (the same thing I liked about Candyman).

As for Freddy himself, I thought the WCNN look was the best of the entire series, although NOES's look isn't far behind.

Bottom line is - they're both excellent horror films (which is more than can be said for the other 5 sequels, with the possible exception of Dream Warriors). I must admint, though, as intersting as it sounds, I'm not convinced that Jason vs Freddy is a good idea. WCNN rounded the Elm Street series off nicely, and in my book it should now be allowed to enjoy its' retirement gracefully.

[pizowell]

NO!

[unknownfreak31]

NEW NIGHTMARE RULZ!

[Creep]

How can you compare NOES to NN? Wes Craven's New Nightmare isn't part of the Elm Street series. But if I had to pick the original is better, as is Freddy's Revenge and Dream Warriors. New Nightmare is excellent but it's more of a novelty movie. I tried but couldn't sit through the flick a second time.

[The Undertaker]

Both films are about the same in terms of quality. The first film was flat out creepier, but New Nightmare wins out in the suspense department. It's a tough call, but my vote goes to New Nightmare.

[TooL]

In the first..Freddy was a dark,mysterious all out bad ass killer..Then he started to become comic relief..What I love about New Nightmare is that it brought back the old Freddy..So enjoy them both!

[THE DARK]

Horror Whore... Good call on the soundtrack for NN, I'd almost forgotten. There was a darker sense to the revised theme and a couple of neat touches.

I bought the CD ages ago, you've reminded me I still have it.

[Horror whore]

Your welcome! hehehe

[pennywise46]

Nightmare on Elm Street is better.

NOES-8/10
New Nightmare-7/10

[APzombie]

i did'nt like New Nightmare as much as the first because...

the ending very muched sucked (at least to me)
Heather Langenkamp acts just like her charactor in the first even thogh shes an actress in it
the ending did'nt show freddy as dark as he should have been, instead they made him still the franchise, it would have been better if freddy was a little diffrent than the other movies, in a darker way.
that stupid kid annoys the HELL out of me!!!!

but the idea of it outside the movies is awsome.

[Chris_foster14]

Was New Nightmare better than part 1.............
yes yes yes yes yes yes yes

well no, not at all.

[malaria]

The Claw and APZombie I agree with everything you say. I cannot understand why people like this crap. It's supposed to be set in the real world and yet you never escape from the feeling that you are watching just another Freddie flik. Thought the concept was great but this movie bored me to tears. The ending where (oh yeah SPOILER) she finds the script and starts reading it to her ANNOYING KID is shit.
Maybe it's just me but I can't stand films where the main character has a problem distinguishing what is real and what isn't and I'm surprised Heather L. didn't insist on some script changes to make her a little more personable and a little less schizophrenic.
And I know I said it before but that bastard little kid PISSED ME OFF.

[This message has been edited by malaria (edited 08-11-2001).]

[screamer581]

I love them both, but I have to give the edge to the original........

Nightmare On Elm Street-8.5/10
New Nightmare-8/10

[BW2]

New Nightmare Rulz!