Forgotten Frights is back! To celebrate the second anniversary of our annual horror movie roundup, every weekday for the next month we're going to sound off on a scary good sequel (or, if we want some cheese with our corn syrup, a schlocky second), ruminating on the returns of our favorite monsters, murderers, heroes (or heroines), creepies, crawlies, chills and thrills.
What came before it: The 1984 classic about the ghost of Freddy Krueger, a child killer who seeks murderous vengeance on the children of the neighbours who killed him.
What remains: This movie picks up in the same house on Elm Street five years later. When Jesse's family moves into the house, he gets wind of the story of the girl who lived in the house before him. When he finds her diary buried in his closet, his sinister dreams start to make sense. This time Freddy isn't out for revenge, but rather wants Jesse to do his evil bidding for him.
Why it deserves a second (or third, or fourth) chance:
Okay, so this movie isn't the best. (5.1/10 on IMDB… ouch!), but it has some worthwhile moments.
- Some great 80s special effects, like the trippy opening dream scene that ends with a school bus, and it's captive teenagers, teetering on enormous underworldly stalagmites.
- A cleaning-his-bedroom dance montage featuring kitchy gold 80s eyewear and phallic gestures with prop flute. Pretty great stuff.
- Alien style chest-ripping scene where Freddy Krueger literally breaks out of Jesse in an inside-out caesarean section from hell.
- An awesome scene where (teenager) Jesse uncharacteristically seeks solace in an S&M night club, and unexpectedly meets his (actually) sadistic gym teacher there. This is followed by a very weird scene where sadistic gym teacher makes Jesse run laps for his enjoyment only to later get revenge towel-whipped by Freddy's ghost in gym shower.
- *Spoiler alert* It's not only fearlessness that can disarm Freddy, but sweethearts too! Jesse's girlfriend Lisa ends up defeating the monstrous child killer (who is possessing her boyfriend at the time) through three little words. Freddy Krueger life lesson: Love truly conquers all.
By Lindsay UlrichFavourite (non-existent) section of the video store: 80s high school drama meets cyberpunk film noir
