downside
11-04-2003, 04:44 AM
This is just an opinion article.
I'd like to know how people feel about classics monsters/killers in movies as they age through sequel after sequel.
For instance (but not limited to):
Freddy scared the hell out of me in the first two movies. Granted, I was young, but he was not funny then, and still very creative. He actually ran after you, if he needed to. A relentless soul trapped in the mind of children, free to slaughter as he saw fit.
Over time, however, Freddy's personality (although entertaining) lost his "scare you" edge. Even in his most recent Freddy Vs. Jason, he kept his demonic, killing edge at about 35%, and put his comedic role up to the 60% mark (leaving 5% for political beliefs). Movies became full of "how is Freddy gonna kill this guy" moments rather than a "no kid, don't fall asleep!" moments.
There is some margin-of-error I give Freddy for his contributions over the years. But I see a general downgrade of scaryness to Freddy nowadays, and it's just about too late to save him.
A good thing about Wes Craven, however, is that after 6 Elm Street Movies, in which case Freddy became more and more of a Disney character, Wes was smart enough to create the New Nightmare. It was a box-office flop but it brought out the Freddy that I know and love. He was again tortured soul, hell bent on murder and mayhem. He hardly talked, but rather just stared with his wide open white eyes. He was everything I knew and loved about Freddy revisited. Even his story was interesting, switching from the Elm Street child murder caught in dreams, to a demonic spirit that is trapped within the movies to keep him at bay. I wish this all would've caught on, as Freddy's time is now up.
Others on the list include Jason-to-Jason X, the new generation of Texas Chainsaw rednecks, and Eddie Murhpy (although he was neve rmeant to be scary, so I'll let him pass).
I'd like to know how people feel about classics monsters/killers in movies as they age through sequel after sequel.
For instance (but not limited to):
Freddy scared the hell out of me in the first two movies. Granted, I was young, but he was not funny then, and still very creative. He actually ran after you, if he needed to. A relentless soul trapped in the mind of children, free to slaughter as he saw fit.
Over time, however, Freddy's personality (although entertaining) lost his "scare you" edge. Even in his most recent Freddy Vs. Jason, he kept his demonic, killing edge at about 35%, and put his comedic role up to the 60% mark (leaving 5% for political beliefs). Movies became full of "how is Freddy gonna kill this guy" moments rather than a "no kid, don't fall asleep!" moments.
There is some margin-of-error I give Freddy for his contributions over the years. But I see a general downgrade of scaryness to Freddy nowadays, and it's just about too late to save him.
A good thing about Wes Craven, however, is that after 6 Elm Street Movies, in which case Freddy became more and more of a Disney character, Wes was smart enough to create the New Nightmare. It was a box-office flop but it brought out the Freddy that I know and love. He was again tortured soul, hell bent on murder and mayhem. He hardly talked, but rather just stared with his wide open white eyes. He was everything I knew and loved about Freddy revisited. Even his story was interesting, switching from the Elm Street child murder caught in dreams, to a demonic spirit that is trapped within the movies to keep him at bay. I wish this all would've caught on, as Freddy's time is now up.
Others on the list include Jason-to-Jason X, the new generation of Texas Chainsaw rednecks, and Eddie Murhpy (although he was neve rmeant to be scary, so I'll let him pass).