When Wes Craven first created Freddy Krueger, it’s reasonable to assume he didn’t fully realize the villain’s potential. He only commits to one sequel of his own in New nightmareCraven had spawned a monster capable of infiltrating our dreams. So uniquely our own and personal to us, Krueger had the ability to do and be whatever he wanted to stalk and kill his victims. With that infinite possibility, it’s more than reasonable to assume that this killer could transition from the dream world to another profitable and recognized IP if he really wanted to.
With the return of Robert Englund to our screens this season Weird stuff, it shocked the system and reminded everyone how much we miss Freddy in the world of popular horror. Coming out of the final of their Halloween trilogy this month, Blumhouse Studios mega producer Jason Blum recently teased that if anyone could get Englund back into makeup, he’d be the man to do it.
But who exactly could he be stalking this time? Just in time for Halloween, we’re pitching some potential clashes we’d like to see.
Freddy Krueger vs NWA
Stay with us in this one.
For some strange reason, Freddy Krueger and the rap scene are deeply connected. DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince have released an unofficial track titled a Nightmare in my street who was rejected for the soundtrack of Dreammasterbut still tasted the Nightmare theme and is prominent in a Krueger-esque situation. Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master used rap trio The Fat Boys for the soundtrack, and had the horizontally challenged group chased by Freddy Krueger (revealed to be one of the group’s uncles) around a haunted house. In what we can only hope is canon, Freddy raps in the video seen below.
After the worldwide success of the Straight Outta Compton movie, this feature pits the NWA against Freddy as he repeatedly tries to take down the group and kill them one by one. NWA’s Ice Cube itself has already fought a giant snake in Anacondaand fought against ghosts of Mars inside, uh, Ghosts of Mars…so why not tackle everyone’s worst nightmare? Busta Rhymes also appears to kick Freddy through a window.
Freddy Krueger vs Total Recall
Always ripe for the big screen adaptation, Philip K. Dick’s We can remember it for you Wholesale! Arnold Schwarzenegger and Paul Verhoeven in the bag for a big Hollywood shot that showed us an ultra-violent uprising on Mars. Throughout the story, Arnold’s character Doug Quaid not only establishes who he is, but also his own reality, with the very last scene making it seem like Doug has been in an implanted dream the whole time… so why not put Fred in there throw?
The thought of Krueger transplanting himself into a Schwarzenegger movie is mouth watering and would easily fit Krueger’s endless powers in the dream world. In addition, Schwarzenegger has always had interesting results with the horror genre, with end of time and the subdued haunting of Maggie. Krueger, meanwhile (for better or worse – but probably certainly better) has never gone to the future or space like his compatriots in Jason X, Leprechaun 4: In space or Pin button in Hellraiser IV: Bloodline.
Freddy Krueger vs Sesame Street
Also called “Nightmare on Elmo Street” by the naysayers, our story is: the human characters can’t sleep and are all killed. It’s up to Big Bird and Elmo to get to the bottom of what’s happening. The story reveals the seedy past of Freddy Krueger harassing puppeteers behind the scenes, and the story builds to its climax when Oscar the grumbler is ripped in half from the inside as Freddy’s gauntlet pops out of him. The Count will work together like a villain.
Fake as this idea is, it would present a great opportunity for some incredible guest stars (Kelly Rowland and Neve Campbell read today’s letters as Cookie Monster is forced to eat until it explodes).
Ash vs Freddy Krueger
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So this one actually makes a weird amount of sense. After the success of Freddy vs Jasona follow-up was suggested to include Evil Dead‘s Ash Williams. With Ash’s own bizarre timeline and magnetic attraction to all things evil, Freddy and Jason instantly hook up. A comic book series titled Freddy vs. Jason vs Ash happened in 2007 (Ash wins), but a movie was soon shot by Campbell himself. On the follow-up pitch, speaking during a roundtable at New York Comic Con, Bruce Campbell said:
We had a five minute conversation with New Line Cinema about: Ash vs. Jason vs. Freddy. They approached us. So they say, ‘What do you think of that?’ And we were like, ‘Great, Ash can kill them both.’ There was a long pause, “Well, actually, that’s not something we can entertain.” And we couldn’t control another character, only control Ash – what these guys said, or what they did and you can’t kill either one. So from the start, it’s creatively bankrupt. Economically, you are now splitting the pot with two other partners – no. were good. So that’s why – fans may not realize why things don’t happen.
Freddy Krueger v The Babadook
In most Freddy vs Jason syled addition to our list, The Springwood Slasher takes on another movie monster. Subtle commentary on how the Krueger character has been completely cast aside in the wake of “exalted horror,” this one writes itself.
Having developed an attachment to the little boy in the first film, The Babadook is filled with rage when Freddy Krueger enters his dreams and kills him. Seeking revenge and still preoccupied with the big themes of motherhood, The Mother (again played by the great Essie Davis) and The Babadook must team up to kill Freddy for what he’s done.
Freddy Krueger vs Inception
This would be sold to movie nerds everywhere like Nolan vs Craven.
At the very front we have Freddy taking on Leo. The ingenuity of Nolan’s mind-blowing sets and scenarios would see DiCaprio’s Cobb with a new team as they must infiltrate the mind of a wealthy entrepreneur’s son. Then, using the boy’s inner knowledge, they plan to break into his father’s estate. Unfortunately for the team, Freddy is there too… and Freddy knows full well that if you die in the dream, you die in real life.
Realizing how insecure they really are, Cobb must now help protect the boy in order to keep himself safe and find a way to escape Freddy.
No doubt the Oscar-winning actor has already done dreamy psychological horror with Shutter Islandso this shouldn’t be too bizarre a throw. South Park has already dealt with this. Make it happen now, Blum.