Horror threads a very fine line between disgusting the audience and keeping them engaged enough to enjoy all the gruesome actions that occur on screen. You want a main villain who is despicable and brutal, but who is also fun to watch. There are few characters who excel at this like Freddy Krueger, the child-murderer nightmare demon and protagonist of the Nightmare on Elm Street series.
Let’s explore some of the highlights of this gruesome nightmare demon!
5- CAN I GET SOME BLOODY SLEEP!?
Were you ever scared that there was a monster under your bed? Well, Freddy sure knew how to tap into that fear, and made a huge mess in that room when he was over with this victim, played by a young Johnny Depp in the first Nightmare on Elm Street film from 1984. Somehow this still feels less cruel than what Amber Heard did.
4- DON’T GET TOO CLOSE TO THE TV
From Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, this was one of the most hilarious kills in the franchise. Remember how your parents used to tell you to not get too close to the TV or you’d go blind? Yeah, that’s not exactly what happened here, but you should still listen to your parents in case Freddy decides to show up. This scene is also memorable for having one of the best one-liners in cinematic history.
3- CRAWLING UP THE WALLS
The one that started it all. In the first film of the franchise, Freddy enters the dreams of Tina as she sleeps next to her boyfriend and terrorizes her by hurting himself and chasing her just like a horrifying Looney Toon from hell, proceeding to slash her body in the real world and slamming her around the room brutally. What makes this kill so terrifying is the utter despair in Tina’s voice (played wonderfully by Amanda Wyss), and the absolute joy Krueger takes in terrorizing his victims.
2- OVERNIGHT TRANSFORMATION
From my personal favorite movie of the franchise, Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985), this kill is the one that marks the beginning of the end for the kids of Elm Street. After trying to avoid Freddy’s grasp by staying awake for days, the protagonist suffers a gruesome transformation in his sleep. To quote Obi-Wan Kenobi, “you turned into the very thing you swore to destroy.” ‘Nuff Said.
1-MASTER OF PUPPETS
Ever wonder what it would be like to be a puppet? Don’t worry, Freddy Krueger already did, and he made sure that question never went through our minds ever again. Entering the nightmares of a young man in a psychiatric hospital, Freddy pulls his strings and leads him to his death in the most painful way possible, all while a wonderfully creepy score plays in the background.
Which of these was your favorite kill? Are there any that I missed? Let me know in the comments!
Um gross and creeptastic