A Nightmare on Elm Streethas remained a horror classic for decades, and has continued to be one of the most popular horror franchises of all time since 1984. That, of course, would not be possible without its heinous antagonist, Freddy Krueger, who has been terrorizing his victims in their dreams. The characterWes Cravencreated has been brought to life byRobert Englundthroughout the film’s various sequels and spin-offs, solidifying the actor’s place in entertainment history. Now, the legacy of the veteran actor will be chronicled on the big screen, with a documentary titledHollywood Dreams and Nightmares: The Robert Englund Storyset to premiere around the actor’s 75th birthday.
According toVariety, Cinedigm will give the documentary an exclusive theatrical run before it hits Screambox in June. The documentary, which features interviews from the seasoned actor, will not only highlight Englund’s legacy and the “nightmare” the franchise brought for decades, but it will also showcase some of the prominent figures in the horror scene, including the likes ofLin Shaye(Insidious),Kane Hodder(Friday the 13th),Tony Todd(Candyman),Bill Mosley(The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2), andHeather Langenkamp, who played Nancy Thompson in the originalA Nightmare on Elm Streetand some of its succeeding installments.
Although the actor is best known for playing the supernatural serial killer, which helped him rise to prominence, Englund has also appeared in a number of films, including the 1989 horror filmThe Phantom of the Opera, the slasher filmDance Macabre, and the 2002 horror-thrillerChoose or Die. But while Englund is notorious for appearing in several horror movies, the actor also explored other genres, starting with his first-ever film,Buster and Billie, and went on to appear in different films likeA Star Is Born,The Great Smokey Roadblock,Big Wednesday, andBloodbrothers, before landing the Freddy Kruger role in 1984.
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The actor played the role in sevenA Nightmare on Elm Streetinstallments before passing on the bladed glove toJackie Earle Haleyin the 2010 remake. He also reprised his role in theFreddy vs. JasonandBehind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernonspin-offs, alongside another horror icon, Jason Voorhees.
Christopher GriffithsandGary Smarthelmed the forthcoming documentary, with Smart saying that the project is a “love letter” honoring the actor’s extraordinary career: “Both Chris and I have been fans of Robert since we were children, and now to have the opportunity to not only become friends with Robert but to also celebrate his amazing career in this love-letter documentary is truly a ‘dream’ come true for us."
On the other hand, Englund told Variety that working with the directors was a delight and that they were able to discover movies that he had forgotten he was in. “For Yours Truly, watching the film is a bit like Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn attending their own funeral. Gary, Chris and Adam (Evans) managed to find old movies and TV shows I’d forgotten I was in. I’d come back from the dead! All kidding aside – it’s an accurate memory of a working actor’s journey – dreams can come true.”
