This short film, even though it's just a single scene about Krueger's Police Interogation, is LEAPS and BOUNDS better than that horrible steaming pile of crap remake that Platinum Dunes/New Line/Warner Bros. had the piss-poor taste to release last year. Roberto Lombardi SHINES as "The Springwood Slasher", Fred Krueger! The guys who made this should be given the keys to the franchise from Warner Bros. and BEGGED to make a prequel/reboot/remake/WHATEVER that's actually WORTH watching! I can only hope this will get a quality release on DVD or Blu-Ray soon!
Agreed. It's a terrific short. Roberto Lombardi made for a chillingly vile and boastful Freddy. Shawn Parr was likewise excellent as Lt. Donald Thompson.
I really hate to come in and be "that" guy.. but I really would have preferred if Freddy was portrayed more subtly. I get that he's a maniac and that he's crazy, but I always liked him better when he had a dark and quiet sense of humor about him.
That being said, I could easily see Robert Englund in this exact short, acting the same way, which surely means that I have to give props to Roberto Lombardi. With that background music and the tone his voice hit at certain points, I was actually sold on the idea of him being Freddy. Like I said, I'd prefer the performance to be reeled back some, but really that's just my taste. It was pretty rad.
I don't think you're being "that" guy at all. I think what you wrote is how you feel and I appreciate it as being positive all around.
I'll repeat what Chris wrote on a different site regarding how I portrayed Freddy. Another person had the same preference as you and Chris basically said: "As a director of a fan film I have have to show all facets of the character as some fans prefer the dark version of Freddy from the first film, while others prefer the sarcastic wisecracks of the later ones".
We wanted to represent Freddy how he was in the entire original movie series and show that while alive he was all of that wrapped into one vile, twisted pervert! Basically, to make all the fans happy!
I agree that this short film was just AWESOME! The portrayal of Freddy was so dead on, it felt like watching a younger Robert Englund in the performance. I loved the way you got a feeling from this portrayal (though, obviously we already know this about Freddy) that there is something very dangerous lurking beneath the surface. On the surface, he may seem like just and psycho, but you can just tell there is something bubbling underneath that makes him truly "your worst nightmare."
The portrayal of Lt. Thompson was also great, and made it feel like it truly was a younger Lt. Thompson, and not a different actor playing the role. Overall, just an awesome job. Thanks to all involved for bringing this to us.
I enjoyed this short film and think it's much better than the remake, but here are the flaws I see (I think I'm going to unintentionally be "the guy" if I say these though, so you've been warned):
1. I think the "1, 2, Freddy's coming for you" originated after Freddy was burned, turning Freddy into some kind of boogeyman after his death, not before his death. Lines about the song from ANOES 1 and 3 strongly imply this.
2. I think Freddy saying "in your dreams!" to Donald seemed to imply that Freddy somehow knew he was going to turn into a Dream Demon by the "Dream People" (What Freddy actually calls the three Dream Demons). However, if that was simply foreshadowing and was just a coincidence, then it does not count as a flaw.
3. If we take Freddy's Dead into account, Freddy actually lived in 1428 Elm Street before the Thompsons did. This means that Freddy stating the Thompson's address as 1428 Elm Street at that point in the timeline contradicts with what's been already established by the previous films.
Despite these flaws, this is indeed an excellent film and I praise Roberto's performance as Freddy. He hit Robert Englund's portrayal dead on. I also liked the fact that Freddy was referred to as a pedophile in this film. The original film series strongly implied this throughout the series (especially in Freddy vs. Jason) and actually confirmed it in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it shot of a newspaper clipping in ANOES 5: The Dream Child. Asides from the above-mentioned flaws, this film would perfectly fit in with the original ANOES timeline.
I think you raise valid points, so I'll address them!
1) If I'm not mistaken (and I might be) the jump rope rhyme was referenced as something kids sang to keep the boogey man away in 1 and 3, but I don't recall it being stated where it originated.
2) It was mainly foreshadowing (like Thompson saying "You'll burn for this" and "I'll kill you myself"), though the intent was to show that Freddy knew he was destined for something else. Exactly what he doesn't know.
3) Freddy stating Thompson's address was nothing more that Freddy letting Thompson know that he knew exatly where he lived and where to find Nancy. After all, they live in the same neighborhood!
Again, thanks for your great comments on the film and my performance!