With a $1.1 million budget, A Nightmare on Elm Street grossed over $57 million worldwide and earned critical acclaim. Given its success, New Line Cinema immediately wanted a sequel despite Wes Craven declining to return as director. Instead, New Line hired Jack Sholder, who previously helmed 1982’s Alone in the Dark, to direct. Like the first film, the cast comprised relatively unknown actors, including Mark Patton and Lisa Myers. The studio initially had a stuntman play Freddy to save money, but soon realized their mistake and rehired Robert Englund. Filming started in July 1985 around Los Angeles and Pasadena, though Sholder claims he didn’t have time to prepare. Since the original makeup artist, David Miller, was unavailable, a then-unknown Kevin Yahger came aboard to redesign Freddy’s makeup. Only a year after its predecessor, A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy’s Revenge slashed its way to theaters.
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Synopsis
High schooler Jesse Walsh (Mark Patton) has been having horrific nightmares ever since moving to his new house. Struggling with his parents, Ken (Clu Gulager) and Cheryl (Hope Lange), Jesse finds comfort in his friend, Lisa (Kim Myers). Soon, he’s visited in his dreams by Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund), who wants to possess Jesse’s body to kill. Through him, Freddy kills the gym coach, Schneider (Marshall Bell), and Jesse’s friend, Ron Grady (Robert Russler). As the bodies continue piling up, Jesse struggles to maintain a grip on reality as Freddy tries to take over. Lisa tries to help him break Freddy’s control, but Jesse’s fear keeps Freddy bound to him. Soon, Freddy makes his way back to the real world and starts going on a rampage at a pool party. Can Jesse be saved from this overwhelming evil, or will Freddy’s terror continue to reign down on Springwood?
Review
Out of every entry in the series, A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy’s Revenge is the most controversial. While many people praise the film for its daring approach to the formula, others groan at the homoerotic subtext. From Jesse talking about someone being inside him to wandering into a gay leather bar at night, it’s very conspicuous. Personally, I’m not bothered by the homosexual themes explored, especially compared to movies like Top Gun and Rocky III. For me, my biggest issue with the film is that you can tell this was a rushed production. Whereas the original had a clear and defined set of rules, this one throws all of that out the window. Plus, things happen with no rhyme or reason, such as birds bursting into flames or dogs with human-like faces. These feel like ideas that were never fully fleshed out.
On a more positive note, performances across the board are fantastic, especially those of the lead actors. Mark Patton gives Jesse both likable charm and genuine vulnerability, making you root for him. You feel the torment and anguish he’s experiencing as this thing tries to come out to hurt those around him. Kim Myers is also fantastic as Lisa, who shares great chemistry with Patton, even if not romantic. Robert Rusler is also entertaining as Jesse’s arrogant jock friend, and Marshall Bell is memorably detestable as the stern coach. Robert Englund is as menacing here as in the original, even adding some subtle dark humor to his performance. This attitude, combined with Kevin Yagher’s redesign, makes Freddy feel more conniving and sinister. Plus, the late, great Clu Gulager and Hope Lange are memorable as Jesse’s oblivious yet sincere parents trying to help.
Though not as skilled as the late Wes Craven, Jack Sholder still does a good job directing. He manages to make the nightmare sequences as trippy and otherworldly as Craven, though not quite to the same extent. To Sholder’s credit, he had less prep time since New Line wanted to get the sequel out right away. Also, while this film has more kills than the first, only two are memorable: Schneider’s and Grady’s. As much fun as seeing Freddy slicing up teens at a pool party is, it also diminishes his scariness slightly. Plus, even at 87 minutes long, parts of the movie drag on for way longer than they should. Still, despite these flaws, I believe there’s plenty that works, and people should give this film another chance. Overall, A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy’s Revenge is easily the most underrated in the series.
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Where to watch A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985)
