If you read this blog chances are you have probably seen every one of films in the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, and better yet, I can imagine that I can write about each and every single one of the films for days on end. So for this post I wanted to start with an unusual part of the series, "Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge".
The plot revolves around 17 year old Jessie, a socially awkward teen male who's family just moved into Nancy Thompson's house from the first Freddy film. Since moving in, Jessie has been having dreams of our burned face razor glove killer. As the story unfolds, weird supernatural things happen in the house. Jessie finds Nancy's old diary and her writings about her battle with Freddy Krueger, he realizes this nightmare man is now out to get him, and better yet, when he falls asleep he becomes Freddy himself, reeking havoc on teenagers of Springwood, again.
Whats odd about this film is that this is the only one in the series where Freddy is able to possess and come into contact in real life form, which ultimately creates continuity issues for the rest of the series. In the 1980's horror sequels were becoming huge, so of course bringing back Freddy was a no brainer. But why manipulate the concept so early on in the series, why part 2? Shouldn't we wait until at least part 3 like they did with "Halloween III: Season of the Witch", it didn't even have Michael Myers. Thankfully Freddy didn't go away in this film, and he came back looking more creepy than the first. The effects of Freddy Krueger coming out of Jessie's body always impressed me as well. I also need to call out my love of the cover art and it's graphic appeal. I remember seeing a 3 dimensional cut out version of this at my local video rental store, The Video Room, in Union NJ during my childhood.
Another reason why this film stands out in the series is due to the homosexual implications of the movie. Jessie for starters isn't you cockey muscle head, he is whimsy, really close to his "friend", Brady, and dances around his room to pop jams and glitter glasses. Oh, he also screams like a girl and the whole Freddy Kruger trying to come out of him, totally symbolic for keeping his sexuality in the closet.
No, this post isn't a put down on gay people. I am gay dude. So everyone please cool your jets. I also think that in some scenes Freddy and Jessie seemed to have a little sexual tension, especially the encounter they have at the foot the stairs towards the beginning. Can we also talk about the high school gym teacher? I mean, he was caught in a leather daddy bar rocking some sexy leather attire that I would wear, and then later his death scene in the high school shower room. Tied up naked and spanked with a light speed flying towel.
In researching this film, New Line Cinema doesn't deny the homosexual references that are prevalent in the film, they do however deny that it was intentional. Hard to believe, but, okay. What is great about cinema, art, and story telling is that the meaning can always vary based on the observer. I like to see this film both as an addition to the Freddy Krueger films, but also a call out to homosexuality in the 80s.
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