{"id":40902,"date":"2023-09-02T21:43:32","date_gmt":"2023-09-03T01:43:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/?p=40902"},"modified":"2023-09-02T21:43:32","modified_gmt":"2023-09-03T01:43:32","slug":"dylans-new-nightmare-a-nightmare-on-elm-street-fan-film-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/2023\/09\/02\/dylans-new-nightmare-a-nightmare-on-elm-street-fan-film-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Dylan\u2019s New Nightmare: A Nightmare on Elm Street Fan Film (2023)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>I love a good fan film. On rare occasions they can offer up interesting ideas and concepts. \u201cDylan\u2019s New Nightmare\u201d is an ambitious and interesting fan film in that its concept works for and against the final film, in the end. While the whole concept of a follow up to \u201cNew Nightmare\u201d is a good one, it\u2019s problematic in that: it basically feels like a proof of concept for a sequel, and \u201cNew Nightmare\u201d isn\u2019t canonical to the rest of the series. With \u201cNew Nightmare,\u201d Wes Craven was holding up a magnifying glass, stepping back to examine the overwhelming expectations and pains of success.<\/p>\n

It was also not on the timeline of Freddy Krueger, as the monster in the film was not Freddy Krueger.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Following in his mother Heather\u2019s footsteps, Dylan Porter is now an adult trying to make it as an actor in Hollywood. He has a real nightmare of an audition trying out for dismissive casting agents for the new \u201cHatchet\u201d movie. Before long, he realizes that his audition may not be what he imagined, as he is suddenly visited and taunted by what appears to be Freddy Krueger, back from hell and angrier than ever since 1994.<\/p>\n

Taken as a short epilogue to \u201cNew Nightmare,\u201d Cecil Laird\u2019s horror short is perfectly fine as is. But there\u2019s not a lot of argument for where it belongs in this presumed mythology. Is it a part of \u201cNightmare\u201d series or the \u201cNew Nightmare\u201d timeline? Is Dylan being taunted by the real Freddy Krueger? Did he somehow inexplicably shift through the fabric of reality? Or is Dylan being taunted by the demon that became Freddy in \u201cThe New Nightmare\u201d? Is this Freddy just a manifestation of Dylan\u2019s trauma? What happened after \u201cNew Nightmare\u201d ended? Is Heather having the same experiences?<\/p>\n

In either case, \u201cDylan\u2019s New Nightmare\u201d is a fine fan film with a now grown Miko Hughes returning to the role of Porter. Hughes hasn\u2019t missed a beat reprising this character, and he\u2019s very good here, playing wonderfully off of Dave McRae. McRae, complimented by wonderful make up by Nora Hewitt, does a great job as Krueger. He\u2019s vindictive, he\u2019s angry, and he\u2019s as bitter as ever. You can\u2019t really match up against Englund, but McRae thankfully doesn\u2019t seem to try. For what it\u2019s worth \u201cDylan\u2019s New Nightmare\u201d is entertaining and well directed, I just never could figure out where Laird was leading toward. What is Krueger\u2019s goal with Dylan? Is this an intended series of films like \u201cNever Hike Alone\u201d?<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, I appreciated seeing this extension of \u201cNew Nightmare<\/a>\u201d as it continues to be one of the more underrated horror films of the nineties. It stumbles thematically and narrative wise, but I enjoyed the spirit behind it, and the love for the parallel mythology that Craven established subsequent \u201cFreddy\u2019s Dead.\u201d<\/p>\n