31 Days of
Drafts and Darkness: VOL 2!
"Never Sleep Again: The Elm St. Legacy" (2010)
When
someone says "Horror Icons", they're usually talking about one of two
groups. The first is made up of classic Universal Monsters. Here are where Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, the Wolfman, Gillman, and the Mummy reside.
That
second group is the one myself and other children of the 80's grew up with. This
batch of beasts is rougher around the edges. They're a bit nastier and go
straight for the throat. Most are large, mute embodiments of death. To meet
them is to start running or die. Jason Vorhees. Michael Meyers. Leatherface. These
were monsters that cared more about the body count than the theatrics.
Well,
save for one.
For
him, victims were best when toyed with. While other slashers never spoke a
word, this icon reveled in his twisted personality and line delivery. Their backstory is one of the darkest of any horror figure, and yet he's
become something of a Halloween standby. Name one costume shop without the
stripped sweater or razor glove? Despite not having a movie released for years,
the masks line the shelves each season. Kids far too young to even watch his
films know his name and look.
One,
two, Freddy's coming for you....
The Plot:
Tonight's entry isn't about any one "Elm Street"
film. Rather, "Never Sleep Again" is a mega-documentary that goes
into some of the most precise detail I've ever seen about film making. If you've
ever watched the extensive "Lord of the Rings" makings-of, apply that
same level of detail to Freddy Krueger movies, and you'll have a good idea what
you're in store for. I enjoy the "Nightmare" films, but was never
what you'd call a fanboy. However, I was astounded by the level of depth
"Never Sleeps Again" takes into the series lore.
To call this a mega-documentary is no understatement.
"Never Sleeps Again" clocks in at 4 hours long, with each film in the
series from "Nightmare 1" all the way to "Freddy vs. Jason"
given no less than 30 minutes of coverage. This is basically the sown-together
making-of for each film in the series, covering not only story and effects, but
even conceptual design and box office reception.
Naturally, Wes Craven takes a solid piece of the spotlight.
But for me, the absolute highlight was the huge number of "Nightmare" actors they got to
interview for the special. Even characters who were killed off after only 5
minutes of screen time reunite with the larger cast to talk special effects and
their own personal death scenes. To see each actor fondly
recount their slasher-movie years adds even more charm to the
already-interesting special effects features. They even reenact some of the
cheesy one-liners during the credits!
From a history perspective, it's also interesting to follow
the transformation of the series into hardcore-horror into something more
horror/comedy. You start to see what affect pop-culture impact can have on a series'
lore. And how that can either help or hurt the franchise.
And of course, I can't talk about "Never Sleep
Again" without bringing up Robert Englund and Heather Langenkamp. When I
think "Nightmare on Elm Street", I think of these two and their battles to the death.
Robert Englund comes
off as so damn likeable and down to earth that it's still hard to picture him as the char-broiled murder.
His nemesis, the heroic Nancy, is given a stoic
determination by Heather Langenkamp that makes her one of the most enduring
horror heroins. This is no damsel. Nancy fights back. I had the pleasure of
meeting Heather Langenkamp in Salem last October, and she's just as charming in
real life as she is in the films.
The Flavor:
By now, you should have a good idea whether or not this film
is for you. "Never Sleep Again" is drenched in lore. The level of
exploration is staggering. Even if you enjoy these films casually,
you'll find something, probably many things, absolutely cool about watching the
stories come to life.
For the make-up and special effects fan, "Never Sleep
Again" offers some amazing glimpses into the recreation of the nightmare-executions.
One of the biggest draws of the "Nightmare" films was that the killer
dream sequences could literally go anywhere or do anything. The boundaries of
reality were broken down and the effects artists could go nuts. As each of the
designers and artists talks about the evolution of a prop or effect, you see
them light up.
Best Paired with:
For anyone who enjoys the series, give this film a watch.
It's on Netflix, so no worries, you can tackle it in pieces. To those who are fascinated with
film-making, "Never Sleep Again" offers a decade-long look at the
conception, growth, and evolution of a series. There's a whole ton of info
covered and a lot to learn.
Accompanying Brew:
For tonight, I originally envisioned a more seasonal ale to fit with
the creepy theme. But this is Freddy we're talking here, folks. This franchise
deserves something with a bit more bite.
Name: Dead Guy
Brewery: Rogue
Where Brewed: Newport,
Oregon
ABV: 6.5% (a bit higher
than normal)
Style: Maibock: More
hoppy than normal bock beers, but with same higher ABV. Like other bocks,
mainly served in Springtime.
This is a great transitional-style beer for those looking to try
something stronger, but not all-the-way like a double IPA or Belgian Quad.
Color: Somewhere
half-way between golden and amber.
Amora: Sweet, malty notes hit the nose initially, then a bit
of boozy alcohol sweet kicks the scent up a bit.
Taste: Much like a red ale, the first taste you're aware of
is the malt, which is pleasantly sweet and nutty. As the brew washes over your
tongue, a mild bite of alcohol sweetness joins the party. This sweet/sharp combo goes well together. The alcohol sweetness, normally powerful enough to
dominate other flavors, feels more reined-in here, allowing it to work with the
malt character rather than overtake it. There's a bit of booziness to it, but
it's mild. Sweeter flavors are easy to go overboard with, but here, they're balanced well.
Aftertaste: With each sip, a mellow hop finish cleanses
the palate from most of the malt and alcohol sweetness. The bitterness isn't
too intense, but enough to overtake the other flavors, leaving them as
background remnants. There's a mild spicy character to the hops, giving them a
bit of zing alongside the bitter. Those who aren't a big fan of hops will find
this stronger than a typical ale, but not so intense as a Double IPA or the like.
Body: Medium body, all the way. There's a slightly heavier mouth-feel with each sip. Not overly heavy, but enough to coat the
inside of your mouth for a moment or two. The body assists the wave of sweet flavors
over the tongue, but is light enough to fade quickly.
Pair: While I can see this going well with any Friday-night
assortment of pizza and wings, equally fitting would it be alongside a fine
steak or savory dish.
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