Heisserer and Haley on 'Nightmare On Elm Street'
Wed, April 14, 2010 
Bloody-disgusting had the chance to talk to both Eric Heisserer (writer) and Jackie Earle Haley (Freddy) while doing an on set visit during the filming of the 'new nightmare'.
When heisserer had the following to say about the "micro-naps", which we've seen some of in the trailers as well as heard about in previous interviews, "I did a lot of research, I guess it was method writing at that point of time," he explains. "I had a small window to come back with a significant story, so I was really up late many nights and found some evidence online about sleep deprivation and what happens to the body and mind and I took that concept and ran with it and created the micro naps that we use"
It was also revealed that the finale in the remake varies much differently then the original, Eric explains that they didn't struggle with that decision, "I don't think there was a struggle for that we just found ourselves not glued to the story and taking it to a place that seemed darkest, scariest and most intense for all of the characters and that went from Nancy's house in the original to where it takes place now."
As for his interpretations of Freddy, Eric talks a bit about developing the character and the ideas for doing crazy gimmicks like having Freddy's arm stretch.
"Oh sure, [there were] many ideas and some of it was this trial and error, and some of it was once we got Sam on board he certainly put his own vision of what he wanted to accomplish, what tricks he wanted to try and it is sort of a playground or sandbox for this type of movie. What things do we have Freddy do? What things did we love from the original? There were visual cues we both adored and we wanted to find homes for in this and then there were things we wanted to make sure were new and different and would allow for loyal fans and people who haven' seen the movies before some surprises and we will see after filming how well they transferred."
He continues talking about making Freddy scary and not comical.
"You know, in the original he's not [comical], I mean it turns into that and similarly to when u look at a number of the franchises, like LETHAL WEAPON, the original was dark and then it turns into sort of a comedy, but we looked at Craven's first nightmare and that's really where we wanted to have our home, this really scary, scary story."
Jackie had the following to say of Freddy's new look, "It started at six [a.m.], I think it worked its way down to 3:20. It's been an amazing experience; I like to call it, ‘the make-up chair torture,'" Haley jokes. "It was nice to discover after all of these years it was Robert who was the one being tortured on all of these movies... the irony! The make-up is really arduous, it's taken a while to get used to it, but the entire way been really worth it, just because it looks so good."
It looks like the make-up gets into his eye-line, but that's not the real pain.
"That doesn't phase me at all compared to the contact lenses, the fake finger tips, and then they put blades over here; you can't even pee!"
Speaking of becoming the new Freddy Krueger, Jackie Earle Haley talks a bit about making this character his own.
"I think it is important to make this version my own - but be very aware Robert's work from prior," he explains. "Because Freddy is a very iconic character, made so by Robert. But this is kind of a re-envisioning, so I think it was important to make it my own, and to work with Sam along that line. What his vision is-is so pertinent in all of this." He continues, "To simplify this, to boil it down, I think what we're doing different is to make the movie a little bit more serious; a little bit scarier."
Haley reflects back on his first day the Dream Demon, Freddy Krueger.
"It was great. There's a little process with acting, it's almost with any part. You delve it and you start to do work with the screenplay. Looking at the character, looking at the curve. Then you do some research, what makes this guy tick, there's stuff outside to look at. You start to play with the character, you try and put the pieces together."
He continues, "There's something really informative about the first several times when you start to commit to stuff, because you're finally really dipping the paint brush into some paint, and your putting something on to the canvas. It is informative, you can sit back and say, ‘What did we do there?' The painting is starting, it starts to become more clear. Usually the first half of the project, there's this going on (pointing to the outer appearance of his make-up). Somewhere along the line that starts to go away, and everything start to settle in, and the character starts to become more natural. That's a fun process."
Check back to TMT on April 28th for my official review of Nightmare On Elm Street.
Reader Comments (4)
Awesome fuckin' story...the more you do for this movie the better it sounds. I'll be there opening day for sure.
everytime I check back theres a new story about Nightmare on elm street...i hope this movie turns out as good as it looks, the orginal was a hororr classic
Is WB or PD paying you? they should be lol, your pimpin their shit like crazy
I loved the original i hope PD doesnt fuck this up like Friday the 13th