Robert Englund, who is most famous for playing one of horror’s most famous monsters, Freddy Krueger, in Nightmare on Elm Street. The genius and horrible invention of Wes Craven has haunted our dream world for more than twenty years now.

Doug Bradley, known for his brilliant role in the Hellraiser movie series as Pinhead, arguably one of the most intelligent inter dimensional demons, has also tortured us for more than 20 years now.

These two superstars of horror are getting together on Twitch Thursday October 14th, 2021 to talk about life, love, horror and anything else that comes to mind. Fans can ask questions in the live chat and interact with one another during the show.

Fun fact are these two actors are 2 of 3 horror actors who played the same role 8 consecutive times. The third being Tobin Bell from the Saw franchise.

Down to Hell is in its premiere season, produced by Horror Hub Marketplace the show is a casual conversation between host Doug Bradley, co-host Steph Sciullo and some of horror’s most interesting creators, actors, musicians, and personalities.

Follow the show on Twitch or tune in live Thursday to catch Pinhead and Freddy hanging out.

Tritone

Tritone’s love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.

puzzleboxhorror.com

Advertisements

The post Doug Bradley and Robert Englund live on Twitch.. Freddy vs Pinhead? appeared first on Puzzle Box Horror.

Last House On The Left (1972)

Craven clearly wanted to shock the world from the get-go. His first horror outing centred around two girls looking for drugs after attending a concert in the city. They run into a gang of escaped convicts who kidnap them for a night of rape, torture and their eventual muder. When the convicts later hide out at the home of one of the murdered girls, her parents soon work out what happened and plot their revenge. Last House managed to land itself on the Video Nasties list and was actually refused a certificate for cinema release by the British Board of Film Censors for its depictions of horiffic sadism and sexual violence.

The script, written by Craven in 1971, was originally intended to be a hardcore pornographic feature before filming began, whereupon it was decided that a much softer approach would be taken. One can only imagine what the original idea had in store for viewers. The story is inspired by Ingmar Bergman’s Swedish film The Virgin Spring (1960), which in turn is based on a Swedish ballad, Töres döttrar i Wänge. Who would’ve thought such classic and artistic inspiration could have gone into what is now an infamous rape/revenge horror?

The Hills Have Eyes (1977)

This is one of the rare occasions in horror where I actually prefer a remake to the original. Perhaps it has something to do with the similarities of Craven’s Hills with Tobe Hooper’s classic (and far more expertly crafted) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), or perhaps I simply didn’t feel that the gut-wrenching implications of some scenes could be fully realised with this particular cast of actors. That being said, this is still a fairly competent and satisfyingly violent film based on the legend of Sawney Bean, a scottish clan leader said to have lived in a sea cave and cannibalized over a thousand people in the 16th Century. Craven’s depiction features the Carter family on their way to Los Angeles who crash their camper in an area of the Nevada desert inhabited by murderous cannibals. When they start to die off the family must fight back against the savages, which they do in quite spectacular fashion. Craven’s vision was raw and unflinching with this piece, even if some of it did need to be trimmed due to an X-rating. While it doesn’t jump out as a masterpiece in the genre, it would be a crime to write it off as just another cheap shock-horror.

The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988)

Bill Pullman is excellent in this mystifying mashup of Live and Let Die (1973) and In The Mouth of Madness (1944). Anthropologist Dennis (Bill Pullman) heads to Haiti, in a time of severe social and political unrest, to study an alleged voodoo drug that has been bringing the dead back to life. With the help of a witch doctor (Brent Jennings) and a fellow researcher (Cathy Tyson) Dennis must dodge Haitian authorities and solve the deadly mystery before it consumes him completely. With some genuinely unsettling imagery, fantastically engaging performances from its lead cast and implications around life, death and madness that have the potential to chill viewers to the core, The Serpent and The Rainbow proves itself to this day one of the more original and enthralling of Craven’s back-catalogue.

The People Under the Stairs (1991)

I’ll start by saying that I had no idea what to expect from this film. Having borrowed the dvd from a friend and basing my expectations on its goofy cover art, I was expecting something akin to other campy 70s and 80s horrors like Fright Night (1985) or perhaps even Beetlejuice (1988). After multiple viewings I now class this as one of Craven’s darkest films, straight-up shocking in many places while crawling under your skin in others. Craven was adamant to portray a respectful account of class warfare and personal struggles in poverty-stricken ghettos, and has expressed in other films such as Scream 2 his views on the need for “black representation” in horror, so what better villain than a couple of rich, incestuous white landlords? The violent psychopathy displayed when things start to kick off is unrivalled, with much of the terror being derived not from monsters or ghosts, but the potential of pure evil from humans. With a stellar performance from Brandon Adams as ‘Fool’ and Everett McGill and Wendy Robie as the nameless, psychotic Landlord and Lady, this is close to the top of a list of personal favourites, not just of Craven’s work but of horror in general, and should not be missed.

Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994)

Everyone is familiar with the Nightmare on Elm Street legacy, from the original breakout hit all the way to Freddy vs Jason, but I’d rather talk about what I consider the most interesting and underrated in the series. Now I’ll admit that when I first watched New Nightmare I was far too young to really be able to appreciate horror, never mind understanding any of the meta-layers underlying this gory flick. It still managed to shock me, and stick in my mind to this day, and it was one of my later revisits that helped me realise just what Craven was going for. Heather Langenkamp plays herself, years after the shooting of the original Nightmare films, when visions of Freddy begin to plague her in real life. This was definitely the beginning of Craven’s more self-aware phase which led onto the Scream series, and his playfulness in flirting with the fourth-wall more than pays off in breathing new life into Freddy as a villain, and the Nightmare series in general. I won’t give away too much, as there are several payoffs in Craven’s 1994 rethink that scream for multiple viewings.

Scream (1996)

Scream is such a fun ride. Somehow Craven managed to craft a film that is blatantly self-aware yet balanced enough so that the self-referential comedy doesn’t once get in the way of bloody scares. It is witty and clever in similar ways to New Nightmare but a lot more playful and sometimes goofy in execution. Some references and nods to horror tropes and even Craven’s earlier pictures are terrifically on the nose, and more than welcome in that, though repeated viewings are warranted with plenty of subtleties to find. Matthew Lillard is brilliant as Stu Macher, wacky and on the border of being a complete clown while somehow retaining an imposing and intimidating air through his sheer size and intensity. Scream gleefully and violently subverts expectations set by genre greats, while paying homage to all that inspired it, and somehow having a better ending to many of the films it parodies.

Scream 2 (1997)

Somehow this one passed me by until very recently, though I’m almost ashamed to admit it now. Scream 2 is one of the better horror sequels out there, majorly due to its self awareness (as if it only exists as a punchline to scream’s continuous mention of a sequel) though also due in part to Craven’s consistency in style and substance. I found myself overjoyed when characters from the first began popping up and reuniting, and enjoying the introduction of new characters that, like the film itself, feel more an extension of Scream rather than a tacked-on rethink. Featuring possibly a better ending than even its predecessor did, all while retaining the meta-layers in almost every scene that made the first great.

Full Filmography

Joe Clements

Joe first knew he wanted to write in year six after plaguing his teacher’s dreams with a harrowing story of World War prisoners and an insidious ‘book of the dead’. Clearly infatuated with horror, and wearing his influences on his sleeve, he dabbled in some smaller pieces before starting work on his condensed sci-fi epic, System Reset in 2013.Once this was published he began work on many smaller horror stories and poems in bid to harness and connect with his own fears and passions and build on his craft.
Joe is obsessed with atmosphere and aesthetic, big concepts and even bigger senses of scale, feeding on cosmic horror of the deep sea and vastness of space and the emotions these can invoke. His main fixes within the dark arts include horror films, extreme metal music and the bleakest of poetry and science fiction literature.
He holds a deep respect for plot, creative flow and the context of art, and hopes to forge deeper connections between them around filmmakers dabbling in the dark and macabre.

linktr.ee/Joeclements

The post The Legendary Wes Craven appeared first on Puzzle Box Horror.

There are nine films featuring the finger-bladed Nightmare on Elm Street killer, Freddy Krueger.  Out of the nine films, some performed better at the box office than others, and some were ultimately scarier than others. And while Freddy Krueger may always draw a crowd…he was much more entertaining in some films.  Some of the special effects and changes in production throughout the Nightmare on Elm Street movies have contributed to varying levels of terror felt within the audience.  And they can be ranked!

Ranking the Nightmare on Elm Street Movies by Scariest Movie

Freddy Krueger always comes back, which is why there are so many Nightmare on Elm Street movies! So without further ado, Horror Enthusiast ranks the Nightmare on Elm Street movies in order of scariest to least scary.

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

#1 Scariest Nightmare on Elm Street Movie

It is truly hard to beat an original.  The original Nightmare on Elm Street was revolutionary. Wes Craven (the director and writer) and Robert Englund (Freddy Krueger actor) made the horror slasher an instant icon. This movie offers the least effects of any of the movies…but Horror Enthusiast ranks this film, by far, the scariest of them all.

Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994)

2^nd Scariest Nightmare on Elm Street Movie

Returning to write and direct A New Nightmare, Wes Craven built a brilliant, real-life Freddy Krueger.  In this movie, the real life actors from the original film experience the fictional character, Freddy Krueger, breaking into their real world.  This movie made Freddy Krueger more real than ever before and absolutely secured its place as the second scariest Nightmare on Elm Street film in the franchise.

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)

3^rd Scariest Nightmare on Elm Street Movie

This D&D-like edition to the Nightmare series was absolutely entertaining. With characters that had special powers to keep the audience interested in between Freddy scenes, and extremely exciting death scenes, Nightmare 3 had it all!

A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)

4^th Scariest Nightmare on Elm Street Movie

The Nightmare on Elm Street remake highlighted many aspects that made the original film so great.  Character development was perfectly deep, without wasting too much time on any one character. The audience feels immersed.  The chilling story line is thorough, from start of the film to finish. And Freddy Krueger (a new actor, Jackie Earle Haley) did a great job of bringing on the fear.  It was not the same as the traditional Freddy Krueger, but it was admittedly pretty good!

A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)

5^th Scariest Nightmare on Elm Street Movie

The fourth movie in the franchise is decent. In “Dream Warrior” fashion, the idea of the characters having powers in their dreams is still an important part of the plot.  Freddy Krueger takes out nearly everyone in this movie in spectacular, terrifying fashion…hunting the heroine for last and solidly securing the 5^th scariest Nightmare on Elm Street rank!

A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989)

6^th Scariest Nightmare on Elm Street Movie

This movie simply wasn’t as scary as the better half of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies.  It was meant to be scary, but seemed to drain an already dying story line.  The movie is a little weird, focusing on the fetus of pregnant fourth movie heroine, Alice. Weird is not exactly scary, maybe creepy, but not nearly as scary as the other movies.

A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985)

7^th Scariest Nightmare on Elm Street Movie

This movie received mixed reviews. Some fans claimed it was attempting to push gay rights. Ultimately, however, it did not seem as scary as the other films.  The emphasis on the characters was too great and the audience mostly lost track of the horror slasher in between his appearances altogether.

Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991)

8^th Scariest Nightmare on Elm Street Movie

Literally, Freddy’s Dead was an attempt to ride the franchise into the grave: this film was meant to be the last Nightmare on Elm Street movie.  It was also one of the least scariest.  The production quality felt cheesy and rather crude.  The series seem to be relying more on Freddy’s humor than ever before. Freddy Krueger comedy is good, but Freddy Krueger scary is better!

Freddy vs Jason (2003)

9^th Scariest Nightmare on Elm Street Movie

Although Freddy vs Jason was a whole new level of excitement for the fans, it was ultimately much less scary than the other films.  The cinematic effects were focused on building the anticipation of the fight between the two horror slashers.  The story line may have provided a few victims, but ultimately, it was all centered on pitting the two horror movie killers against one another. Even with Jason Voorhees making appearances throughout the film, it is simply less scary than the true Nightmare on Elm Street films.

Freddy Krueger is Always Scary

Whether the movie is the scariest in the franchise or not, every Nightmare on Elm Street movie features a fantastic Freddy Krueger.  And even the weakest movies in the franchise offer a strongly entertaining death scenes and Freddy’s quirky sense of humor. As one of the smarter horror movie slashers, Freddy has held the limelight throughout all of his movies.  All of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies have a unique feel that cannot be ignored: they are simply some of the best horror movies to grace the industry!

Tritone

Tritone’s love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.

puzzleboxhorror.com

The post Scariest Nightmare on Elm Street Movie of Them All appeared first on Puzzle Box Horror.

The Nightmare on Elm Street franchise relies heavily on the underlying beliefs that supernatural powers are possible.  Without belief in the supernatural, Freddy is literally powerless.  Besides, what isn’t supernatural about an immoral slasher who kills from within your nightmares?  With Freddy’s increasing popularity, writers were probably under a lot of stress to produce a creative story line.  Dungeons and Dragons, commonly known as “D&D”, was a tabletop game that gave people a way to roleplay a fictional character, such as a ninja, a wizard or a knight. D&D was a big deal in the eighties, so it only makes sense it would work its way into a movie or two. 

Do They Use D&D to Defeat Freddy Krueger in the Dream Warriors Sequel?

Dungeons and Dragons is about the use of character abilities, talents that are unique to a certain class, to defeat enemies and advance throughout the dungeon.  There is almost always a supreme monster or ‘boss’ at the end of a dungeon or series of dungeons.  Drawing a parallel to the Nightmare on Elm Street  movies, the boss would be Freddy Krueger. The script of A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) gives each of the main protagonists an “ability” which is unique to their character.  The abilities may only be available in their dreams, but that’s exactly where they are needed, for that’s where they’re haunted!  Here are some of the characters and their respective abilities.

• Kristen may be an ordinary, troubled girl in real life, but she has a powerful ability when she is sleeping. Kristen is able to pull other people into her dream. This ultimately (at the cost of a few lives), helps the entire team defeat Freddy (working together as a “party” is normally an important facet of victory in D&D).  Her class would likely be “paladin,” being able to use some good magic but also possessing some agility.
• Kincaid may love chilling with his dog in the real world, but when he falls asleep…he is super strong. Very similar to the warrior class in D&D.
• Taryn is a lot like a Ninja. She is decked out in 80s style grunge leather, looks pretty cool and can do some high flying karate.  She also has blades, making her a dangerous adversary in the dream world.
• Will is probably the coolest of them all. He is a wheelchair-bound paraplegic who is actually into D&D in the real world…but becomes a magic-wielding wizard in the dream world.

The characters all have their unique abilities which can be used to help defeat Freddy.  Just like a party in D&D, the characters have to work together to successfully take him on, and kick his butt back to hell!

Final Notes: D&D in Nightmare on Elm Street

Whether it was Wes Craven or suspected D&D enthusiast Frank Darabont who suggested and eventually implemented Dungeons and Dragons into the script itself…the movie is a masterpiece as it stands.  A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) may or may not be based upon Dungeons and Dragons, but it is most certainly resonating with a strong D&D vibe.  Watching it today, is like sitting in on an old D&D adventure from back in the day!

Fun Fact: Did you know that Ira Heiden (who played wheel-chair bound Will) was a real life Dungeon Master? His real life skills of providing players a Dungeon Master in Dungeons and Dragons, made him an excellent fit for his role as a DM in one scene, as well as his role as a wizard in the nightmare world.

Tritone

Tritone’s love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.

puzzleboxhorror.com

The post Is Nightmare on Elm Street Dream Warriors Based on Dungeons and Dragons? appeared first on Puzzle Box Horror.

Nightmare on Elm Street Cameo Appearances By Celebrities 

The Nightmare on Elm Street movies have largely been well funded and filled with talented cast and crew members. Due to the great number of people involved on the project and the many number of sequels, the Nightmare movies are more likely to include cameos than many other films.  The creators of the Nightmare movies have been very careful in how they implement cameos…but they are still found throughout the franchise. Maybe they should have called them Screameos instead? What would Elm Street be without screams and famous actors?

List of Nightmare on Elm Street Cameos

Horror Enthusiast has set on a mission to list all of the cameos in the Freddy Krueger movies. Many famous actors have appeared in horror movies before their careers started. Here is the full list as it stands today for Nightmare on Elm Street.

Robert Shaye

Newline Cinema owner and Nightmare on Elm Street original producer, Robert Shaye lends a voice twice in the film. The audio clip of the news reporting Tina’s death and the voice of the station announcer both belong to Shaye.

Shaye plays an actual character in the second film (which he also produced).  Shaye can be seen as the S&M bartender serving Jesse in the gay bar.

Shaye works his way into a cameo during the fourth film in the franchise A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988) as one of the high school teachers.

Freddy’s Dead, the 6^th installment in the franchise, features a Robert Shaye ticket booth operator.  He is responsible for selling bus tickets in cameo!

Shaye cameos as himself in Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (like some of the actual actors from the original film).

Again, Shaye makes his way into another film in Freddy vs Jason (2003), playing Laurie’s high school principal.

Robert Shaye’s Sister

The producer’s sister found herself a cameo in the original Nightmare movie (1984) as a teacher…and again in Wes Craven’s New Nightmare as a nurse.

Johnny Depp

One of the stars of the original Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), Johnny Depp, can be seen in a picture within Kristen’s magazine in the fourth film, A Nightmare on Elm Street4: The Dream Master (1988).  He also has a short cameo appearance in Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991).

Renny Harlin

The director of the fourth film in the franchise, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988), Renny Harlin, cameo’d as a student in a classroom.

Eric Singer

Famous drummer for a number of bands, including Kiss, Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper and Badlands makes a cameo in A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989) as a band member shown on TV.

Alice Cooper

In Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991), Alice Cooper makes a cameo appearance as the abusive father.

Tom Arnold and Roseanne Barr

These two celebrities can be seen playing the childless couple found about 23 minutes into the 6^th movie in the franchise, Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991).

Tuesday Knight

Chase’s funeral scene in Wes Craven’s New Nightmare hides a Tuesday Knight cameo.

Rey Mysterio

The famous wrestler made a cameo appearance in Freddy vs Jason (2003) as a guy who does a fantastic jump.

Evangeline Lilly

The girl in the green long-sleeved shirt present in the crowd right under half an hour into Freddy vs Jason (2003), is Evangeline!

…And Almost a Couple Others

Heather Langenkamp played the main protagonist in the original nightmare movie.  She was offered a cameo as a waitress in the latest 2010 remake of Nightmare on Elm Street…but declined the offer.

John Saxon played Heather’s father and the town’s police chief in the first movie, reprising his role in the third film, and then playing himself in A New Nightmare (1994). Saxon was offered a cameo in the 2010 remake as well, but schedule conflicts never let it happen.

Final Cameo Notes

In the many plentiful Nightmare on Elm Street movies, there have been many cameos and celebrity appearances.  There are probably many more cameos which have yet to be discovered. As a horror fan, you are obligated to help! If you find any cameos in any Nightmare on Elm Street movies which you do not see listed here, please comment below!

Tritone

Tritone’s love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.

puzzleboxhorror.com

The post Nightmare on Elm Street Cameos appeared first on Puzzle Box Horror.

Freddy Krueger is an intimidating, nightmare-intruding horror movie killer! Being one of the only “reality manipulating” slashers, he holds a lot more power than the traditional horror movie slasher.  In almost every Nightmare on Elm Street movie, they try to kill Freddy Krueger for good…but Freddy always seems to come back!  Freddy’s repeated return to the big screen leaves Elm Street fans everywhere wondering…

Is Freddy Krueger Actually Immortal? Is there any way to kill Freddy Krueger for good? What are the most effective strategies to survive a Nightmare on Elm Street movie?

Ways Freddy Krueger Has Died (or Been “Killed”)

Freddy Krueger is an intrusive, finger-knived slasher who just keeps coming back.  Still, here are some of the ways his victims have tried to take him out…

Death From Being Forgotten

When an entire town disbelieves in Freddy Krueger or otherwise “forgets” him, he is unable to kill.  Freddy Krueger gets his power from the fear his victims feel and think after hearing horror stories about the finger-bladed slasher.

Drag Him Out of the Dreamworld

The Nightmare on Elm Street killer thrives in the dream world, where his power truly vibrates.  With that said, many victims have discovered that Freddy Krueger can be pulled out of the dreamworld and into reality, where he is much weaker. And while he is still a very agile fighter in the real world and quite dangerous…at least the victims stand a better chance!

Killed by Fire

Although Freddy’s “real life” demise came from being burned alive while trapped in the boiler room…he was also burned alive, after being dragged into the real world at the end of the first movie.

Hypnocil

Hypnocil is one of Freddy’s indirect weaknesses. The fictional “Elm Street” prescription eliminates dreams, effectively eliminating Freddy Krueger’s back door entrance to slaughtering endless Elm Street victims.

Holy Blessings

Freddy Krueger is pure evil, and thus hates all things “church.”  When anointed correctly with holy water or otherwise blessed, Freddy Krueger cannot sustain power.  The catch? His bones have to be blessed and they are buried in a super creepy automobile graveyard.  Bring a cross.

Steal His Power

In one movie, a heroine successfully ‘steals’ the power from some of her fallen friends.  Before Freddy knows what hit him, she beats his butt, sending him away for a long time.  The down side, is that only some people seem to have the power to absorb skills and abilities from their dead friends.

Distraction

Krueger is a softie for attention. In fact, he absolutely loves the limelight! So any opportunity for attention usually takes priority for the glove-wielding slasher.  Victims have used his vanity and attention-loving weakness as a way to escape him or otherwise take him out.  One time, he was even beheaded after being distracted.

Trapped Souls

Freddy’s power gets greater as he absorbs the souls of his victims, trapping them in his evil forever. However, sometimes it is possible to find ‘cracks’ in Freddy’s spirit, freeing the trapped souls enough for them to fight back.  When the souls fight back, they fight back hard, typically dragging Freddy back to hell.

Freddy Always Comes Back

The Nightmare on Elm Street slasher is one tough killer. No matter how they try to take Freddy out, he always comes back.  Freddy is even seen winking, taunting the audience in 2003 as Jason carries his head out of the water. Part of the problem people do not realize when trying to kill him, is that he is pure evil himself. Bottom line: Freddy Krueger is immortal, despite being able to die in the real world.

Tritone

Tritone’s love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.

puzzleboxhorror.com

The post Is Freddy Krueger Immortal? [Nightmare on Elm Street Trivia] appeared first on Puzzle Box Horror.

Gay Rights and Gay Subtext In A Nightmare On Elm Street 2 (1985)

The Nightmare On Elm Street franchise is one of the most well-known horror brands of all time. Freddy Krueger is infamous for slashing his way through his victims starting in the famous house on Elm Street, leaving some of the most gruesome trails behind.  But there is an anomaly present within the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. The second movie in the series, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985), seems much different than the rest of the films…much much different indeed! As fans have pointed out, the gay subtext throughout the second film in the franchise is absolutely undeniable! 

Obviously this has left many fans wondering…did the creators of the second Nightmare On Elm Street movie purposely lace the script and movie with gay subtext to help combat or exploit the widespread homophobia of the era?

Often Dubbed One of the Gayest Horror Movies Ever Made

There is no question that the second Nightmare On Elm Street movie is filled with gay subtext. Here are some of the most well known gay inclusions that created the most “homoerotic” horror movie of all time!

A Closeted Protagonist

Mark Patton played Jesse Walsh, the main male protagonist in the story.  Patton is openly gay today, but was still ‘in the closet’ at the time the Nightmare movie was filmed.  Many of the creators of the film have suggested it could have played a part in the film harboring some ‘repressed homosexuality coming out.’ 

A Little Male On Male Bonding

During a gym class scene, Grady decides to “depants” Jesse.  Jesse chooses to cope with his embarrassment by remaining bare-assed while he tackles and wrestles with Grady on the ground. Jesse is obviously trying to remove Grady’s clothes in this scene for whatever reason.

“Probe” Board Game

The board game “Probe” was placed in Jesse’s closet. Literally in his closet. Ultimately, sadly, it could have been making fun of Patton, who at the time was choosing to remain ‘in the closet’ regarding his homosexuality during the production of the film.

He’d Rather Sleep With Grady

At one point, Jesse is getting it on with his ‘girlfriend’ Lisa, who seems to want to sleep with Jesse.  Jesse panics, runs to Grady’s house, where he wishes to sleep instead. Grady himself indicates that it is strange that Jesse does not want to sleep with Lisa, but instead with him.

Attack of the Balls

Balls, that’s right, actual balls attack Coach Schneider in his office…flying out of their containers and respective bins seemingly on their own. Tennis balls, basketballs, soccer balls, all kinds of balls.  Balls, everywhere. Some fans have suggested this was a reference to testicles and count it as gay subtext.

A Gay Conspiracy

Rumors had surfaced nearly instantly about a conspiracy to riddle the plot with gay subtext that would be acknowledged by the audience, but still be deniable. David Chaskin is a Freddy’s Revenge screenwriter who denied including planned gay subtext throughout the film for a really long time (decades of denial). Chaskin finally began to admit that the gay subtext was planned only in recent years. When questioned as to why he remained silent, he revealed that it felt like his film was being “outed” and he was unsure how he felt, and so he kept quiet.  Ultimately Chaskin admitted to having long thoughts about the homophobia stigma at the time and how he could work a script that would cause the cast, and ultimately the audience, to question their sexuality.

Similarly, the director of the box office hit, Jack Sholder, claimed he had no knowledge of planned gay subtext for a really long time. Still there were many rumors floating around about Sholder very well understanding the movie was fostering some gay themes.  In modern days, Sholder absolutely acknowledges the gay subtext throughout the film, but still denies having realized it during production.  Sholder also claims to not have known Mark Patton was gay at the time of production (Patton was indeed still in the closet).

“No Chicks” Allowed

A sign posted on the outside of Jesse’s room at the Walsh residence upstairs basically reads “NO CHICKS.” Whether this was done intentionally or not, it is hard to miss and hard not to associate with gay subtext.  What senior high school boy isn’t interested in chicks being in his room…besides a gay one?  Try to remember: in the 80s, there was a ton of homophobia, and it was really hard to come out, so this type of sign meant a lot more back then!

A Man Is Trying to Get Inside Of Me!

All throughout the film, Jesse is concerned with a man that is “trying to get inside” of him. While this may be innocent in scripting sense, one cannot deny how closely it mimics some of society’s most popular dirty talk. 

A Sexually Confused Protagonist

Although the actual real life actor who played Jesse is gay, the character Jesse also seems to be troubled as far as his sexual orientation is concerned. Jesse seems reserved when it comes to his ‘girlfriend’ and almost unwilling to participate in their relationship. He seems more eager to hang out with his bully/friend and sports jock, Ron Grady.  Jesse seems to be struggling with his sexuality throughout the entire film.

Penis Shaped Wall Art

Seriously, check it out, in the kitchen of the Walsh residence there is a strange penis shaped wall art object.  This has been admitted to be a joke by the crew of the set…but still, no doubt gay subtext. 

Don’s Place, The Gay Bar

Jesse Walsh is seen in one part of the movie showing up to a gay bar called “Don’s Place” in the middle of the night. He orders a drink and is approached by Coach Schneider, who is outfitted in some pretty extreme leather, definitely S&M attire.  The coach seems super excited to see Jesse, smiling nonstop and the scene crosses over to the high school gymnasium, where the coach has Jesse running laps presumably as punishment for being caught drinking underage (though probably to get him in the showers – where Jesse ends up having to go when he’s done jogging).

Coach Schneider’s Shower Room Whipping

Typically, all victims die in spectacular fashion within the Nightmare films. However, there was one truly disturbing death in Freddy’s Revenge, that being the death scene of Coach Schneider. And although many of Freddy’s attacks and kill scenes in a lot of his films can be a little ‘adult’ in nature, it is arguable Coach Schneider’s death is on the more extreme end of the scale.

Freddy uses gymnasium equipment to drag Coach Schneider into the shower room and tie him up, leaving him bound and helpless.  Jesse, the main protagonist is onlooking as Freddy (invisible at the time and working through the mind and body of Jesse), strips the coach naked and begins whipping him to death with a towel.  Most of the whipping seems to be focused on his butt.  Oh, and the showers are on.

Final Analysis of Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge

Many of the creators of the film will deny the gay subtext being intentional, insisting there was nothing in the script directly to support such a claim. Still, anyone who watches A Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985) cannot deny the very obvious homoerotic vibe present flamboyantly in nearly every other scene.  The film’s gradual progression into becoming the gayest horror movie of all time, was probably a combination of the main protagonist himself being a closeted gay in real life, as well as the cast, crew and creators dealing with the homophobia of the time.  No doubt though that it all adds up making the second Nightmare On Elm Street, Freddy’s Revenge, full of obvious gay subtext.

Tritone

Tritone’s love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.

puzzleboxhorror.com

The post Was the Second Nightmare On Elm Street About Gay Rights? appeared first on Puzzle Box Horror.

“One…two…Freddy’s coming for you!” This common catchphrase can be heard sung in the background before many deaths.  A Nightmare on Elm Street’s famed killer, Freddy Krueger, is the only horror slasher to claim his victims in their sleep.  With the power to manipulate dreams and fingers of knives…what more could a horror slasher ask for? Still, it seems Freddy is never satisfied and always craving more victims. Thus, Horror Enthusiast has decided to dig deep into the darkest alleyways of the dangerous killer’s mind to offer the most accurate Myers-Briggs personality type possible!

What Myers-Briggs Personality Type Would Freddy Krueger Have?

Freddy Krueger is most likely an EST-P Myers-Briggs personality type.

Freddy Krueger is one of the most entertaining horror movie killers, possessing a lot of dynamic, interesting attributes about his personality that have contributed to his suspected personality type.

Affinity for Attention

Freddy Krueger may have a serious problem with killing most people he encounters…but it doesn’t stop him from wanting the attention!  Freddy has been caught gloating about the attention he gets and wishing for more several times throughout his films. Sometimes, he wants the attention to grow more powerful, other times he enjoys the attention in a form of infamous notoriety. Regardless, this type of behavior has earned Freddy a powerfully attractive personality type of “E” Extraversion.

Very Popular

Freddy knows a lot of people and has harvested a lot of souls. He shoots wonderful glamour shots for the media.  He can also be seen rocking out with his victims, playing video games with them, and even working out with them (before their unavoidable death)! Not only does Freddy like to hang with nearly anyone, but lots of people admit to really liking Freddy (as present in Wes Craven’s A New Nightmare).  Freddy’s large fan base and huge group of friends helps lock in his “E” Extraversion personality trait.

Problem Solver

The claw wearing slasher is famous for working through a number of problems to get what he wants.  Freddy has even brought another horror slasher, Jason Voorhees, back from hell in order to give him the entrance he needs to start killing again!  Freddy has worked his way around a number of other problems as well, making him a powerful “S” Sensing killer.

A Pragmatic Killer

Reasoning is a really important part of a killer’s logic.  And while it may be nice to have a plan for any problem, being able to reason with the variety of ways to solve that problem is essential in coming out ahead. Freddy is such as successful killer as he has been able to use experience and factual analysis to predict his victims movements and thus claims many lives.  Freddy’s logic secures him the “S” Sensing personality trait.

An Eye For Weakness

Freddy Krueger has an amazing ability to detect a victim’s biggest fear and ultimately their greatest vulnerability. This attention to detail and skill of determining inconsistencies is critical in exploiting a victim in their dreams. Freddy’s behavior truly extracts the maximum amount of fear and helps earn a personality rank of “T” Thinker.

A Technical Slasher

Of all the horror movie killers, Freddy Krueger has to be one of the most creative and innovative slashers of them all.  He has killed people so many different ways, nearly all of them gruesome.  No matter the killing, he takes advantage of the fears of each person, or the technical details available to him. This spectacular show put on with each murder locks down his “T” Thinker personality rank!

Keeps His Options Open

Freddy may be a little rough around the edges, but he really enjoys a good chase! Freddy loves to stalk and chase his victims, even taunting them at times. Ultimately, Freddy is one of the only killers who really enjoys the chase probably more than the kill itself. He pays close attention to details and an individual victim’s fears, in order to create the most powerful “P” Perceiving personality trait possible!

A Seasonal Killer

Although Freddy is down to hack and slash whenever they release a new film, there are almost always references in his sequels (and even in the original movie), to him lying dormant for long periods of time.  The first movie, for instance, only features Freddy Krueger killings years after his death.  Each sequel seems to allow an entire new group of fresh meat to move onto Elm Street before he begins claiming souls.  This sporadic type of behavior and his fluctuating energy levels lock into place his “P” Perceiving personality rank.

Final Mental Health Notes on Freddy Krueger

Freddy Krueger is one of the most infamous horror movie killers of them all. He is a dream-weaving, claw-wielding nightmare monster that no one wants to ever run into.  He has proven that he is indestructible, immortal and will keep coming back.  But still, underneath all those tattered cloths and burnt flesh, lies an attention hungry man who was rejected by society and simply turned to the darkside to satisfy his cravings. Freddy Krueger is an EST-P personality type, but he is also a lover, deep deep down and just wants to be accepted!

Tritone

Tritone’s love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.

puzzleboxhorror.com

The post What Personality Type is Freddy Krueger? [Myers-Briggs Personality Type] appeared first on Puzzle Box Horror.

Tracking Horror Movie Villain Body Counts

We’ve all seen it…the survivor is taking a break, resting behind a tree. Their warm breaths pouting in the brisk, fall-time air.  As the survivor pants, trying to catch their breath, a machete emerges out of their stomach from the other side of the tree!

How many victims has your favorite horror movie slasher claimed? With so many movies out there and so many deaths…how can anyone keep up? Indeed, there are a lot of horror movie slashers out there with some pretty high body counts! Thus, Horror Enthusiast brings you the bonafide, official body count for your favorite horror slashers.

Horror Movie Slasher Body Count

Everyone has their favorite horror movie slasher, however, the favorite does not always have the highest kill count.  Having the highest body count does not necessarily mean stronger, faster, or more powerful…only that the killer has claimed the most victims.  Here is the official list of the highest horror movie slasher body count!

So, Which horror movie slasher has killed the most victims? Let’s take a look!

Jason Voorhees, 146 kills

From the Friday the 13^th Franchise

Killer Highlights: 12 movies (including Freddy vs Jason), Machete Master, Loves to Camp!

The Friday the 13^th killer takes spot #1 on the Horror Movie Slasher Body Count! Jason’s body count is one of the most controversial as well, however, as many sources would easily argue Jason’s body count much higher.  This is because many people attribute his mother’s killings in the first movie, along with several other accidents and anomalies as Jason kills.  The true kill count at 146, is still really high and places him at the top of the list!

Michael Myers, 111 kills

From the Halloween Franchise

Killer Highlights: 9 movies (not present in Halloween III: Season of the Witch), Knifing Lunatic, Hates His Family!

This slasher was made famous in the Halloween franchise, chasing his family and killing anyone in his way.  Unfortunately for the small town of Haddonfield, a lot of people got in his way, helping Michael Myers secure the #2 spot on the Horror Movie Slasher Body Count!  Michael’s body count is generally uncontested, as his slayings are pretty clean, and almost everyone understands that he is the killer.

Jigsaw (aka John Kramer), 60 kills

From the Saw Franchise

Killer Highlights: 8 movies (kills even after he is dead), Mechanical Genius, Abhors Wasted Potential!

John Kramer is a “break out” killer, in that he lived a mostly normal life until he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. After the diagnosis, he was never the same and decided to leave behind a legacy that would save as many hopeless lives as possible.  Only Jigsaw would end up killing more people than he would ever save, making him the #3 most deadly killer on the Horror Movie Slasher Body Count!

Angela Baker, 55 kills

From the Sleepaway Camp Franchise

Killer Highlights: 6 movies, First Gender Change Killer, A “Just” Killer.

Society may not agree with Sleepaway Camp horror murderer Angela Baker’s killings; however, Angela herself believed the campers deserved to be punished based upon their behavior.  Although she may be one of the more boring killers, not outfit with any awesome attire, she is most definitely one of the most deadly, ranking in at 4^th most deadly slasher on the Horror Movie Slasher Body Count!

Ghostface, 49 kills

From the Scream Franchise

Killer Highlights: 4 movies (and a TV series), Famous Stalker, Multiple Killer Identities.

Ghostface is the only killer change identities throughout the franchise (as the killer is revealed within each movie).  Ghostface uses a voice changer, ghost-like mask, black cloak and a scary looking dagger to stalk and haunt his victims until their inevitable death. Some die faster than others, however, many people have been slain, as Ghostface locks in the 5^th most deadly slasher on the Horror Movie Slasher Body Count!  Very impressive for only 4 feature films!

Victor Crowley, 47 kills

From the Hatchet Franchise

Killer Highlights: 4 movies, Hatchet Wielding, Swampland Slasher.

The Hatchet franchise is a really interesting horror series. The movies are produced in more recent years…but feature an old school-like horror feel similar to the 80s slashers everyone has enjoyed. Victor Crowley, a deformed swamp-dwelling killer, has claimed the lives of 47 misplaced or stranded travelers who have wandered into his swamp.  Victor lacks the same infamy as his horror counterparts, however, with time, the legend of his killings will make a claim to fame.

Lubdan the Leprechaun, 45 kills

From the Leprechaun Franchise

Killer Highlights: 7 movies, Magic-Wielding Immortal, Greedy Gold Loving Killer.

Lubdan is the little ugly, green slasher from the Leprechaun movies who loves playing with his gold.  In fact, he loves his gold so much, he has killed for it countless times!  Lubdan is often underestimated as his franchise was much less popular than some of the other slashers on the list. Still, he has taken out many more victims than some of the most respectable villains in horror, coming in towards the top of the Horror Movie Slasher Body Count!

Freddy Krueger, 42 kills

From the Nightmare on Elm Street Franchise

Killer Highlights: 9 movies, “Knives for Fingers,” Nightmare-Dream Killer.

Freddy Krueger from the Nightmare on Elm Street movies, has been one of the coldest killers of them all. His reign of terror started in the fabled house on Elm Street. Freddy loves to taunt his victims, often high school children, before harvesting their souls for all of eternity.  Most horror fans believe Freddy’s body count is higher, however, Freddy considers the hunt more exciting than the kill itself, dragging his victims deaths out much longer than his slasher peers.

Chucky, 38 kills

From the Child’s Play Franchise

Killer Highlights: 7 movies, Sold as a Children’s Toy, Supernaturally Possessed Doll.

The Child’s Play villain, Chucky, is really serial killer Charles Lee Ray.  Charles used a little voodoo to possess the doll in order to avoid the fate of the law.  While a Good Guy Doll may be only a few feet tall at best, Chucky’s kill count is more respectable than some pretty evil villains, and he most certainly has earned his fair share!

Pinhead, 35 kills

From the Hellraiser Franchise

Killer Highlights: 9 movies, Supernatural Powers, Extradimensional Traveling Demon.

Pinhead is one of the most powerful of all the horror movie slashers, and he is also ranked as one of the smartest of all horror movie killers. And with 9 movies, surely a horror movie villain would have an opportunity to really rake in the kills!  That said, it is shame that Pinhead has only claimed 35 kills in his horror movie career! Especially considering he has traveled so far to get here…

Leatherface, 31 kills

From the Texas Chainsaw Massacre Franchise

Killer Highlights: 9 movies, Wears Masks Made of the Faces of Victims, Chainsaw-Wielding Butcher.

Most of the time, Leatherface is pretty happy minding his own business and keeping to himself.  He has a lot of toys and gadgets he likes to play with.  Still, his family demands he hunt for dinner and he is most definitely the family’s most qualified butcher. Thus, Leatherface still rakes in a 31 kill career across his 9 Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies.

Hannibal Lecter, 23 kills

From the Hannibal Franchise

Killer Highlights: 5 movies, Super Intelligent, Cannibal Serial Killer.

Hannibal Lecter is one of the smartest horror movie killers to rack up an on-screen body count. Hannibal, like Freddy Krueger, prefers to take his time with his victims…dragging each death out much longer than a normal horror slasher.  As entertaining as Hannibal’s killings may be, he still clocks in a respectable 23 kills throughout his horror movie career.

The Candy Man, 22 kills

From the Candyman Franchise

Killer Highlights: 3 movies, Hook-Wielding, Urban Legend Slasher.

The Candy Man, by legend, has to be summoned in order for the slaughter to begin.  And although the Candy Man might come in rather low on the list of Horror Movie Slasher Body Counts, he most certainly does not rank lowest in show, as he has a very respectable ‘kill per movie’ ratio!

Jaws, 21 kills

From the Jaws Franchise

Killer Highlights: 4 movies, Water-Dwelling, Great White Swimming Death Machine.

Jaws has never had a problem finding prey in his waters.  Jaws has only starred in 4 movies, but still has found a way to chomp through 21 victims…leaving a legend behind that is even bigger than himself!

Norman Bates, 20 kills

From the Psycho Franchise

Killer Highlights: 6 movies, Hotel Owner, Psychopathic Inn Keeper.

The original psycho movie dates back to 1960, making Norman Bates the oldest killer on the list, even with his last movie a ripe couple decades back.  Interestingly enough, Norman is the only killer on this list who is a business owner and has thus officially made his business “killing”!

The Creeper, 20 kills

From the Jeepers Creepers Franchise

Killer Highlights: 3 movies, Loves Driving a Rusty Truck, Ancient Creature Killer.

The Creeper is one of the only “ancient” killers to grace the horror genre.  Still, he has claimed a high number of victims per movie, and it would be considered bad luck to run into him.

And The Kills Continue On…

While there may be rumors that some of these horror slashers are deceased and never coming back, many of the horror movie villains listed above are still alive and well to this very day. And despite the number of kills some of these horror slashers have claimed, their movies will continue to be made. No one seems to care, as production continues to go on! The body count for some of the most favorite killers, in fact, will likely rise for decades to come. 

Do you feel we have missed someone? If you would like to see your killer added to the list, comment below and we will rank them accordingly!

Tritone

Tritone’s love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.

puzzleboxhorror.com

The post Which Horror Movie Killer Has The Most Kills? appeared first on Puzzle Box Horror.

The age old questions of which horror movie slasher is strongest, most powerful, most dangerous or would win in a fight, has been haunting us for decades! And almost all of the horror fans out there expected to see a clear winner in Freddy vs Jason (2003); Thus a great void was left in the “who would win” what-if scenario between the two horror villain giants.  And people are now wondering more than ever who would win a number of other Slasher vs Slasher fights.  Horror Enthusiast has stepped up to the plate, pitting a number of villains against one another and drawing a conclusion as to the outcome and winner of each fight!

Fictional Horror Movie Killer Fights (Who Would Win)

Without further ado, these fictional horror movie killer ‘one on ones’ will draw the line on who would have won after all in a fight!

Freddy Krueger vs Michael Myers

Michael Myers has been a torment to survivors on many of the halloweens throughout the past few decades. Freddy Krueger has been active throughout various times of the year, but enjoys raising hell when school is in…thus, it is logical that the two horror movie slashers would meet up at one point or another!  If Freddy Krueger ran across Michael one Halloween, he would probably put Michael into a sleep-induced Haddonfield killing-spree coma, while he were buried alive.

Winner: Freddy Krueger

Method: Asphyxiation and Sleep-induced Coma

Leatherface vs Michael Myers

Michael Myers keeps coming back from the dead and has been a demonic nightmare ever since the late 70s. However, Leatherface has also been killing since the 70s and may be the largest opponent Michael Myers has ever faced.  While this would be a close fight, the deciding factor came down to the ability to sustain blows.  Michael’s first blow would probably not be able to kill Leatherface, no matter how grim the wound.  Leatherface, however, is capable of literally chopping off limbs and cutting Michael’s body in half, with just one swing of his chainsaw.

Winner: Leatherface

Method: Body Dismemberment and Cut In Half

Pinhead vs Michael Myers

Michael Myers began life as a mortal human being, unlike Pinhead, who is a demon and supernatural by nature.  Myers received his supernatural developments throughout time, and unfortunately stands a serious handicap in the respect of actual power.  However, if he had a fair shot, he would probably at least look pretty while Pinhead tore him to pieces, literally!

Winner: Pinhead

Method: Detainment and Dismemberment

Leatherface vs Jason Voorhees

Leatherface is one bad mamba jamba, and has been taking out travelers for decades. Jason Voorhees, however, quite literally cannot die in a mortal sense.  Additionally, Jason can sustain unimaginable blows and still continue to hack and slash, showing no signs of slowing down.  Leatherface has been seen vulnerable on a number of occasions, leaving him writhing in pain after a survivor successfully lashes back.  Leatherface would meet his doom if encountering Jason in a one on one fight…even with his chainsaw!

Winner: Jason Voorhees

Method: Macheted In Half

Pinhead vs Jason Voorhees

Jason Voorhees has been brought back from the dead after being spat out of hell. Pinhead is no longer human, just like Jason, however, he exists in an extradimensional realm only to travel to Earth to harvest souls. While the two characters share a lot in common (Jason only returns to Earth to murder and wreak havoc), Jason would be unable to overcome the impressive use of demonic magic that would be present within the fight.

Winner: Pinhead

Method: Detainment and Dismemberment

Chucky vs Michael Myers

Michael Myers stalks his victims and has a good chance of sneaking up on Chucky…however, Chucky is no stranger to deception himself.  Michael has killed a few victims based upon his strength, however, he is mostly known for his ability to kill with a blade. Chucky, being an inanimate doll, would likely be able to survive one or two slashes from Michael’s blade in order to outsmart him.  Given Michael is significantly lacking in the intelligence department, he would probably fall victim to a larger plot pre-planned by Chucky (probably using objects much larger than himself).

Winner: Chucky

Method: Trapping and Smashing Michael Between Two Heavy Objects

Freddy Krueger vs Chucky

Chucky may be practically invulnerable to a mortal human being, however, when subject to the dreamworld, he would be much more vulnerable.  Freddy is able to manipulate dreams and would most likely destroy Chucky by way of extreme explosion while he slept, scattering all of his pieces and stuffings throughout the dreamworld. Remember: “If you die in your dreams you die for real!”

Winner: Freddy Krueger

Method: Extreme Explosive Dismemberment

Leatherface vs Pinhead

Leatherface is rash and impulsive, thus his demise versus a telekinetic and supernatural power-harnessing demon from another dimension (such as Pinhead) would be rather quick!  Most likely, Leatherface would rush towards his opponent, only to be controlled by telekinesis and quickly facing his own chainsaw in the chest!

Winner: Pinhead

Method: Telekinetic Manipulation of a Chainsaw to the Gut

Freddy Krueger vs Leatherface

Leatherface may be muscular, fast and brutal, but he is no match for falling asleep and dying in his dreams.  Leatherface would likely be terrorized by confusion, as he is the least smartest of the horror movie slashers. When he awoke, it would probably be to the feeling of a chainsaw working its way through his chest somehow, or being impaled on a meat hook.

Winner: Freddy Krueger

Method: Impaled by a Running Chainsaw / Impaled on a Meat Hook

Jason Voorhees vs Chucky

Although Jason may be a little dumb, Chucky’s ability to outwit him may be nullified by Jason’s slower, unpredictable movements. Jason stands a chance at catching Chucky due to his slower movement increasing the likelihood of Chucky growing frustrated and getting too close to the slashing giant.  With Jason’s strength, it would not even require a machete!

Winner: Jason Voorhees

Method: Beheading and Crushing of the Doll’s Skull

Freddy Krueger vs Pinhead

The only killer with the ability to set up Freddy with a life sentence of psychological torture, or torture of any means, is Pinhead. Pinhead is a powerful demon capable of traveling between dimensions and manipulating reality.  Freddy lacks the ability to actually read minds and can only manipulate reality in the dreamworld. Does Pinhead even sleep?  In a fight, Freddy would only be able to resort to his agile martial-arts like movements focusing primarily on his claw-weapon.  This would make him no greater contest than a black belt in karate with a sword.*

*Though Freddy has been seen manipulating reality (telekinesis primarily) in the real-world…he is ultimately powerless against Pinheads ability to cause any object, including ones he would be controlling, to spontaneously combust.  Additionally, Pinhead can conjure any object out of thin air.

Winner: Pinhead

Method: Detainment and Psychological Torment For The Rest Of Time

Leatherface vs Chucky

Most victims run from Leatherface. Most of the other killers would stand up to fight Leatherface. Chucky, however, would hide to fight Leatherface. Chucky is a pretty smart doll, and being that he is really small and Leatherface is rather large and less flexible, Leatherface would have a hard time catching Chucky to inflict any damage. Chucky, on the other hand, is quite crafty and a very clever slasher. Before Leatherface had any idea what hit him, he’d be tumbling into a human-sized meat grinder.

Winner: Chucky

Method: Falling Into an Industrial Size Meat Grinder (or Wood Chipper of Sorts)

Pinhead vs Chucky

Unfortunately, Chucky faces the same problems as Michael Myers when it comes to Pinhead: Pinhead is a supreme supernaturally powerful demon and Chucky is a normal human being with a curse.  Chucky is also limited to human-capable methods of murder, such as death by knife…whereas Pinhead has the ability to create and manipulate the world with magic.

Winner: Pinhead

Method: Detainment and Dismemberment

Anyone vs Ghostface

Unfortunately for Ghostface, ridiculous teenagers with knives do not stand chances against real horror movie slashers (no offense Ghostface and Scream crowd).  While Ghostface may seriously tear through some victims on screen, he is most definitely the least likely to win out of all of the horror slashers when pit against any of them.

Winner: Anyone other than Ghostface

Method: Nearly Any Weapon Would Do

Freddy Krueger vs Jason Voorhees [real fight]

Horror Enthusiast disagrees with the result of Freddy vs Jason (2003) and thus has redrawn the scenario, as a proper horror fanatic would.  Freddy wins. Jason dies.  The end.

Winner: Freddy Krueger

Method: Drowning and Sleep-induced Coma

Final Notes About Which Killer Would Win

Pinhead is the clear overall winner, being able to detain and or destroy any of the other horror movie killers. However, Freddy Krueger is a close second, as his demon-like manipulation techniques are simply too powerful for any other slasher to overcome.  In a few scenarios, Freddy may even have a chance to take Pinhead out for good…though, highly unlikely! Chucky receives an honorable mention for his ability to take down some of the much larger giants despite his small size.

Although the fights are between killers who have franchises and are well known for their scary death counts, we realize we have not included all noteworthy horror slashers. If you would like to see how your killer of choice (or anyone we have left out) stacks up against the rest, leave a comment below!

Also, check out our other article on who has the most kills.

Tritone

Tritone’s love of horror and mystery began at a young age. Growing up in the 80’s he got to see some of the greatest horror movies play out in the best of venues, the drive-in theater. That’s when his obsession with the genre really began—but it wasn’t just the movies, it was the games, the books, the comics, and the lore behind it all that really ignited his obsession. Tritone is a published author and continues to write and write about horror whenever possible.

puzzleboxhorror.com

The post Which Horror Movie Killer Would Win? appeared first on Puzzle Box Horror.