Robert Englund Suits Up as Freddy Krueger Again for a New Documentary, Watch the Trailer!
We'll probably never see Robert Englund reprise his role as Freddy Krueger in another Nightmare on Elm Street movie again. But thanks to an upcoming documentary called Nightmares in the Makeup Chair, we get to see Englund all decked out as Freddy Krueger at least one more time. The documentary pays tribute to the practical effects artists who have brought the iconic horror movie character to life over the years.
The film was directed by Mike Kerz, and as Englund is having his Freddy makeup applied by makeup artist Robert Kurtzman, the actor recalls his years playing the villain and pays tribute to Wes Craven and the other people he worked with on the franchise. In a statement to EW, Englund said:
"Nightmares in the Makeup Chair is my love letter to the Nightmare on Elm Street series and to practical makeup. I’ve always been in awe of the multi-talented makeup effects artists. From sketching to sculpting, they realize the design. Then to the fine precision of the molding and the manufacturing of the makeup appliances which are nearly paper thin. And then, the application process where I sit in the makeup chair and I become their living canvas as they glue me in and paint the appliances. This documentary not only captures their talent, but I think it might inspire a new generation of practical effects artists. I was happy to become Freddy once again to share the makeup process with the fans."
Kurtzman added:
“Robert Englund’s Freddy Krueger is one of the greatest horror characters of all time, and it was exciting for me to create my own version of Freddy. I always look forward to working with Robert Englund. He’s a captivating storyteller who tells these entertaining stories in the makeup room. And during this film he tells these great stories about the Nightmare films and playing Freddy while I’m applying the Krueger makeup.”
The director said that he was inspired to make this from vintage photos he saw of legendary make-up artist Jack Pierce doing the Frankenstein makeup for Boris Karloff. Since none of those makeup sessions were never caught on film, he wanted to create this doc. He also said:
"Robert Englund is fascinating as he shares insightful stories about the Elm Street films and Freddy with the audience. And it is amazing to watch Robert Kurtzman apply the various stages of makeup to transform Robert Englund into Freddy Krueger.”
As a longtime fan of the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, this is a doc that I or any other fans won't want to miss out on. It will come out sometime next year.