Freddy Krueger’s birthday is late for Halloween. But, then again, why would the booger-faced killer of dreams pop up when you expected him to?
On November 9, 1984, director-writer Wes Craven gave the world of horror A Nightmare On Elm Street. Continuing a film career already characterized by plenty of bizarre characters (like Swamp Thing and Pluto), Nightmare‘s Freddy Krueger would prove to be Craven’s most memorable creation.
Played gleefully by Robert Englund, Krueger was a different breed of slasher. Unlike his contemporaries at the time, Freddy wasn’t silent but deadly. No, he reveled in the filleting and dismembering of his victims by punctuating each kill with a joke. The audience caught on quickly, anticipating each pun along with each scare. For that reason, I can’t think of a better way to celebrate his 30th anniversary than with his best punchlines and best kills. Can you?
Remember: It’s only a dream…
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