The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, September 25, 1991, Page 6, Image 6
New twist
can't save
Movie
By BRIAN SHELTON
Staff Writer
In 1984, a low-budget horror film called Nightmare
on Elm Street was released, and it became an instant
classic. Unlike other horror movies of the time, which
basically just had mask-wearing psychopaths mowing
down procreating teens, Nightmare on Elm Street offered
an intriguing plot about the power of dreams
and showcased a villain named Freddy Krueger who
was not only frightening but charismatic as well. The
film demanded further installments, and, sure enough,
a sequel was released a year later.
Not only did the second film make more money
than the original,it also turned Freddy Krueger into a
genuine media superstar and virtually guaranteed that
the sequels wouldn't stop at just one. In fact, for a
while there, New Line Cinema churned them out once
a year, each one taking the series in a slightly different
direction.
The direction was a positive one in 1987's Nightmare
on Elm Street 3: The Dream Warriors, but, after
a while, the series began to overstep its boundaries.
The later films (especially Part 5) lacked the creativity
that was prevalent in the first few movies, and the
once invincible Freddy Krueger began to look washed
up. Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare, the sixth
and presumably last of the series continues this disintegration
and is easily the worst of the lot
It does not bode well for a film when it loses all of
its credibility in its first 15 seconds but Freddy's
Dead: The Final Nightmare accomplishes just that.
Right before the action begins, a message is flashed
on the screen that says every teen resident of a town
called Springwood has been slaughtered by Freddy
Krueger except for one survivor who is fleeing for his
life.
Let's back up for a minute and ponder how it is
possible a town could let every one of its pubescent
citizens croak. Wouldn t you think maybe alter the
body count reached 1000 or so the town leaders
would get together and call the National Guard or
something? Wouldn't you, if you happened to be a
teen and all your friends were dropping like flies,
maybe put a little pressure on the old parental units to
pack up the U-Haul and get the hell out of there? And
hey, where's 60 Minutes (or at the very least, Hard
Copy) during all this?
The only apparent reason for the removal of Springwood's
teenagers is to set the plot in motion. Freddy
decides , instead of resting on his laurels or taking up
a 'S'hJ
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a hobby like basket-weaving, he wants to continue 1
trade of killing teens in their dreams. The only way
can do this is by branching out into another town,
he packs up his glove and his green and red sweal
and proclaims,"Every town has an Elm Street." Lea
ing isn't as simple as it seems, though, and Fredi
soon realizes the only way out is to find the child
fathered when he was still in human form,
i Freddy a daddy? Doesn't it seem a little late in t
series to add a detail like this? Actually it is, and t
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portal really doesn't make a lot of sense either. T
only reason I can really see for dropping a bombsto
like this is to tick-off the audience by making them I
to guess which of the characters is the chip c
Freddy's block.
Is it that last surviving teen of Springwood wl
somehow ends up in a mental hospital in anoth
town? Is it one of the three kids the teen meets at tl
hospital? Is it Maggie, the psychologist who kee
having demented dreams about a water tower ai
looks vaguely like Madonna on a bad day? They i
end up back in Springwood, and, basically, the 01
who doesn't die in a weird, bizarre dream sequence
the one who used to call Freddy "pops".
The dream sequences, usually a highlight of tl
films, are, for the most part, weak, boring and ove
long. The most horrific thing they could come up wi
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nails, and, disturbingly, the dreams make light of sei
ous subjects (drugs, hearing disability) for no appare
reason.
After most of the characters are dispatched throuj;
their nightmares, the predictable confrontation occu
between Freddy and his offspring. You would thir
this battle, filmed in a form of 3-D called "FreddyV
sion," if done right, would perhaps make up for tl
sorry 70 minutes before it. Alas, we'll never know b<
cause the conclusion is just as disappointing as tl
rest. The 3-D effects are worthless, and the final d<
mise of Freddy seems way too simple to be convin<
ing. If one wanted to, they could easily bring Fredd
back to life. So don't be too surprised to see Freddy
Dead: We Really Mean It This Time sometime in tl
immediate future.
The Nightmare on Elm Street series burst onto t
the scene with a bang, but unfortunately, leaves
with a whimper. The sixth film offers none of th
creativity the early entries had and shows even goo
ideas can only be taken so far. RIP Freddy, and, n
offense, but this time I hope you stay dead. F.
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ne By SHANNON BAYNHAM a
1S Staff Writer sl
ie What do you get when you cross an ex?satanist ^
,r_ high priest, a cardio?pulmonary technician and a
^ comedian? One who does stand up while performing ?
c open heart surgery by the light of the full moon?
^ Nope. You get Mike Warnke, a Christian Come- *
nt dian Evangelist, who was at one time each of these r<
occupations and will now be in concert Sept. 26, at
Trinity Baptist Church.
J.s Now don't let the words "Christian Comedian ir
lIr Evangelist" fool you. They are not a contradiction in ^
? terms nor are they a huge sign flashing "Warning ?
ie Boring, Nonpertirient (yet predictable) Material
Ahead." Warnke's past history as an ex?satanist
^ high priest, drug addict, pusher and Vietnam Marine (
Corps Medic provide an edge to his material that ^
I may blow any preconceived notions about the occult,
jy not to mention your funny bone, away. ^
s Warnke's past practices in the occult delved deep, si
Before the age of 20, Warnke was the Master O
Counselor of a satanist group, which had been intra- A
p duced to him through his drug addiction and selling, ni
it In his book, The Satan Seller, Warnke describes in Q
e detail his involvement in the occult, his conversion
d to Christianity and the numerous events in between ro
o that impacted his life. re
Now Warnke's focus is on Warnke Ministries. It S(
is an organization staffed to work with people who $2
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JustChecking is available only at SouthTn
in the historic Palmetto Bldg. /376-2000.
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i night at the Trinity Baptist Church.
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re into drugs, the occult or in prison. Warnke Minitries
also incorporates a Concert Production Staff
lat handle's concert bookings and publicity.
But don't think that if you're not involved in any
f these three ? drugs, the occult or prison ? that
/arnke's message has no relevance. One of the ma)r
strengths behind Warnke's message is his radical
ilevance.
Wamke stands now a man of 44 with a family and
linistry, but keep in mind that all of his actions and
ivolvement in the occult were during college. He
'as seeking some form of truth, some type of
llfillment.
Sound familiar? These are topics and issues not
>o foreign amidst college discussion. As Warnke reDunts
in his books, cassettes and videos, his seeking
asn't satisfied until his conversion when he sought
hrist.
Even if you just go for the laughs, an evening with
like Warnke is not a wasted one. Wamke's televion
appearances include "Larry King Live," "The
prah Winfrey Show" and being an adviser for
BC's News Magazine "20/20." He has spoken to
lmerous audiences all over the u/nrlH inrlnrlincx the
ueen of Denmark and the King of Sweden.
But you don't have to provide any documents of
yalty to hear Warnke. The option is open tomorw
night at The Trinity Baptist Church in Cayce,
2. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. and the cost is v
For more information, call 791-0440.
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KINGy
No per-check
|^) charge
^ 994 a month
ist: 1400Main Street at Washington :
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Bank S i
Member FDIC