Robert Englund recently stated in an interview that he does not seem himself as an icon. In his mind, Freddy Krueger may be one, but he is just a character actor that got lucky. There is no doubting the impact that Freddy has had on pop culture, but the documentary Hollywood Dreams and Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story makes a strong case for the actor.
Hollywood Dreams and Nightmares begins like any other documentary. It starts with Englund’s childhood and continues to how he discovered acting. This includes a positive meeting with Steve Allen that shaped his life. There is also some neat photographs from his stage career, but it is not long before the setting turns to Hollywood.
The feeling Englund got from the encounter is a running theme. Everyone interviewed talks about how polite and smart the actor is. He is constantly looking to learn and share knowledge. Clearly, Englund has taken something from everything on his acting resume. His comments go beyond the usual platitudes given to co-workers.
This comes across every time the man who would become synonymous with one of horror’s biggest icons speaks. Intelligent, funny, and self-aware, Englund is a joy to listen to. He is filled with charisma and his love of cinema is clear. The fact that he seems to have a photographic memory adds to the entertainment.
Of course, you cannot have a documentary about Robert Englund without talking about A Nightmare on Elm Street. This is not a comprehensive look at the franchise; there is already one of those. Instead, it looks at the phenomenon that is Freddy Krueger. Nightmare fans will enjoy hearing the man behind the glove talk about the iconic role and how he accepted the fame.
Englund’s story does not end with the popular franchise, however. He has gone on to star in a number of genre films. He has even played the victim and the hero. The closing moments feel odd as a segment with the actor talking about his early love of horror and science fiction feels like it should have been at the beginning, but Hollywood Dreams and Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story is a fascinating look at an iconic actor.
Hollywood Dreams and Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story will be On Screambox and Digital on June 6, 2023
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