Rachel Talalay on Directing FREDDY'S DEAD and the 4K NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 7-Film Collection

Freddy's Dead | Image courtesy of IMDB

By Shannon McGrew

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET is a staple within the horror genre, boasting over seven films within the franchise over ten years and creating one of the most iconic horror slashers to date, Freddy Krueger, personified by the acclaimed and unforgettable actor Robert Englund. 

Over the years, the movie and the franchise as a whole have received special-edition releases to satisfy fans’ thirst for the man who visits them in their dreams. However, this year, all seven films in the iconic horror franchise were finally given the 4K UHD treatment for the first time, allowing fans the opportunity to see their favorite slasher clearer than ever before.

To celebrate the 4K release of A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 7-Film Collection, Creepy Kingdom’s Shannon McGrew chatted with director Rachel Talalay about the 4K release of FREDDY’S DEAD: THE FINAL NIGHTMARE. During their chat, they discussed everything from Talalay’s first solo directing experience and working with Robert Englund to the innovative 3D effects in FREDDY'S DEAD and the excitement of the new 4K release.

Thank you so much for speaking with me today, Rachel. FREDDY’S DEAD: THE FINAL NIGHTMARE marked such a huge turning point because it wasn’t just the end of Freddy, but it was also your first solo directing gig. What did it mean to take on that responsibility?

Rachel Talalay: Because I had been working at New Line and had worked on the first 4, and because I was engaged in part 5 while producing Cry Baby, Nightmare was very much part of me and continues to be. Sometimes I tell people that everything I know about filmmaking I learned on Nightmare on Elm Street because we had to do absolutely everything, from stop-motion to 3D. I had to campaign to direct FREDDY’S DEAD and couldn’t believe my luck when they did say yes and gave me that incredible opportunity, especially as a woman.

FREDDY'S DEAD | Image courtesy of IMDB

What was your collaboration like with Robert Englund, specifically as a director, and at a point where Freddy had become such a phenomenon?

Rachel Talalay: You always respect that an actor in a franchise or in a television series is their character. There was no changing his character. It was a question of the degree to which we went toward the humorous, which we went very far, and Robert’s engagement in that, and what that had to do with trying to enhance the box office. Robert loved the opportunity to do the slightly more Looney Tunes version, but not take away from the fact that there’s a whole history of child abuse that parallels both what happened to Freddy and then what happens to these poor kids who were in this homeless shelter. Very important topics that are often overlooked when everyone talks about the effects.

Speaking of the effects, can you talk about the use of 3D and how it looks now with this new release? 

Rachel Talalay: We had to create our own 3D. They had never used that technique before, color with anaglyphs, red, green, red, blue, and so we had to create our own technology. It was so hard — we had these massive cameras and no time. It was incredibly expensive because we were working on optical, but when we came to do the 4K upscale, we had digital now and the left and right eyes, so we had the ability to really make the 3D incredible. For the first time, people are going to see the 3D looking incredible, and I’m so excited for that. I left the color timing session and was like, I have to tell people how great this is. It changes the pacing of the ending, and I’m really excited for people to no longer have to look at how flat and dull it was.

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 7-Film Collection on 4K UHD is now available to own.