As horror fans, we make it our business to know the most obscure details about our favorite films. We watch the bonus features on the Special Edition releases of our favorite DVDs; we read retrospectives and interviews in support of our most beloved titles. But even the most diligent fan is bound to miss something along the way. So, to help you get the lowdown, we're running a recurring segment that rounds up some lesser-known trivia from your favorite horror films.
For this installment, we're setting our sights on the slasher film A Nightmare on Elm Street. There are plenty of well-known talking points regarding A Nightmare on Elm Street but we have rounded up some slightly more obscure facts that we hope will even enlighten even the super fan.
Now, we present to you: twelve things you may not have known about Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street.
In the moments leading up to Glen’s death, he is watching the television station KRGR.
The viewer can hear the name of the station being called out as it signs off for the night. KRGR is a not so subtle reference to the film’s primary antagonist.
It’s often reported that Fred Krueger was originally going to be played by a stuntman. That is not entirely correct.
While it is customary to cast a stuntman to play the role of the villain in horror movies, according to Never Sleep Again, Wes Craven wanted to have an actor (not a stuntman) take on the Freddy role to give the character personality and bring Fred to life.
Actor David Warner (The Omen) was originally cast as Freddy.
Warner reportedly backed out at the last minute, saying that he had another project he was already committed to that conflicted with the shooting schedule for A Nightmare on Elm Street.
Fred Krueger was named after a kid who bullied Wes Craven in elementary school.
The name Fred or Freddy brought up bad memories for Craven and seemed a likely choice when naming the film’s antagonist.
Charlie Sheen was offered a role in the film but ultimately declined.
Sheen wanted to be a part of the production but the actor wanted more money than the film’s budget allowed.
In addition to wanting to capture the essence of Americana, Wes Craven had several other interesting reasons for choosing Elm Street as the film’s setting.
Craven sites the Kennedy assignation occurring on Elm Street as one of the factors in his decision-making process. He also notes the fact that Elm Street was the name of the main street that ran through the somewhat quaint town that he lived and worked in before he left academia for Hollywood.
Makeup artist David Miller got the idea for the Freddy makeup from pepperoni pizza.
Miller was eating dinner and lost in thought when he gained inspiration from the appearance of the pepperoni and cheese on the pizza he was eating.
Wes Craven’s ex-wife has a cameo in the film.
When Nancy is undergoing dream analysis, it is Mimi Craven that plays the part of the nurse.
Lin Shaye, who plays Nancy’s teacher, is related to one of the film’s producers.
Shaye is the sister of eventual New Line studio head Robert Shaye.
In the jail scene, the actor who played Rod was crying about his life, not the scene he was shooting.
Jsu Garcia (Nick Corri) was on drugs during the production and going through a great deal of emotional turmoil. His tears were not only real, they were completely unrelated to the film.