Kyle Gallner Talks 'Elm Street' Remake

Kyle Gallner Talks 'Elm Street' Remake

Actor discusses Freddy Krueger's nightmarish rebirth

By BRYANT GRIFFIN
6-15-2009
Source: Fangoria

Actor Kyle Gallner recently spoke about the state of New Line Cinema's "Nightmare On Elm Street" reboot during an exclusive interview with Fangoria.

Playing Quentin, who reflects Johnny Depp’s 1984 'Elm Street' role, Gallner ("The Haunting In Connecticut") promises that though the new film treads a unique path, it does offer a few iconic nods to the original.

"We’re a little over halfway done shooting,” Gallner said. “It’s a very different role in a very different movie from 'Haunting.' I show up to work one day, and all of a sudden I’m face to face with Freddy Krueger and running for my life. It’s a cool experience.

"The movie kind of relies on these two antiheroes, me and Nancy. We’re definitely not your average horror-movie heroes. Quentin is rather confused and definitely has problems going on outside of the nightmare world, and Nancy does as well. There’s some cool character stuff going on that will be interesting for people to see."

However, a dominate concern among many fans is the presentation of the film's notorious villain, Freddy Krueger, played by the "Watchman's" Jackie Earle Haley. Gallner is confident Krueger will incite serious jitters.

"It’s played a little straighter," he said. "I mean, there are still going to be some throwbacks to the other films—you’ve gotta keep a couple of the one-liners—but for the most part, it’s going to be a little more real, a little more raw. I believe it’ll be more disturbing than the original.

"It’s kind of funny to be hanging out on set, he’s sitting in his chair in his Freddy face and we’re chitchatting away, and then you get on set and all of a sudden he turns it on. As soon as he does that, he’s a completely different animal, and it’s genuinely creepy to do scenes with him.

"There was one scene I did with him the other night where we were just face to face, and it was pretty unnerving. I actually got creeped out. His makeup looks terrific; it’s definitely Freddy.”

"Nightmare On Elm Street" is helmed by first-time director Samuel Bayer, and is based on a script by Eric Heisserer and Wesley Strick ("Wolf," "Cape Fear"). It opens April 16, 2010.

See more of Gallner's interview at Fangoria.

About the Author: Bryant Griffin is the assistant news editor for Airlock Alpha and sister site Rabid Doll. He served as a journalist in the U.S. Army, as well as while a civilian. In 2002, he joined Quantum Global Media Inc., contributing to many early design concepts before shifting his focus back to writing. Bryant hails from Tampa, Fla.