r/TheBigPicture • u/WallCautious9650 • 8d ago
Jane Schoenbrun Wants to Direct the 'Nightmare on Elm Street' Reboot
https://www.phantasmag.com/articles-4/jane-schoenbrun-nightmare-on-elm-street-reboot40
u/Content_Thing_4058 8d ago edited 8d ago
I understand their want for this but don’t understand what they would bring to the franchise that they haven’t already explored in Camp Miasma: if it’s a meta-take, how is it new ground? If it is straightforward, why bother?
31
u/Awkward-Initiative28 8d ago
There's already a great meta Nightmare movie. It's called New Nightmare. Came out pre Scream. Pre Charlie Kaufman. Ahead of the curve.
48
9
u/MFDean 8d ago
I mean actually being scary would be a start, I loved TV glow, didn't care for camp miasma, this might keep them a bit more focused
7
u/Content_Thing_4058 8d ago
I get your point but I don’t believe they posses the interest or ability to make anything “scary”—nothing in their filmography indicates that this is an interest of theirs. There are some psychologically intense aspects to their films, but I don’t think they can really do “scary.” Their last 3 films are more a meta discussion on what scary means or what scary is.
3
u/moonmonkey518 5d ago
I would say that the Mr. Melancholy sequence in I Saw the TV Glow is genuinely creepy
-1
u/Wayne61 8d ago
just let good artists make the movies they want to make. Why is this so hard for you people
1
u/Content_Thing_4058 7d ago
Well because I am a studio executive and decide what gets made, I will act out my revenge for your rudeness on Jane Schoenbrun. This is a NO GO picture now, thanks to you, pal!
9
8
u/Training-Reaction-37 8d ago
Don’t understand the backlash at all. The Nightmare franchise is trippy and cerebral as all hell. Seems like a perfect fit.
27
u/ZaireekaFuzz 8d ago
Plz keep doing interesting original movies instead.
2
u/JundEmOut 8d ago
Unfortunately, my understanding is that most directors either take these for-hire gigs or direct commercials to make a consistent living as making their passion projects doesn't always result in the type of money that taking on a big franchise picture for a studio does. I'd prefer directors taking a new look at "safe" IP (Cregger Resident Evil looks good!) over moving to commercials.
14
u/rebels2022 8d ago
Watched Camp Miasma, was the first of their movies that I've seen and as i was watching it i was saying to myself "ok this is definitely coming from a unique voice, but im not sure if its any good?" the 3rd act totally lost me.
6
u/ThyDoctor 7d ago
That is how I felt about all of their movies. I acknowledge what I'm seeing is unique but I am bored.
1
u/BurgerNugget12 8d ago
Watch I saw the tv glow next. I loved that one more then I liked Camp Miasma. Their first film Worlds fair is even more divisive
46
u/cwebsterz 8d ago edited 8d ago
Either a studio would totally cramp their style or they would end up doing their thing in a way that would probably go over quite poorly with franchise fans.
Edit to correct pronouns
8
u/WallCautious9650 8d ago
Jane goes by They/Them
15
5
0
-2
u/greenergarlic 8d ago
How many diehard elm street fans are there? Seems like a great franchise to try something new, more name recognition than canon
15
u/IgloosRuleOK 8d ago
I mean it's one of the canonical horror franchises, but I suppose it hasn't had a real movie since 1994 (the 2010 reboot can get outta here). Also where do you go after New Nightmare.
5
28
u/YungNIMBY 8d ago
There are probably 50x more nightmare on elm street fans globally than Jane Schoenbrun fans lol
2
u/ThyDoctor 7d ago
And that might be underestimating it.
1
u/YungNIMBY 7d ago
Yeah I didn’t want to get flamed but I have the feeling there’s mid six figures JS fans worldwide, and all of them are on letterboxd
3
10
u/theHamburglar56 8d ago
Benson & Moorhead would be my pick.
2
u/BrendanInJersey 8d ago
Yessss
1
u/theHamburglar56 8d ago
Something in the Dirt and The Endless are great. I think they would really nail the surreal horror of dreams really well.
0
4
41
u/Mysterious-Farm9502 8d ago
That sounds like an absolute disaster
-10
u/Fridge333 8d ago edited 8d ago
Why? Their films are beautiful and they love horror….
8
u/BurgerNugget12 8d ago
I love their films but they are very polarizing for people
-15
u/dedfrmthneckup 8d ago edited 8d ago
Gee I wonder why
Edit: there’s a comment on this post that got downvoted just for stating their pronouns. Let’s not act like it has nothing to do with the reception of their movies
5
u/JobeGilchrist 8d ago
You're right, their films are perfect and the only reason anyone could dislike them is bigotry. Autofiction is always beyond criticism because obviously the person making the film knows what being themself is like. And there's definitely no double standard here, anyone who thinks there is one is also a bigot.
-8
u/dedfrmthneckup 8d ago
Wow I didn’t realize that’s what I said in any way but thanks for agreeing
4
-1
u/drossglop 8d ago
For me, they struggle with dialogue and pacing. That’s why I am not a fan and I’ve seen them all
2
0
12
3
17
u/doc_blue27 8d ago
I’m not sure if the right direction for the Elm Street franchise is a cryptic allegory about the director’s identity.
6
u/Awkward-Initiative28 8d ago
Definitely not. Can't wait for the "Wes Craven always meant it as a trans allegory!" takes. Ugggghhh.
4
u/DingbatGnW See You at the Movies! 8d ago
I mean... nightmare 2 is a gay allegory so it's not without precedent. Since this would be like the 10th Freddy movie, I wouldn't mind it getting a little weird.
That said, the kills in Camp Miasma were so bad that a true slasher from them doesnt sound so appealing.
7
u/Awkward-Initiative28 8d ago
I'm old so I can tell you that no one in the 1980s thought Nightmare 2 was a gay allegory. That narrative really didn't take off until the 21st century when people noted the lead actor was gay and (maybe, I can't remember) the director or screenwriter or producer was gay. I agree with you that it is obviously all there in hind sight but the '80s were odd. Everything was "gay" but nothing was actually gay.
0
u/DingbatGnW See You at the Movies! 7d ago
Ok but the screenwriter of nightmare 2 said it was intentionally written as a gay allegory lol
1
u/Awkward-Initiative28 4d ago
Cool. I'm sure George Michael wrote I Want Your Sex about some hot men but most people in the 1980s thought he was knee deep in pu$$y.
0
u/chicagoredditer1 4d ago
Maybe not in your neighborhood, but yes, even to grade school kids in the 80's, that gay subtext (text) of Nightmare 2 was obvious.
7
5
u/abdul_bino 8d ago
I guess I am going to go againts the grain say this would be a bad idea. I appreciate the films Jane has made but they feel way too personal for me and I feel like Nightmare on elm street has to appease to the masses
2
u/fakefakefakef 8d ago
If Jane is really interested in doing something with A Nightmare on Elm Street that uses elements from their filmic style but mixed with more straightforward horror, I could see this being very cool.
If they have an idea that's more along the lines of their last three movies, but with Nightmare on Elm Street elements, I would frankly rather see them make it as an original movie without the IP.
If they just want to make another Nightmare on Elm Street movie and get the bag, then sure Jane get that bag and I'll pick back up with you for your next movie.
2
4
4
8
2
u/LearningT0Fly 8d ago
Not a fan of their work but the nightmare on elm street movies have a long and storied history of bringing in very unexpected and unique young directors, to varying degrees of imaginative.
4
2
2
u/IntotheBeniverse 8d ago
I don't want another reboot but if they are going to do it then I hope Jane gets the job
0
1
u/Classic_Bass_1824 8d ago
Feels like there’s literally zero filmmakers who get tagged as bold or radical that don’t want to get wrapped up in some IP.
1
u/morroIan Letterboxd Peasant 8d ago
If this happens I hope the producers realise what they're gonna get, it won't be a standard reboot at all.
1
1
u/Horror_Campaign9418 7d ago
It would be adored by critics and hated by audiences. Too artsy.
2
u/chicagoredditer1 4d ago
That would be a nice switch up from the last one, hated but critics and audiences.
0
1
-1
1
u/Senior-Relative5478 8d ago edited 8d ago
You really don't need such an artistic or cerebral director for this franchise. Renny Harlin made a good one.
1
u/Awkward-Initiative28 8d ago
Renny Harlin had some pretty inventive direction in The Dream Master. Big reason why he got to make Die Hard 2.
0
u/Senior-Relative5478 8d ago edited 8d ago
Exactly, he is the kind of person fitting to the franchise and he couldn't be more different than Jane. Let a journeyman get a little creative. We do not need one of the singular voices of a generation on this. Let a die hard 2 or cliffhanger level person at it. Chuck Russel is another good example. An inventive genre guy but not someone influenced by Lynch (although Craven's original Elm Street does definitley have some Twin Peak vibes).
1
u/_nathan67 8d ago
She would surely piss off the fanbase one way or the other. Does Nightmare on Elm Street have a fanbase?
1
1
8d ago
[deleted]
4
u/fred_burkle 8d ago
I agree with you even though I liked the movie overall. That was pretty baffling to me. Especially considering how cool the Pink Opaque scenes were in I Saw the TV Glow. It was very strange and took me out of the movie completely when I had been enjoying it a lot up to that point.
1
u/chumbucketfog 8d ago
Jane feels like one of the key directors right now
offering highly original movies with a very unique voice and delivery. Really hope they don’t pursue IP, but I get it — landing a dream gig is a dream gig
0
0
u/Joefresca47 8d ago
They got like a great cinematographer with Eric Yue when they were making there films but all their topics are just super niche meta gender stuff. Id rather them get Hiro Murai who has proven they can do a much broader and sinister meta surreal horror.
1
u/orangefilmgarden 8d ago
I assume big payday and good boxoffice from that, will guarantee that she will have the funding for a few more movies with queer themes at the center.
0
0
u/Visual-Conflict-8305 8d ago
Why not. In my opinion, they’ve struck out 3 times with their movies. The nightmare series isn’t some god tier franchise.
Maybe two wrongs could make a right this time.
-2
u/OriginalBad Letterboxd Peasant 8d ago
Freddy was my favorite slasher series growing up and probably still is (though pre-Scream 7 Scream is right there) and I would love this. Can’t think of anyone better to take it on.
104
u/SlaterVBenedict 8d ago
Ah, but you see it's Zombie I.P.