From his iconic role as Freddy Krueger in the A Nightmare on Elm Street films to getting behind the camera with 976-EVIL, SCREAMBOX is celebrating the renowned career of horror legend Robert Englund with Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story, an absolutely epic new documentary coming to the streaming service this June!
Variety first reported the big news tonight. In conjunction with Cult Screenings UK Ltd and Unannounced Film Company, “Cinedigm acquired North American rights to the film and will give it an exclusive theatrical run before the documentary hits the Bloody Disgusting streamer Screambox in late spring, tied to Englund’s 76th birthday on June 6.”
The documentary was shot over the course of two years, highlighting the life and career of the classically trained actor and director.
Featuring interviews with Robert Englund and his wife Nancy, as well as fellow genre icons Lin Shaye, Eli Roth, Kane Hodder, Tony Todd, Adam Green, Bill Moseley, Heather Langenkamp & more, the documentary follows Englund’s career from his early days in Buster and Billie and Stay Hungry (starring with Arnold Schwarzenegger) to his big break in the 1980s as Freddy Krueger to his directorial debut with the 1988 horror film 976-EVIL to his iconic acting status in current roles such as Netflix’s hit series “Stranger Things”.
Stalking the screen in near silence, Englund slashed his way into the public consciousness in the 1984 horror classic A Nightmare on Elm Street. Needing few words, his performance showed a range far beyond that which was written on the page. Fans could not get enough of his menacing glove and trademark grin. With each new film in the series, Englund’s status as an icon grew until he became one of the most recognizable names in horror. Grossing over $450M at the box office, the Nightmare franchise has shown itself to be one of the most prolific in horror history. Spawning, merchandise, a television series and a 2010 remake, Englund’s influence continues to ripple across the genre.
Branching out into other well-known films and television series, Englund has been frightening and delighting audiences for the past five decades. The actor has been featured in series like “Stranger Things,” and “Bones,” popular films Urban Legend, 2001 Maniacs, Wishmaster and Hatchet, and hosted his own series “True Terror with Robert Englund.”
Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story looks beyond the film credits and examines Englund’s career and his navigation through the cutthroat world of Hollywood.
Co-directed by Gary Smart and Christopher Griffiths (known for Pennywise: The Story of IT and You’re So Cool, Brewster! The Story of Fright Night) and written by Neil Morris and Smart, the film is also produced by Smart and Griffiths along with John Campopiano (Pennywise: The Story of IT), Adam Evans (Leviathan: The Story of Hellraiser), Michael Perez (Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy) and Hank Starrs and executive-produced by and Adam F. Goldberg, Corey Taylor, Costa Theo and Laurence Gornall.
“This old veteran character actor was surprised and flattered to find he was the subject of the documentary Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares,” said Englund. “Collaborating with directors Gary Smart and Christopher Griffiths and the rest of the team was a joy as they are genre fans like me. For Yours Truly, watching the film is a bit like Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn attending their own funeral. Gary, Chris and Adam (Evans) managed to find old movies and TV shows I’d forgotten I was in. I’d come back from the dead! All kidding aside – it’s an accurate memory of a working actor’s journey – dreams can come true.”
Co-director Smart states: “Both Chris and I have been fans of Robert since we were children, and now to have the opportunity to not only become friends with Robert but to also celebrate his amazing career in this love-letter documentary is truly a ‘dream’ come true for us.”
“[Robert] Englund’s performance in Nightmare is iconic, yes, but if you look back at the history of horror, it so much more than that,” said Brad Miska, Managing Director of Bloody Disgusting. “His flair and understated wit helped give rise to the genre-bending ethos we have now. Englund’s humor and natural charisma paved the way for films like Scream and Terrifier and will continue to inspire actors and filmmakers for decades to come.”
What’s your favorite Robert Englund moment in history?!