The Trial of Fred Krueger

Marge: 

It drove us crazy when we didn't know who it was, 

but it was even worse after they caught him

Nancy : 

Did they put him away?

Marge: 

Well all the lawyers got fat and the Judge got famous, but
someone forgot to sign the search warrant in the right place 

and Krueger was free just like that

 

Every now and then I find myself thinking about one of my favorite movies and the potential of various what ifs of off screen events .The "woulda coulda shouldas" , if you will. And one of them recently was on the events of the Trial that would have taken place before Wes Craven's original A Nightmare on Elm Street.  

One of aspects I always admired about Mr Craven's film was that the world of the characters had a history of a life before the movie. A history that was never nailed down in detail by him in any of the Freddy movies he participated in making. Ive often wondered if he had his own Freddy Bible. A list of rules and history of events that Craven created to give himself something to visualize the story, but never needed to put into a script. 

If they ever were to make some form of entertainment out of the Trial of Fred Krueger, I would hope it would be done as a miniseries. Something like 13 episodes. How could they best build up tension and drama when we know how this story ends?
However they chose,they would need a good length to explore all aspects of the story. Let moments breathe. Introduce characters we can care about.

A prequel as a movie choice would have to severely edit story elements to fit within the constraints of an hour an half to two hour film. There is so much dark history leading up to Krueger’s first kill. Let alone exploring the terror he created and following it as it spread through the community with each missing child. Then there is the trial itself. And finally, the act of vengeance.

A lot of ground to cover.

And from whose perspective would this story be told?The Parents? Specifically, any of them from the first movie? Who to follow from before, during, and after the kill?

Follow Freddy? Could watching him as a character really sustain itself ? Cant imagine him having a lot of people to talk to and relate to- so it would it be him at work, and at play-stalking and killing- a lot of dialogue free scenes until his capture ,interrogation and trial where he gets to speak . A straightforward biography movie of Freddy would be a tough choice to pull off .We already know how that story ends, and there would be no way or need to make him a sympathetic character. If we stayed with him for the duration of the story, then all the other characters would most likely lack depth. And the less we try to bring the backstory that was written for Freddy's Dead into the mix the better. Freddy as a father? It certainly could be done. For all we know he could have been a person who hurt the kids who bullied his own child. A parent who took protecting their child to crazy extremes. He meant well, but was never well in the head to begin with so he didnt know when to stop ....ad he liked his work. But Ive always ascribed more to the idea that Freddy was a loner . One of those people who walked through life unnoticed....until the day he decided to make the world take notice.  

I've explored random ideas of his birth to burning in a previous post on here before. There are many ways to approach the events , with or without Freddy's Dead tackled as canon.

Could they pull off the story by keeping Freddy in the shadows for most of the story? His big reveal at the moment he is captured? And exactly how did he get caught? In the act? Or tracked? Ive often thought that ,as his killings and the found bodies and numbers of missing children increased, the Parents fear grew. 

Freddy would begin to snatch his children from street corners and school yards and whenever opportunity gave him a gift. Perhaps picking out the quiet ones and latch key kids at first.. A type of kid he was probably familiar with having most likely been one himself. So he would know how to spot the potential easy marks. 

Or choosing ,at first, kids whose disappearance might not make as much noise in the papers. Playing on prejudices and preconceptions that he thought would be made about his chosen child. But his real intent came from taking the children from the perceived "perfect" families. He would take pleasure in soiling these white picket fenced happy homes.Shoving in their faces the horrors of the world that they thought were not meant for them.Maybe Parents who treated Freddy with disrespect  by day found their children taken by night.  

Eventually the Parents would pull the kids back to their own yards.....but that would not stop Freddy.  He would continue his terror until playing outside was forbidden. The playgrounds and school yards would be empty. So then Freddy would have to creep inside their homes and take the children from their beds.....or leave them there for Mommy to find in the morning. 

It's indicated that he took the kids to an old abandoned boiler room for his brand of fun. But it's never mentioned what he did with the bodies afterwards. It seems in line with his character that he burned some of them  Partially to hide his handy work, partially to just watch them burn. But then his twisted sense of being would want to extend the horror to the homes. Horror tableaux left on playground toys or in bedrooms. Foul things written in their children's blood on the walls above the baby crib. 

Eventually all this need to snatch them from inside would place Freddy in greater danger of getting caught. It would force him to keep coming to their neighborhoods .And in a small town when they are paying attention and looking, someone like him is sure to be noticed. Suspicion leads to search warrant.

And what of the trial? How long do you think it lasted before he was set free? Did the parents we have already met give testimony while Krueger grinned and stared them down from across the courtroom? Giggling at their pain. Licking his lips and rubbing his crotch as each child’s murder was presented.

Marge spoke of it being much worse after Freddy was caught. How so? Not knowing if your child was safe at play would surely be awful. But having to spend day after day seeing Freddy in person would be a terrible emotional experience. Sure, he was under lock and key, but now he was more than just lines on the pages of a newspaper. Hearing every gory detail that each child experienced would be heartbreaking, more so if they knew the child personally. The painful testimony after testimony of each parent as they tell about their child before they were lost and in some cases, how they were found .Every time you  opened the paper, there he was staring back at you,always grinning in joy from the pain and suffering he has caused with his own gloved hand.And there was another child revealed as attributed to being tainted by his touch.

I imagined Krueger would mock the parents in the courtroom……

FREDDY :

Awww that was your child? Sloppy Seconds Susie?

….she had sweet lips…

(glares at Susie’s Father) 

...........but then you knew that didn’t you,Daddy?” . 

 Another Parent in regards to their child-” WHY?!? WHY?!? ….

FREDDY 

(staring directly into her eyes):

Just so I could watch you cry

The media would have a field day with this sensational trial .As the whole town would want to know what was going on. Understandably so. Everyone in town would have something to say about the situation. From people who actually knew details to attention seekers making up stories. “You know the Shop And Bag out by the mall? I stopped at the light and saw him walking in that field behind the Lost River Drive-In on the day that that Lane kid went missing”. Reporters showing up on doorsteps all times of the day. The horrors being relived and reported over and over with no escape for the parents directly involved.

What of the lawyers? Imagine having to be the representative for Krueger? I bet there was a certain amount of harassment that person experienced. And after they used the search warrant signature error to get Krueger off? I’m surprised the parents didn’t burn the lawyer too.

What of the Judge? Did he work the trial to his own political advantage with all the attention it was bringing?Take payments to keep certain people/businesses out of the trial?

And what of the search warrant? Who failed to do their job correctly?What if it was the Judge himself? That would surely make him famous for making such a mistake. Or maybe the search warrant was fake in the first place. What if Nancy's father from the original movie was involved in the mishandling of the search warrant

I could see the Krueger case developing to a level of hysteria that he had to be "protected" .Kept in a cage of glass or bars. It would lead in well to the concept of the the avenging parents if they were already driven to try and hurt Krueger in the courtroom before his release. Several attempts and or threats could lead the court to determine it was the only way to give him a fair trial is to prevent further interruptions.

Of course this would just piss off the parents more. "He's guilty!He deserves to be punished.How dare you protect him after what he did?Where was this protection for our children?"  

And then there is fiery events that occurred after the trial.........

My heart has joined the thousand for my friend stopped running on this day

At the late night,double feature ....pic-.....-ture......show..

A Rocky Horror sequel?Stranger things have been known to happen.

Several years after the audience found the original Rocky Horror Picture Show, the midnight circuit success of the film caused Richard O'Brien to entertain thoughts of writing a sequel to this little cult movie that could as its fandom continued to pick up steam. And  "Rocky Horror Shows His Heels" would have been the title.

Richard O'Brien would once again write the libretto and songs. Many actors and production designers ,etc would be asked to return.A world of weirdness was possible.  

Dr Scott and Brad would have set up a laboratory next to the crater left by the Castle. Somehow and for some reason they sought a way to revive the corpse of Frank. Who upon his rebirth would say" I haven't a thing to wear to my resurrection" and slip into the song that would have been "Little Black Dress." "Ever since I was a little boy....dressing up ..has always been....my greatest joy." Oh, and Janet was pregnant with Frank's baby. 

But then, Dammit ,Janet,  it all quickly began to fall apart. Actors found themselves busy with other work.After many years wearing the heels , Curry wanted to move away from Frank and onto other roles and new challenges.And finally, money problems and a Screen Writers Guild strike created an environment of needed change. 

With the go ahead to make another movie, the parties involved didn't want to give up the opportunity just because of several hurdles. The new movie was now to be called "The Brad and Janet Show" .Briefly,  Tim Curry was to return , this time playing Farley Flavors, but then  declined after his concerns of pulling off an American accent for the character.

 When other actors couldnt or wouldnt play in the sandbox one more time, the story was changed from a direct sequel to a variation on a theme. To cut the budget , all exterior plans for filming were scrapped and  the story was placed inside a television studio and eventually inside the concept of several tv shows. Shock Treatment was born ,and ooooh we needed it. 

Well,.....not everyone needed it . As ST was a commercial and critical failure.Though,some folks have a strange idea of entertainment and this movie now has it's own cult following these days.Admittedly , no where as fervent as what RH found..

Surprisingly, Shock Treatment has even recently been adapted into a play.  So to every season, turn turn turn. Rocky Horror began its life as a stage play which birthed a movie that in turn gave rise to shadowcasts performing the movie in the front row , once again returning the movie to its stage roots. And now Shock Treatment, a movie that was inspired by a movie that was a originally a stage play found its own way back to the stage.  Is the room spinning, or is that my head?

Years later, as an anniversary year approached , whispers of yet another sequel began to shake the tightest of sewn sequins. Rocky Horror found a brand new audience with its release on video. Now, those who couldn't find a theater near them to soak in all of Rock Horror's midnight glory  could discover what some of the fuss was all about by seeing the movie in the comfort of their home. And the cult began to take its next high heeled baby steps into the mainstream .

Revenge of the Old Queen was to be this versions name and it was a planned direct sequel. Taking place many years after the original movie with Janet having already given birth to Frank's Son and Frank's Mother desiring the boy for her own (and you can take that however you please) 

Sadly, nothing came of this. Only one song has slipped out past Richard O'Brien's lips over the years. And Rocky Horror ,while still finding new audience members every year, is not the experience it once was. The B-movies that are core to Rocky Horrors roots are a thing of the past, Rarely watched today, and I imagine ony a few of today's Rocky Horror audiences are even aware of them outside of a quick google on their phones. 

Besides, when you can see people who look as different as Frank on a television show on any average day of the week (well, especially back when MTV played videos)  as Jane said, it's nothing shocking to see Frank in all his fishnet glory. Old Queen , indeed. 

Truth be told, any sequel is up against a rather large ghost in the form of Tim Curry's Frank.That is a force to be reckoned with and it would be impossible to replicate no matter how good the story. Without Franks presence, the movie would always feel like it is missing an important ingredient.The right charismatic actor would have to be chosen,and even then, he.she.it would be in for a sincere challenge and severe criticism. For me, no Richard O'Brien as  Riff-Raff would be a greater disappointment.

First and foremost, I think any serious attempt at a sequel should really be written for the stage first.Simplify the story.Remember the roots, the rock and roll and b-movie low budget special effects popcorn charms. Has there ever been a sequel written for a stage musical?

But until then......here is a random idea that floated into my mind one late night/early morning (pardon the punctuation or lack of it,misspellings and misplaced words)  .Mixed into it is a mashup of songs and ideas that would have ,could have, should have been from Heels to Revenge.. So without furter a-doobie doobie do  let the 20th Century Fox drumroll begin :

Screen is black

(A long ,long, time ago.......in a galaxy far,far away..)

.

It is many years later.....Janet has had a child , definitely Franks .But we do not see him....till about 30 mins into the movie. Brad and Janet are still together. But not happy with their life

SONG #1

The movie begins, once again with the red lips on black. Or maybe black lips on red?  Singing a song of forgotten films. Or rather the way going to these old type of  films used to make one feel. How nothing is the same as it ever was. That old feeling cant be captured again as time goes on. Regrets

Fade into picturesque 50's ish appearing suburb setting. A David Lynch Blue Velvet/ Tim Burton Edward Scissorhands hybrid, garish in its charm. Men and women return home from a days work. We track on a familiar car as it pulls into a driveway. Cut to a close up of the car facing skyward as a familiar asshole steps up into frame. Older, probably not much wiser. Still with a exaggerated over-zealousness. His bouncy steps illustrate this approaches his front door,waving hello to a male neighbor with a wink. Once inside, the charade drops, along with his shoulders and his expression

home is not where his heart is.

Smoke fills the air, coming from the kitchen. Where we find Janet , smoking, drinking(drunk....again)  and letting dinner burn. She is lost in thought, a suggestive one.

Stilted conversation

An argument ensues ,doors are slammed. I feel a song coming on .....

SONG #2

"Bitchin in the Kitchen" ? perhaps?

Janet end up in her child's bedroom. clutching a pillow that looks like it was won at a state fair. It resembles the Denton town logo.Arrow through the heart.

The bedroom is covered with old 50's sci fi /horror movie posters.

Janet reacts to something off screen.

On the mirror, written in lipstick , is a message from her child. He/She/It has run away to look for the real father. Someone Janet has let slip in drunken bedtime stories over the years. About her and Brads experiences , about the castle and the Doctor.

Janet has a feeling where to look. So She and Brad drive off into the rainy night in search of the child.

SONG #3

Another song begins , perhaps on the radio. Full of double meaning but with a ,pun intended, driving beat." thump....thump...thump....thump...thump..thump ..thump....woke up....fell out of bed...dragged the comb across my head....

The song ends suddenly as Brad slams on the breaks, bracing Janet.

Outside their rain soaked windshield they see THE castle in the distance. Some how back. It's dome glowing in the dark night. Lightning crashing. The car is frightened.

They slowly drive forward in silence towards the front door.

Getting out of the car, this time remembering to bring an umbrella. Janet. and Brad approach the front door. and ring the bell.

Pause.

Then the clank of the handle and the slow creak of the door as it opens.....to reveal...

DR SCOTT!!   (Janet...Brad......)

Confusion," come inside. Youve arrived on a very special night. etc etc"

Dr Scott informs B & J what has already transpired: the strange sudden return of the castle on this night , how he has been watching the skies and searching the crater for years.

They ask if their child is here. Dr Scott informs them yes, with a worried look. Something is amiss

The trio enter the ballroom to find it empty. A ghost of the party that once was.

Janet and Brad start questioning Dr Scott, an argument brews, yelling back and forth as Dr Scott seems to be holding back answers. Brad and Janet begin yelling at each other untill all three are yelling  when suddenly BRAD screams a girly scream and faints at the sight of something in the distance.....

It's their child.....all dolled up  and looking remarkably like Dr Frank n Furter.  with a song in his heart.....

SONG #4

"Mom....Dad.......ever since I was a little boy...dressing up has always been my greatest joy..."  and then he begins singing a new song.

about finding himself and dont I look lovely?Dream 'n Be'N  Sassy lassy

The song ends ,  Young Frank strikes a hip shot pose

Well, Mom?...Dad?  what do you think of my new look? like it?

Brad faints again

Fade to black.

Brad awakens to find himself upstairs in a new laboratory ...and there is,what looks like,  a new body on the slab. Covered by a red satin sheet.

Young Frank welcomes his parents and tells them what he has planned. why this night is important. A night he has waited for his entire life.  He begins a song.......of hopes and dreams or calling out beyond the stars and finding home

SONG#5

He pulls back the bed sheet to reveal some type of transmitter.

thunder bolts and lightning , very very frightning.....as he and Dr Scott raise the transmitter skyward to the dome....and activate it.....A huge beam of shimmering crystal light emerges with a hypnotic humm....a familiar time warpy theme too it.

Explosions of sparks....familiar laughter......

screen goes white with a flash

and then there they are....

Riff and Magenta,in new space suits....an army of Transylvanians,each carrying a overflowing trunk of clothes...and the Old Queen,Franks Mom (some ol grand dame english lady looking very fetching in her travel lingerie uniform.) Would it be too out of line to get Maggie Smith?

the Old Queen orders them to capture the Dr Scott and Brad n Janet....

A chase ensues , with a scooby doo ish tune that Riff and Magenta sing about being back in business, innuendo filled lyrics as they sing to each other in chase . Flirting .

SONG#6

The Transylvaninans offering up background chorus singing .. woo woos and what nots, and the colored girls go .....

Frank doesn't run,but is drawn to Old Queen. they flirt within the song as well. (incest is big in this family)

Riff and Magenta and the Transylvanians  corner the three in the ballroom. Dr Scott tries to bargain with Riff....who promptly shoots him with his laser. But before Magenta can shoot Brad or Janet a voice cries out ..."WAIT!!" (-tress...check ,Please)

Its their son. in the arms of Grandma.

The son want his parents to answer for their crimes, of denying him his true self. And not being true to each other....he shoots them with a "truth " ray. (It could happen)  that evokes a song in the two.....

SONG #7

a song where they reveal whats in their hearts,secrets ,what they desire and  that ends with them harmonizing  " I dont looooove youuuuuuu"

Magenta (eye roll): "How sentimental"

A laser is fired....Magenta drops to the floor. Screams and cries from Riff as he cradles his Sister in his arms...

the Old Queen , blowing the smoke from the laser, says , "come lets retire to our beds we need rest before the return home. "

the Transylvnians drag Janet and Brad away to separate rooms.

as Riff begins a song of brotherly love while he caresses and then straddles Magentas corpse.

SONG # 8

  A song that implies bringing one back to life via a good shagging.Starts slow but works up a heavy rhythm

In the Old Queens bedroom , she lays with Young Frank and sings him a lullaby of Transylvania . Of its moon drenched shores and other beauties.

As the song nears its ends we transition to the dark of the ballroom.  Riff stands,singing the chorus, his uniform shredded, a evil satisfied grin on his face.....then Magenta's hands claw her way up his chest as she stands.  pushing Riff back down to he knees where he remains for the remainder of the song.

Smiling wickedly ,Magenta speaks:

"The Bitch, has come back"  And throws her head back in ecstasy.

Cut to the old Queen spanking Young Frank. Ow...oooh....oh  Young Frank throwing a teenage temper tantrum..pillow fight. He doesnt want to return to Transexual ...and have to rule as King, too much work . Young Frank runs away ,

SONG#9

singing a dance song of teenage angst. Every where he turns the Transylvanians seem to be ready to join in on the dance.

YF finds Janet, who comforts him. joins him in the chorus

Brad finds them, he too joins in the chorus

The three sing as one.

"ENOUGH"  the old queen screams. 

SONG# 10 she starts a song of being bored with this world and its people. ,the disappointing frustration of all her children(some we havent met). and just wanting to get the fuck out of here.

Riff and Magenta arrive, Now dressed in their old space uniforms.

A laser fight ensues with all parties participating.It should remind us of a scene from a classic science fiction film.

In the end, Riff ends up turned into a statue of stone

Magenta clings to his frozen corpse and suddenly begins to sing a song

SONG# 11

.... it's melody is Purple Rain gorgeous

.....its first line is beautiful

....and then she suddenly stops and says " fuck this sentimental shit"  and walks off.

B,J and YF escape in the smoke   the castle and the old Queen leaves

SONG# 12

 the family sings a song of the best thing for them all is to be away from each other, going their own way and one by one each leaves the song till only young Frank is left singing solemnly  but he then turns the song around and sings about how fabulous he will be because he wont dream it, he will  be it.

SONG# 13

reprise the song from the beginning , lyrics now about no regrets.

fade to black roll the credits.

No Sleep ,till Brooklyn

As often it happens, when I shut my eyes for sleep, my mind decides it wants to hold a conversation. Something I may have seen, read or heard sparks a random story idea. And before I know it, the hours grow early and despite my sense of NEED TO GET TO SLEEP YESTERDAY!!!!! , I struggle to give in.
The following is the first blush thought that plagued my attempt at sleep a few nights ago:


You have just finished reading a new book.A book that introduces a character that you recognize as yourself .A book whose ending of the story changes depending on who is reading it.A book that you must give to another person within 24 hours or the ending you just read....starts to come true.

You have to "convince" the person to read the first sentence of the book in the same 24 hr time frame.If they do not , your version of the story continues down it's path. Depending on who you give the book to, your "character" could appear in the new readers story.So you're not out of the woods ,yet.

Perhaps it's a cursed soul, trapped in the book. Someone who had a history of dishonesty.Now trapped in this book and forced to tell truths in the text. But being a bad spirit, it's natural tendencies take over and it starts telling half truths and leads the reader with subliminal suggestions .Somehow ,it can read the reader and it changes the story to take parts from their personal life. In fact, it feeds off it. Giving new meaning to a book sucking in the reader.