A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET

CLIENT: MONDO

"I dreamed about a guy in a dirty red and green sweater." - Nancy Thompson

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The original one-sheet for A Nightmare on Elm Street by the incredible Matthew Peak is my favorite horror movie poster of all time. I love it so much in fact, that the artwork permanently graces my upper right arm. There was an immense amount of pressure to do this film justice. Not only did it birth my favorite horror poster of all time but its also my favorite horror film and franchise...eesh! 

The thing about this film and the legacy of Freddy is that the films offer so much visual eye-candy. There is so much to play around with and in a world full of surrealism and darkness and almost whimsicalness...there are almost no rules. Dreams can be anything and nothing is linear or clear. Thats what I think Matthew Peak captured so well in all of his Elm St. posters. 

I had this concept in my head for a very long time and had the sketch kicking around the boiler room for a while. I wanted to hold back on tackling it until the time was right and Im glad I did. Mondo had a great opportunity to release the poster for a special all day/night marathon screening of ALL the NOES films at The Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, TX. Canada is so deprived of this kind of awesomeness...

I personally wanted to capture the suburban quiet calm night. The clean and oh-so-perfect little white-picket fenced street. So quiet you could hear a pin drop but in no way could you hear the approaching menace of an immortal dream stalker demon/ex-child killer who preys on you at your most vulnerable...while you sleep.

The visual to any fans of the film might be familiar. It was inspired by Tina's nightmare scene in which Freddy's arms grow and stretch and reach out beyond human means. This is really the first time you really learn of Freddys ability to bend his dream world to do whatever he wants. Thats always a terrifying thought - that someone/something evil has that much control over your dreams... 

This composition isnt new by any means. A character looming over top of a disjointed landscape IS something familiar but I wanted to expand on that idea. I wanted Freddy to actually be interacting with the landscape..breaking the fourth wall to a degree. Freddy's arms reaching and stretching and coiling around the houses on Elm St. In and out of bedroom windows like a snake. Both houses on the left and right being Tina and Glen's houses specifically. 

I wanted people look at this poster and be transported there. Right in\nto the film and world that feels like Elm Street...and you dont want to live there.

Thanks Wes, for the inspiration and the nightmares. RIP.

36" x 24" SCREEN PRINT
REGULAR EDITION OF 250
RETRO VARIANT EDITION OF 150
PRINTED BY D&L