Name: Frederick Charles ‘Freddy’ Kreuger
From: Springwood, Ohio.
Occupation: Mass murderer.
Weapon of choice: A bladed glove.
Claim to fame: Voted 14th greatest villain by Wizard Magazine.
Modus Operandi: To appear, as a vengeful spirit, to teenagers in their dreams. He pursues them, terrifies them, tortures them and eventually kills them. This rather ingenious way of stalking his prey renders them deceased in real life too.
Appearance: Noted for his startling facial disfigurement, due to burning, and his bold choice of colour, in his red and green striped jumper, which certainly makes him memorable. But it is his brown fedora – an ode to a former existence maybe – and, more importantly, his brown leather glove, the fingers trimmed with deadly metal blades, that he is most remembered for.
Background to behaviour: He was a child killer, who was set on fire by the parents of his victims after he escaped prosecution on a technicality. Although he died of his injuries, the youthful minds of the teenagers of Springwood help to keep his spirit alive, by dreaming about him. Clearly, the kids miss having him around and so it’s only fair that he keeps the terror alive long after he is dead.
Weakness: It would appear that by bringing him into the real world, he develops normal human vulnerabilities and, as such, can be killed. Or, can he?
I like Freddy. Yes, he is a bad guy and yes, he got what he deserved, but, in a sense, his reason for coming back makes sense. He is seeking vengeance against his own death, by punishing the parents of Springwood. In creating Freddy as a vengeful spirit, it makes his constant reincarnation more believable, as he isn’t corporeal in the first place. He is a supernatural being and, as such, a believable supernatural world can be created; one in which people will trust and one which people will fear. For, the supernatural is the unknown and the unknown is difficult, if not impossible, to conquer.”
‘Til next time,
