All fan films are made with a labor of love; they have to be in order for them to get made. In order to curb any copyright infringement, the films are distributed for free, meaning the filmmakers are making the film out of passion to do so, as opposed to profit. While every fan film deserves credit for the amount of work that goes into them, the unfortunate case of the matter is that most aren’t that good.
Such is not the case with “The Confession of Fred Krueger,” a new fan film based on the popular “A Nightmare on Elm Street” franchise. The thirty-minute short film, a passion project by Nathan Thomas Milliner, captures the essence of spirit of the franchise (specifically the first film) while having its own identity. It is a methodically creepy exploration into the depraved mind of Freddy Krueger, showcasing a police interrogation involving him, as opposed to devilish nightmares. This approach is a risky one, but Milliner pulls it off, emphasizing Freddy’s demented personality to elicit scares. On that note, Kevin Roach disproves the notion that only Robert Englund can play the Springwood Slasher, as he brings the right amount of menace and maniacal glee to the role, sending shivers up one’s spine.
I had the opportunity to talk to Nathan Thomas Milliner about his film, his passion for the franchise and filmmaking, as well as his other ventures.
1) What is it about “A Nightmare on Elm Street” that you love so much?
It was my gateway into the genre. I was 12-years old and a kid struggling with his self-esteem. I was being bullied in school and going through some bad depression. My grades were suffering and I was the new kid in school and it was that age where kids are just mean. I was this shy, artistic type and I think outsiders generally look for something that speaks to them or that is theirs. It could be a band, a game, or a film. Anything really. One night I chose to test my fears and watch Nightmares 2 and 3 on cable. I instantly fell in love with them.
The horror genre is unlike any other. It is a wave of emotions. You can be laughing one minute and then on edge the next and then completely freaked out and scared out of your mind the next. There was also something forbidden about the genre. I’m not supposed to be seeing this kind of violence. This kind of language or content. I’m not supposed to see that nurse’s bare breasts seducing Joey. To me, I think the Elm Street series captured my imagination because it was fun, imaginative, but I also think it has to do with Elm Street being a metaphor for standing up to bullies. Freddy is the ultimate bully. How do bullies get their power? They make you afraid of them. How do you beat a bully? You show them that they are powerless and they do not scare you anymore. It is exactly what Nancy does to Freddy in the original film. She defeats her bully.
2) What compelled you to make “A Nightmare on Elm Street” fan film?
Right after I saw the first four films in 1988, I went to the mall and to the book store to see if there were any Elm Street related books. When I get into a movie I really dig deep and become obsessed. The clerk ordered me a book called “The Nightmare on Elm Street Companion” by Jeffrey Cooper. Cooper had also written the novelizations of the films. Inside was an origin story. Maybe ten pages long, if that. It described who Freddy was. Where he came from. How he came to be the boogeyman. It was called “The Life and Death of Freddy Krueger.” Ever since reading that, and especially the alleyway kill scene, I wanted to see the prequel made on the big screen. So for the next 20 plus years I held out for it to happen. I heard Englund was wanting to do it and hoped his interest would get the coals burning but sadly the remake came about and it kind of sent the message that it was a dead idea. After talking to some fans about this one day, one suggested I write one. I didn’t take that too seriously but I thought it might be fun. So I wrote the script in about an hour. It just came that easily. This was back in early 2012.
3) Any worries or concerns about retaining the spirit of the original film and living up to it?
When you take on something so beloved by such a wide fanbase, you are already getting yourself into big trouble. You are painting a target on your back. I honestly thought a fan film maker would get a pass. Because who really takes fan films seriously? Or fan fiction for that matter? It is just harmless, inspired, expression from someone who really loves something. I knew I had to respect it and get things as right as I could but the truth was I knew the story I wanted to tell. I knew the version of Fred Krueger I always had in my head. Living up to the original film was never a thing because no one could live up to Wes Craven. But trying my best to if at all possible, capture the tone, look, atmosphere and beauty within his original film was all I ever concerned myself with. I felt I could get it close enough.
4) Did you have any contact with Wes Craven, Robert Englund, or anybody else involved with the series in regards to making this short film?
Sadly I was never able to meet or talk with Wes. He was my hero and I was making this film for him. I have a career because of this man. And sadly, just weeks before the film was to be shown Wes passed away. I have never been that destroyed by the death of a stranger in my entire life. I couldn’t stop feeling pain for two days. I have met Robert Englund a few times and I understand from others that Robert knows of me, knows my art and likes it. I did the cover of the Never Sleep Again making of Elm Street book and I think that was when he became aware. As far as talking to anyone involved in the original film in making this film the answer is no. The closest you could get to that would be that composer Lito Velasco asked Charles Bernstein for his blessing before he wrote his score for the film. And Bernstein gave him that blessing.
5) You took this to HorrorHound Weekend. What was that experience like? How was the reception?
HorrorHound Weekend was a fairy tale. Because I have been an employee of the companies for 8 years now as a staff artist and writer, I knew that there was a good possibility that any film I made I could get them to play. They had already played everything else I was involved with. We are a family there. So as Confession lingered around and HHW became the Elm Street reunion show I had pitched to the owner, I started to seriously move towards shooting the film quickly (even though I had no budget and not much in the way of props, costumes or even locations or actors) I set a goal to get the film shot and finished before September to premiere at HHW.
The film debuted on Friday night and it was amazing. The room was nearly filled to capacity and I was able to dedicate the film to Wes. After it was over, Mark Patton of Nightmare 2, who has become a good friend of mine, stood up and told me to come up front to take a bow. It was amazing to have Mark there with me at my side as it was seeing him on the school bus in the opening of Part 2 that welcomed me to the series way back in 1988. Mark said we are all just a big circle of friends. The same thing happened the following night when we played an encore. Mark called me up to take a bow. I got very emotional that night talking about Wes. Also on the second night the room was packed. People were standing and sitting on the floor to get in. Joseph Whipp and his wife (Joe had played Deputy Parker in the original film) had come to see the film. Passing up a dinner invitation to keep their word as they had met with me earlier and told me they wanted to come and see it. Both nights the crowds erupted with applause. The film went over extremely well.
6) How did you go about casting Freddy Krueger? Did you have Kevin Roach in mind the entire time?
No. I wrote the film for fun so I didn’t have anyone in mind but Robert Englund. I wrote it in Robert’s voice. Robert’s cadence and attitude. When I started talking about making it a film, I cast my friend Chuck Miller in the role as he had played a really creepy killer in my first directorial film. But Chuck was too busy so after that I was actually going to play Freddy. I had done some acting and I knew the role and could mimic Robert’s Freddy all day long. But I really didn’t want to have a copycat performance. But I rehearsed and trained. Luckily I got a gig writing and directing a segment in an anthology film called “Volumes of Blood” in the Fall of 2014. The producer had already cast the segment, titled “The Encyclopedia Satanica.” Kevin Roach had been cast without me having any knowledge of him. But shortly after meeting him, getting to know him I found him to be smart, professional and extremely talented. It was while on set that I realized if I didn’t cast this guy as Fred Krueger soon, I’d regret it. Thankfully Kevin really loved working with me and vice versa and agreed to be my Fred.
7) How did you go about hiring the rest of the cast and crew? Was everybody mutually interested in doing the project from the start?
This was a no budget affair. No one was paid or hired. I asked most of the people to come along with me and based on my past work and I guess being the guy I am they all were glad to help out. And some did come to me asking to be a part of it free of charge because they wanted to both work with me and also work on a Freddy film. Most of the primary cast (speaking roles) went to actors I had worked with and knew could pull the roles off. Kevin of course coming off Satanica. I also got Todd Reynolds after really loving his work with me on Satanica as well. I cast him in the small but pivotal role of Jim. Then there was Thomas Dunbar who had played a Doctor in my first directorial film. Tom had the right authority type with both discipline but sympathy and kindness that I needed. Others came from recommendation or they were friends of cast or crew.
8) The film is told through a police investigation. What made you come up with that approach? Did you have any fears that this would turn off horror fans?
I was afraid that a 30 minute chat in a police station was going to put people, especially horror fans off. I feared it wasn’t going to keep them interested or excited to hang around. Especially in today’s world where patience isn’t exactly smiled upon. Character development and patience are big for me. I like conversation and drama and that is what I wanted to do. I wanted to see Fred Krueger tell his story in his words and the interrogation made sense to me. I think the main reason I chose it was my wish was to give Robert more to do that scrape his claws and say one liners. I wanted to write a meaty performance for both characters. I kept thinking about Mickey Knox and Wayne Gale at the Super Bowl in Natural Born Killers or The Iceman Confessions on HBO, those docs about Richard Kuklinski. This charming yet sociopathic killer telling us his story. I have actually been stunned that not only are people totally fine with the pacing and the whole dialogue driven film but that they are for the most part saying it isn’t too long and want more. I think that has a lot to do with the strong dialogue and the performance of Kevin who make them want to see what else Freddy has to say.
9) Do you feel like doing another “A Nightmare on Elm Street” fan film, or any other fan films based on popular franchises?
I have written a sequel but I am not the kind of guy who wants to just become a fan film guy. Not that there is anything wrong with that, mind you, but I have been a storyteller my whole life. I have written dozens of original stories and some of them have made it to comic book form and others to film. I have tons of ideas so I don’t have to make another Elm Street film. But people seem to want one. Or two. I do have a script for a sequel. We’ll see. I have also considered doing a Halloween fan film.
10) What other films have you made? Where can people find them?
My first film was “Girl Number Three.” A low, low budget slasher feature. Based on one of my comics I was the screenwriter on it. My second was “A Wish for the Dead” which I wrote and directed. Another feature based on a comic I did. That one still has not come out yet. I think those films for the most part were just trial runs. Letting me learn the basics. Almost all of us were beginners on those films and learning. My third film was “Volumes of Blood.” I was the writer/director of the segment “Encyclopedia Satanica.” That film should be more available next year.
11) You also work at Scream Factory & HorrorHound Magazine. What do you do for those companies?
I started working for HorrorHound Magazine back in 2008 and have done interior art, several covers and have written articles for them. In 2012 I was hired by Scream! Factory to do the artwork for their first four titles, Halloween 2 and 3, Terror Train and Funhouse. Since then I have done 40 blu ray and dvd covers for 4 different companies. 18 just for Scream alone. I have worked for just about everyone in the horror genre including Rotten Cotton, Creepy Tees, Fright Rags, NECA, Trick or Treat Studios, The Weinstein Co and more. It has been an interesting 7 years.
12) Any advice for aspiring filmmakers?
Just get out there and make something. Learn as much as you can. Stay humble. Listen. Pay attention. Your job as an artist is not to preach but to show. You know how to show by paying attention. Don’t worry about being a famous director, worry about being a great director. Make YOUR film.
13) Lastly, and most importantly, where can people find “The Confession of Fred Krueger?”
You can find it on YouTube. Just search for it by the title.