'FredHeads' (2023) Reaction

Horror fans are nothing if not passionate – the most obscure contributions to the genre have the most devout supporters, and even the popularly maligned features manage to have a cult following of supporters. Directors and lead actors aren’t the only stars of the shows either – horror fans will memorize the personnel of all their favorite films, from the supporting actors to the composers to the editors, the list goes on and on. While this level of commitment to something that most people would view as trivial and mindless entertainment may come off as confusing, it often leads to the strongest sense of community that could ever be formed. The recently-released documentary FredHeads, which covers the fanbase of one of the most popular slasher franchises in history, A Nightmare on Elm Street, is one of the best examples of such a communal experience.

FredHeads is a documentary made by and for fans of Freddy Krueger and the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise as a whole – featuring interviews from all over the world, whether they’re remote submissions or face-to-face at a horror convention, fans from all walks of life have their stories told in this film. Whether you’re a hardcore collector, a character cosplayer, an industry professional, or an average everyday enjoyer of the films, there’s bound to be at least one story or fan in this documentary that you can relate to in some way. That’s what makes the doc so impactful – it highlights the human side of the horror genre that is so often overlooked by the masses. 

While there are reams of people who unfortunately don’t see any merit or appeal behind horror films, the fans are as passionate as they are because it connects to them on a personal level – no, not in the way the media would like to portray (horror fans are actually some of the LEAST violent people you’ll ever meet), but horror fans connect to the films they enjoy for a plethora of reasons. First, there could be some element of relatability, from connecting to a character because of their personality or how they react to the circumstances around them. This helps people process their own individual tribulations and hardships, which leads to a profound appreciation and enjoyment of the films and characters that are interpreted to help people through the horrors of their daily lives. To a similar point, a fan can gravitate to these kinds of films because they provide an escape from said real-life difficulties. There’s always the feeling of being simply entertained by something as well, but when it comes to hardcores, it’s a safe bet that there’s a deeper meaning on the individual level, and FredHeads explores this extremely well through the course of the documentary.

Along with the fan testimonials that were submitted to the crew behind FredHeads, the crew members themselves also have time to tell their individual stories behind their fandom of the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, with each account so uniquely touching and personal. Creator/director Paige Troxell, author Anthony Brownlee, content creator/cosplayer Diandra Lazor, and producers Kim Gunzinger and Jeremy Todd Morehead each have their own reasons for connecting to the Freddy Krueger phenomena – some casual, some harrowing, but all heartfelt. You’ll have to watch the doc for yourself to hear their stories, but take it from me that it’s something that everyone should hear, horror fan or not. It’s their stories that help rationalize how someone could be so attached to something that many people would consider grotesque and disturbing. If there’s any single message to FredHeads, it’s that one person’s nightmare fuel (pun slightly intended) can be another’s confidant. 

It’s easy to be grossed out by the shock value of horror films, but FredHeads brings the emotional importance of the fanbase that’s often dismissed to the forefront. For a horror fan, it’s great to see how many other people relate to your favorite films in similar ways to you – from a personal perspective, it almost reminds me of the basis of my YouTube show, Monster Memories, where I discuss the importance of certain horror films to myself as a fan along with the filmmaking merit behind them. For someone who doesn’t enjoy or understand the genre, this documentary could be a sort of eye-opener by showing just how impassioned people can be about their favorite slashers, and their reasons for it.

I’ll end this with a bit of a personal story – I first heard of FredHeads’ production in May 2018 at the first Days of the Dead convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, which featured a cast reunion from the fan-favorite sequel, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987). On the last day of the convention, there was a camera crew in front of me and my family to meet every cast member and after the second or third time of ending up behind them, we ended up making some small talk together. They told us they were working on a documentary called FredHeads, and handed us promotional materials such as sunglasses and buttons with their logo on it. The film was on my radar from that point forward, and to see it finally released five years later brings me a lot of joy. I’ve loved seeing the hype and attention it’s gotten over the last year or so, and I hope everyone involved continues to find success with the documentary along with their own individual creative endeavors. I also hope this doc inspires other like-minded horror fans to do something similar with other genre properties – the crew of FredHeads all met through their love of A Nightmare on Elm Street, so who’s to say that lightning can’t strike again with fans of another franchise? I have my ideas, that’s for sure, but I hope that same inspiration reaches other people and continues to add to the communal experience we all share as horror fans.

FredHeads will be streaming on Tubi starting June 25. To watch it now on DVD, click here.

To learn more about FredHeads, click here.

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