Kristen

Part of my ongoing Nightmare on Elm Street 4 series of blog entries, I was taking in key sequences involving Tuesday Knight's own approach to the character specifically for this post. While this won't be as extensive or lengthy as a post I have for Lisa Wilcox and her character of Alice, I did kind of mull over the character of Kristen, and her demise.

I have read enough vitriol used towards Knight's performance, but I would not have wanted to be in that position. Sure, it was quite a gig--a way for her to make a name for herself, perhaps a chance to carve out a potential career--but because Patricia Arquette had made this Kristen so identifiable to herself in Dream Warriors, Knight having to step in as a replacement due to whatever reason Arquette had (probably other roles or monetary reasons; perhaps the idea that her character would be killed off before the half-way point of the film left her rather unimpressed) must have been quite intimidating.

Maybe a statement towards the character?

Knight played Kristen as damaged and scarred. Freddy had left an indelible mark on her life; she just couldn't shake Krueger. I thought her approach was an accurate portrayal considering how Arquette played Kristen in the previous film. The opening with Knight was a great hook thanks to director Harlin's striking camera work and the design of the dream, Krueger's house, and how she re-emerges into the abyss of the nightmare. Freddy had yet to re-appear, but Kristen's inability to escape his shadow gave birth to the monster. The boiler might have been cold but it would gain heat thanks to Kristen.

I was watching the document for Part 4 on the really terrific Never Sleep Again, and Rodney Eastman did comment about how difficult it was to try and respond to a different actress portraying Kristen. He pondered regarding how the dynamic might have been if Arquette had came back to participate; would it have made a difference? We will never know.

I remember as a kid I had watched Nightmare 4 not long after Part III and, like I'm sure others felt, was a bit disappointed in Arquette's not returning, but you either dwell on this or just go with the film. So I gave Knight a chance. I wasn't blown away. It was an acceptable performance. She didn't knock my socks off. I always respond to Wilcox who I had developed an affinity and affection for. Her character, and how Wilcox played her. How Renny filmed her. Anyway, I just felt rather strongly that the character of Kristen was ultimately a let-down, how she eventually fell to Krueger. I think that if Arquette had returned, just because of how much time the movie (and investment we all) gave to the character in Part III, that there would have been a more emotional impact. Like when Kristen held Nancy in her arms at the end of Dream Warriors; there was resonance and sadness that comes with her loss. The way Fred just lifts up Knight's Kristen and tosses her into the furnace like trash, it was rather unceremonious and unflattering to the character. It was clear that Alice's importance in the film took precedence to Kristen. I have asked myself if Kristen had been portrayed by Arquette (considering the frenetic and feverish, disastrous process of script turn-out due to the writer's guild strike) would her fate have been more admirable and respectable. Her send off, would Arquette have imbued Kristen with the pathos required to leave us aching, our heart mourning? Sadly, Knight didn't really leave me the same way, but I don't necessarily fault her. Kristen was built and molded by someone else, so all Knight could do is add whatever she could to the part. You ask many fans, they will say not much.

I didn't include any images of her burnt carcass because I just never liked the effect and how it turned out, Kristen crying out from within the inferno. I did like the image above as it is a precursor to her boyfriend's fate, one last vision of his girl as he once remembered.

I have to say I think Knight's best contribution to the film was her song at the beginning of the film. I have been listening to the Nightmare 4 soundtrack since Saturday and thought that a ton of the songs are especially candy to ears, very catchy and stick in your brain over the course of days, while working or just lounging around. Running from This Nightmare was one of the songs that I have to say gave the artistic rendering of the house by color chalk from the point of view of a child in Kristen's dream during the opening credits quite a grab. I dug the song. It also opens a door for criticism with statements that say Knight should have stuck with singing and not act after her performance to further belittle the actress/singer. Whatever the case, she's part of a franchise...and the most profitable of the Robert Englund sequels (absent Freddy vs. Jason).

--Brian 12/13/2012