Release date: May 1st, 2011
Certificate : Exempt
Running time: 71 minutes
Director: Arlene Marechal
Producer: Heather Langenkamp
Cast: Heather Langenkamp, Robert Englund, Wes Craven
Something very strange happened to me during my teens. There was an uncontrollable urge to wake up at 5am every morning and watch A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984) and A Nightmare On Elm Street Part 3: The Dream Warriors (1987). I needed to see it before leaving for school, getting on with my day and coming back home.
It wasn’t for the gore, the violence or Freddy Krueger’s wisecracks, it was because I needed to see over and over again how Nancy Thompson (Heather Langenkamp) faced her fears and challenged whatever adversity that stood in her way.
It was the only thing that got me through those years when I was discovering who and what I was and learning to deal with the troubles at home too; it was the kind of place where you’re only acknowledge when you’re being yelled at so it was best to keep a low profile and just dream the beautiful dream for as long as I could, at least until I could get out of there.
I’m now in my 30’s and Nancy Thompson is still very much part of my life. In my own way I feel like I got away from my own personal Elm Street and nightmare, but I couldn’t have done it without her. I felt like a freak though; with no friends and nothing but these films and my wits to hold on to. At the time I had no idea there were many like me, who like Nancy, were into survival.
I Am Nancy is a documentary that Heather and her sister-in-law Arlene Marechal have put together and although it begins by asking “why Freddymania and not Nancymania?” it becomes clear very early that Nancymania is thriving, but unlike her counterpart it’s not on the surface. Nancymania exists in a place that goes beyond that; it’s in the hearts, minds and souls of those who have championed Nancy as their inspiration and protector of good dreams.
Featuring interviews at conventions in American and the UK, we meet an array of fans who share their experiences and thoughts as they talk to Heather. There are some amazing insights and very touching stories; hearing them makes me realise that I wasn’t alone at all, that there were so many like me who faced so much more and came out of it champions like Nancy. One of those is Jude, who lost her leg in car accident; she talks about the strength she gained from watching Nancy and the emotion pours not just from her but also from Heather, visibly moved by hearing this.
We also get to hear from director Wes Craven and his daughter Jessica Craven and they both shed light on how this iconic character came to be, why Nancy is such a universal character and why so many of us are able to identify with her. At one point Craven says to Heather that he always believed Nancy to be the heart and soul of Nightmare On Elm Street, it’s something we’ve long known ourselves, but it’s so great to hear him say it.
If like me, Nancy has long been an inspiration for you, then I Am Nancy is something you’ve been waiting for whther you know it or not. It’s about time the character gets some recognition for what she brought not just to the screen, but also to lives of so many. It’s touching, insightful, thought provoking and life-affirming. The most important thing I’ve learnt from Nancy? Be myself because as she’s shown us:
“All of you have this inner strength…some special power that you’ve had in your most wonderful dreams..”
– Nancy Thompson
Heather Langenkamp Exclusive Interview Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
The founder of Static Mass Emporium and one of its Editors in Chief is an emerging artist with a philosophy degree, working primarily with pastels and graphite pencils, but he also enjoys experimenting with water colours, acrylics, glass and oil paints.
Being on the autistic spectrum with Asperger’s Syndrome, he is stimulated by bold, contrasting colours, intricate details, multiple textures, and varying shades of light and dark. Patrick's work extends to sound and video, and when not drawing or painting, he can be found working on projects he shares online with his followers.
Patrick returned to drawing and painting after a prolonged break in December 2016 as part of his daily art therapy, and is now making the transition to being a full-time artist. As a spokesperson for autism awareness, he also gives talks and presentations on the benefits of creative therapy.
Static Mass is where he lives his passion for film and writing about it. A fan of film classics, documentaries and science fiction, Patrick prefers films with an impeccable way of storytelling that reflect on the human condition.
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