FREDDY'S NIGHTMARES - PHOTO FINISH (1989)

 "WHOA!  HEY!  RACKY!" 

  Back in the late 80's, my doddy Cheeks watched this show.  I never did.  It was only on 2 seasons and I wasn't a fan of the NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET films.  Actually, back then, I don't think I'd seen a single one of them. 

That's different now, of course.  I have aged like fine gorgonzola and I now have them all.  But Cheeks did, however, put some of the show on a Video Cerpts or two for me back then so I'd some taste of the programme.  And this here episode is rated second highest on imdb.  Besides, it's specifically a Halloween episode so here it is.  "PHOTO FINISH" even has Freddy Kruger himself appearing in the actual episode instead of just introducing/hosting it.  Wow, that's like those several time Boris Karloff actually starred in episodes of THRILLER, Jack!  So Patty McCormack (yep, THE BAD SEED herself) plays "seen-better-days" pro photographer Estonia "Stoney" Adler; who has been reduced to shooting family portraits in Springwood.  Newly-started trend-setting "racky" magazine "Kink" editor Torrie Bodnar (Kristina Loggia) calls Stoney and offers her a comeback assignment:  "Halloween issue, key layout, need it in a week using top three models.  Do you still have the touch?"  Stoney assures her that she's still razor sharp and heads on out to make a photo shoot on a tight deadline. 

Unfortunately (or fortunately, as you see fit), Springwood is Freddy Kruger's stomping grounds.  When a model drifts off to sleep while posing for a 'Jack the Ripper' fog-enshrouded scene, Freddy pops up.  "It's cold outside. . .", Freddy quips with the model in a stranglehold, ". . . but death is colder!".  Knifey-glove comes out and he attacks the model.  Of course, Stoney can't see Freddy; she only sees the model contorting and screaming and begins to take photos.  Stoney loves it and wants to take more photos but the model is outta there.  Why, Stoney wonders?  Ask your sicko friend, says the model and storms out.  Stoney assumes her dunderheaded assistant Oliver (Richard Speight Jr.) is the "sicko" the model was referring to; Oliver is expert in "moving stuff". Editor Bodnar loves the Jack the Ripper stuff too and asks for more.  Even MORE extreme.  Next photo shoot has a model posing in a coffin as a vampire wrestling with a wooden stake.  Stoney sends Oliver out to get more 'fog juice' for the fog machine and the model falls asleep in the coffin.  Yep, here comes Freddy again!  Stoney snaps tons of pictures (again Freddy is invisible to her) and thinks it's great. 

Freddy, meanwhile, has shoved the stake into the model.  Urrrgh!  The unknowing Stoney goes to develop the photos.  After developing the prints and sending them off to Torrie, Stoney dismisses the model and attempts to take the stake from her -- only it's shoved deep in her guts.  Uh oh!  This can't be.  She's dead!  Stoney decides she can't call the police because they'll think she did it; so she decides to stash the body.  But while reviewing the pictures, there's one that captured a fleeting glimpse of Freddy.  "Who the hell are you?", Stoney gasps.   "Your meal ticket!" says the disembodied voice of Freddy.  "No me, no photo, no job!"  Of course, Torrie wants another set of photos for her magazine Halloween layout.  At first Stoney refuses to do any more but she's kinda over a barrel.  So, I guess Stoney and Freddy will have to team up.  I mean, what's a few dead models when compared with a career as a successful high fashion photographer?   This is a really fun episode and it's nice to see Freddy a full participant in it.  Not the least bit scary, of course, but fun!  And there's kind of a lesson in it, if you want one. But hold on a minute!  This episode is a two-parter!!!  A nice suburban family is shot to death by somebody wearing a ghost sheet who comes to the door on Mischief Night.  Two FBI agents are assigned the case and investigate on Halloween night.  The feds think they may have a serial killer on their hands.  All the weirdos come out on Halloween, don't they?  Well yes they do and it's Freddy again.  And this is actually pretty awesome.  The family that gets murdered is the same family that was taking a family portrait with Stoney at the beginning of the episode!  Oh Freddy, you're such a card!  

It's Halloween!  My night to play!