From: Tony Williams English SIUC Ulf, Sure you're right about the quantitative aspects in the 80s and 90s. But, as far as those are concerned, the bulk are mainly conservative renditions with Jason and Michael acting as avatars of the patriarchal unconscious. However, despite the undeniable lapse in quality of the bulk of movies, some interesting things do happen even in the NIGHTMARE series. The kids are no longer allright. They have to learn qualities of independence and self- reliance which involve opposing the entire family structure. Even in the first NIGHTMARE Nancy realizes that Freddy lives off their fear. He thus Vanishes at the end only to return at the epilogue. PSYCHO IV is quite an interesting pre-quel, scripted by Joseph Stefano. Also, as Borde and Chaumeton point out in PANORAMA DU FILM NOIR, a parody may appear at the same time that a genre is particularly strong. They cite the Bob Hope film MY FAVORITE BRUNETTE (1947). The field is generally moribund but not entirely uninteresting. George Romero once sub-titled DAY OF THE DEAD as "Zombies in the White House. " You have a great idea for a movie. What about a deadlock in the Republican convention resulting in an invitation to Grandpa, Leatherface et al. to occupy the Oval Office due totheir support for "family values" and active involvement in small businesses thus keeping off the welfare role. Welfare becomes abolished and the unfortunates become the new "Soylent Green" in a kinder, gentler America. The Sawyers recruit Bob Dole to take the place of Hitchhiker and Leatherface sending him off to Hollywood shores where he avidly pursues Tom Cruise, Keanu Reeves, Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks, and other guest stars appearing in cameo roles a la THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. Didn't the Gipper once say to Oliver North, " Wouldn't this make a great movie?" What about a summer screenplay competition on SCREEN-L? ---- To signoff SCREEN-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF SCREEN-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]