Nine: A Nightmare on Elm St. (1984)

“The House that Freddy Built.”

Photo: Mimi Craven/Collection of Jim Doyle

In the late 60s, a little production studio that you’ve probably never heard of was born: New Line Cinema. They had their start in the distribution of arthouse movies and a multitude of now cult classics, Cue Divine with her pistol. In the early 80s, they decided it was time to produce their own work.

Around the same time, a screenwriter and director by the name of Wes Craven had a script making its rounds in Hollywood. After his success with both The Last House on the Left and The Hills Have Eyes, he was quickly gaining notoriety as horror royalty.

New Line Cinema decided that it was up to them to take on Wes’ new horror endeavor. Weirdly enough, Disney almost beat them out. It is a true loss to the world that Freddy was never a Disney princess.

Original proposed sketch for Freddy Krueger’s glove. Photo: Collection of Jim Doyle

Financial crisis after financial crisis hit this movie, shutting down production for several weeks and nearly putting the company out of business. Then along came George Zevecic, a producer who believed in the blade-fingered, burnt-faced, nightmare-inducing child killer.

On November 16th, 1984, the world was given the final of the big four: A Nightmare on Elm St. It was an immediate commercial success, creating the foundation for what New Line Cinema would become. Freddy Krueger walked so that Frodo Baggins could run.

Let’s take a dive into cocktail culture at that same time. The 1980’s gave us some interesting cocktails, to say the least. One that has since made a resurgence is Dick Bradsell’s Espresso Martini. The exact date is argued upon, but it seems to have been invented sometime around 1983 and 1984 in the London bar scene. He claims he came up with the concoction when a patron said, “Wake me up and f**k me up.”

Back on Elm St., our dear final girl pounded coffee after coffee as if her life depended on it. Well, I guess technically it did… Either way, I give you the ninth of thirteen cocktails:

Nine, Ten Never Sleep Again

• 1.5 oz Carmel Vodka

• 0.5 oz Borghetti Espresso Liqueur

• 0.5 oz Salted Cocoa Syrup*

• 1 oz Espresso or Strongly Brew Coffee

• Marshmallow
  

In a shaker, combine Tito’s Vodka, Borghetti Espresso Liqueur, Salted Cocoa Syrup, and Espresso. Shake over ice. Double strain into a Coupe Glass. To garnish, take a marshmallow and cut a small slit into it. Place the marshmallow on the edge of the Coupe. Grab your biggest lighter and torch it. Make sure it’s as burnt as Mr. Krueger’s face.

*In a pot, combine 1/4 cup of sugar with 1/4 cup of water. Bring to a simmer and add 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder and one generous pinch of salt.