Brad Pitt’s first horror movie wasInterview with the Vampire, but he debuted in this genre seven years earlier in a forgotten TV show. Brad Pitt’s acting career began in 1987, with uncredited minor appearances in movies likeNo Man’s LandandLess than Zero, and on TV with minor roles in shows likeAnother WorldandGrowing Pains. Pitt became widely known when he was cast as J.D. in Ridley Scott’s crime dramaThelma & Louisein 1991, but his big break was playing Louis de Pointe de Lac in 1994’sInterview with the Vampire.
Directed by Neil Jordan,Interview with the Vampirewas based on Anne Rice’s 1976 novel of the same name. It told the story of Louis, who was transformed into a vampire by Lestat (Tom Cruise) after the death of his family. What followed were Louis’ struggles to accept his new lifestyle, as well as the tragedies of vampiric life.Interview with the Vampirewas Pitt’s first horror movie, but it wasn’t his first horror role, as he was part of a forgotten horror anthology TV show seven years earlier.
Freddy’s Nightmares Aired From 1988 To 1990
In 1984, Wes Craven brought the slasher movieA Nightmare on Elm Street, which introduced serial killer Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund). The movie’s success led to the TV showFreddy’s Nightmares, an anthology horror series hosted by Krueger, with Englund reprising his role as the iconic slasher. Only two episodes ofFreddy’s Nightmareswere directly linked toFreddy Krueger’s story, with the rest being standalone stories, though in season 2, some episodes were connected. However, the episodes were set on Elm Street, and though Krueger occasionally had a role in them, he was implied to influence the events of each.
Bizarre and disturbing things begin to happen, such as Rick and Miranda having horrifying nightmares that end up coming true.
Brad Pitt appeared in one episode ofFreddy’s Nightmaresseason 1.Titled “Black Tickets”, the episode follows Rick (Pitt) and Miranda (Kerry Walls), two teenagersin love with each other who elope as their parents disapprove of their relationship. When their car breaks down, the young newlyweds check into a hotel – however, once there, bizarre and disturbing things begin to happen, such as Rick and Miranda having horrifying nightmares that end up coming true, giving them a cheesy moral lesson. The character didn’t allow Pitt to show his range, but it’s a fun look at the beginning of his career.
What Went Wrong With Freddy’s Nightmares
Freddy’s Nightmares Ran For Two Seasons
Despite the potential ofFreddy’s Nightmaresand the success of theA Nightmare on Elm Streetmovies, the show only lived for two seasons.One of the main problems ofFreddy’s Nightmareswas its uneven tone, which was also different from that of the movies. Surely, theElm Streetmovies got sillier and sillier, but they kept elements of horror that still made them feel like part of the franchise.Freddy’s Nightmares, on the other hand, relied too much on comedy, making its episodes silly and many of them, as is the case with Brad Pitt’s episode, too cheesy.
One of the things that killedFreddy’s Nightmareswas its time slot, which wasn’t fitting for the show’s original tone.
Surprisingly,Freddy’s Nightmareswasn’t Brad Pitt’s only horror project before he broke big on the big screen. In 1992,Pitt appeared in one episode ofTales from the Cryptseason 4, titled “King of the Road.”The episode followed cocky troublemaker and street racer Billy (Pitt), who learned that Sheriff Joe Garrett (Raymond J. Barry) was once a legendary street racer. Garrett, who was known as “Iceman”, gave up racing when a rival was accidentally killed, so when Billy challenged him to a race, he refused.
To force him into racing, Billy kidnapped Joe’s daughter, and so he came out of retirement to race one last time so he could save his daughter. Billy had a gruesome ending, very fitting with the tone ofTales of the Crypt, and Joe’s daughter returned to him safely.Brad Pitt’s most notable horror roles are nowInterview with the VampireandWorld War Z, but it’s fun to look back at his very first horror performances on TV.
