Review of Freddy Krueger's Glove
Prop Replica

Introduction

As I mentioned in detail in my review of the new Freddy action figure from NECA a few weeks ago, I'm not a huge fan of remaking movies that don't really need it. Nightmare on Elm Street is one of those films, and the only thing the new version really had going for it was the casting of Jackie Earle Haley as Freddy.  And no, I haven't seen it yet - it's a renter for me.

But the most important feature of Freddy is his glove - it was a brilliant weapon that added a tremendous amount of creep factor to an already creepy character. We've seen replicas before, but sadly, they usually fall short.

In fact, most prop replicas do. I buy quite a few, and use them to decorate my 'man cave'. I'm often surprised by them, but it's rarely the good kind of surprise. Too often, they cost far more then they are really worth.

NECA has released this glove based on the new film, but it isn't a whole lot different than the original. Only the most hard core fan is going to point out the differences - everyone else is just going to say "Hey, it's Freddy's glove!".

You can pick this brutal weapon up for around $60 or so, depending on the retailer.

Packaging - ***
It comes in a big box, completely collector friendly. Pop the glove out, store the box in the attic or garage, and later on you can always pop it back in. And opening it is necessary - a prop replica is no fun if it's not out on display where you can handle it and play with it.

Sculpting - ***1/2
Don't go thinking you'll use this to haunt the dreams of your enemies - it's not sharpened. The aluminum blades are dull, but that makes it much more appropriate for a costume or cosplay situation. Let's face it - it's no fun if you slice open the inside of your thigh and bleed to death while trick or treating.

But they still LOOK sharp, which is all that really matters. The blades are actually welded to the metal (copper-like) fingers, which are attached to the wrist band with thin metal straps. Everything is held together with sturdy metal rivets.

The wrist band has a bolt and nut on one side that allows it to be easily removed and worn. I included a photo so you can see how easy it works.

Underneath is the sturdy leather glove, straight out of Freddy's workshop. The ends of the fingers are cut out, but the thumb is still complete.

The leather is fairly good quality, and the stitching is excellent. It should wear very well, and fit most male hands.

They've included a black plastic hollow hand to display the glove upon. The flat wrist allows it to stand up straight, and there's even a Nightmare on Elm Street logo in red letters on the inside of the wrist. I thought I'd remove it from this plastic hand for display, but I found that it looks far better on it than not.

Paint - ***1/2
The glove is either metal, or leather. No plastic or cheap materials here.

The metal is also painted to give it a weathered, aged, tarnished appearance. The sculpted texture on the strips on the back of the hand (I'm assuming he cut these out of something particular in the movie?) are darker than the rest, making the carved marks stand out.

There's also some dirt added to the glove, but it's not over the top or excessive. Or maybe it's blood - you decide.

Articulation - ***
This articulation isn't quite like an action figure, and usually this isn't a category I have for a prop replica. But the finger articulation is important here.

There's a joint on each finger, and there's also two rivets on the back of the hand that allow the fingers to move left to right slightly. That's important because it allows the glove to fit wider and narrower hands.

The joints are a little stiff, but the real rivets are very sturdy, and won't fall apart under normal cosplay wear.

Fun Factor - ***1/2
Obviously, not too many 10 year olds are going to be Freddy for Halloween, but adults have more fun on October 31st than kids do these days. If you're looking for the ultimate glove for the perfect Freddy costume, than you've found it.

Value - ***1/2
You can pick this guy up for less than $60 with a little effort, and at that price this is a sweet buy.

Things to Watch Out For -
One, two, Freddy's coming for you...three, four, better lock your door...I think that's the most important thing to watch out for.

Overall - ***1/2
As I mentioned at the start of the review, more often then not I'm disappointed by prop replicas. Overpriced, made from cheap materials, too many of them fall short of expectations.

This is one of those rare occasions where I was pleasantly surprised by the terrific quality, excellent materials, and even screen accuracy, all for a very reasonable price.

Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - ***
Sculpting - ***1/2
Paint - ***1/2
Articulation - ***
Fun Factor - ***1/2
Value - ***1/2
Overall - ***1/2

Where to Buy 
Online options include these site sponsors:

- Entertainment Earth comes in at just $60.

- or you can search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
I've looked at plenty of Freddy's:

- the last one was NECA's 7" figure for the new movie.

- there's the Dream Master Freddy, one of my favorites in this scale.

- - Mezco did Freddy in series 2 of COF as well.

- also in the 7" scale, there's the Robert Englund version as well, and the Freddy vs Jason version.

- There's the 12" Robert Englund version, as well as the New Nightmare version, and the Freddy vs Jason version.  Oh, and don't forget the very first Sideshow version as well.

You should also hit the Search Reviews page, in case any other applicable reviews were done after this one was published.

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