Freddy Krueger. The name alone evokes fear in some, excitement in others and nightmares  to those who witnessed his debut with his signature grotesque appearance  and supernatural powers to massacre his victims and defy death on film all of which combined brought the actor, Robert Englund, the accolade of Horror’s  Top Legendary Iconic Villain and making the Nightmare On  Elm Street series true horror classics.

This week, Robert Englund, made a grand appearance at the Toronto Horror Festival  and keeping in synchronicity with his legendary brand, we saw that Freddy was back as he ghoulishly cut the opening ceremony ribbon kicking off the Toronto Horror Festival using multiple cutting tools setting the tone for this year’s popular fest of terror.

Not since Wes Craven’s franchise of Krueger blockbuster films has any other Villain other than Freddy captivated the press and horror fan base anywhere near to the level of Mr. Krueger.

In its infancy stages, the horror genre was perceived by horror and nonhorror fans alike as a B level genre with its rock bottom low budgets, poor film quality absence of credible storylines,plots,actors worth a grain of salt and overall script integrity. Yet these inadequacies helped to birth it initially on film as a genre that incredibly had its own appeal enough so to make a career as an actor or producer worthwhile. Slow and steady money making with fast and steady accumulation of fanbase.

With the outbreak of the Exorcist and Wes Craven franchise,it  changed the face of horror showing the inevitable evolution and advancement of progressive directors and their discovery of the formula to pull powerful acting and brilliant scriptwriting into the horror format making it a reputable genre to be respected for its own successful record of ticket sales, video sales and ongoing interest. In today’s market there is a pride amongst fans which anticipate the next set of  storylines totally engaging with absolute terror and suspense as its foundation.

As we anticipate what next great film shall emerge from the darkness of horror in Hollywood, we see several terrific films launching out early on this fall horror season making their mark.

Matthew Robbins' screenplay based on the gripping novel, DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK, is a sure box office hit with 11 year old Acting Phenom,Bailee Madison,playing the role of Sally Hirst whose mother shuns her and is sent to live with her father,played by Guy Pearce, and his girlfriend,played by Katie Holmes. Madison,Pearce and Holmes deliver strong acting performances worthy of nominations along with the brilliant directing of Troy Nixey. I actually am planning to see the film three times. In watching Bailee on screen and in interviews, she reminds me of the legendary queen of horror, Ms. Linda Blair, during her childhood acting years.The calibre of this cast,direction and script can carry this film to its next sequel with ease.

The one thing that makes horror so engaging is that every now and then we discover a soon to be blockbuster straight out of a trailer or a DVD that has not been released yet in a major theater.

So, in my quest for the hidden horror blockbuster of 2011, I was sitting at my desk writing a few reviews going through multiple submissions and press releases and I came upon a very interesting press release that was delivered to the mail room here  in a large black envelope covered with fake cobwebs. Ok, I thought to myself should I open this. Why not? I’m curious. When I opened it, I was pleasantly surprised to see a graphic layout that made my heart race, a dark figure emerging from the background of stone black paper on which the release was printed and crumbled, one that appeared innately sinister and yet absolutely intriguing visually. As I explored the release I went to the website for the film provided and  I discovered that the film entitled THE TRAP DOOR is that film to be reckoned with.

From the looks of the trailer that I have reviewed multiple times now,it is a classic in the making with the terror driven trailer weaving intense scenes reflective of Wes Craven’s Nightmare On Elmstreet theme yet with a millennium twist.