There are those icons from the golden age of horror, such as Lugosi & Karloff, or the generation after that, with names like Lee, Cushing, and Price. But if there was going to be one name from the modern generation of the horror genre, it would have to be Robert Englund. And now, thanks to this new documentary called Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story, if you didn’t know already, you’ll learn why.

Directors Christopher Griffiths and Gary Smart had already shown their talent as documentary filmmakers with their work on You’re So Cool, Brewster! The Story of Fright Night (2016) or the more recent Pennywise: The Story of It (2021), so they continue their talented work here. With a running time just over 2 hours, we get to not only hear from the man himself, but also a plethora of actors, makeup artists, directors, and more, to learn about the man himself. One of the things you learn right away is not only Englund’s passion for the craft of acting, but also his love and respect for those he is working with. You’ll hear several stories on how a young actor will be working with Englund, being very nervous about working with a name like him, only to have Englund tell the young actor that he really enjoyed his work in some ABC afterschool special years ago. And it is with all sincerity.

Years ago, a friend of mine and myself had the opportunity to drive Englund to a theater in Chicago in the evening during a convention, for a screening of one of his films. During the whole 45-minute drive there, and other one back, Englund never stopped talking. But it wasn’t about himself or his career, it was about fellow actors. This was around the time of the Oscars, so he said he would find everything the current nominees were in before this film, and he if hadn’t seen it, he would seek it out. He loved what others were doing, their techniques, their style . . . it was about them and the craft. I had a lot more respect for him after that evening.

This documentary does the same thing. It really gives the viewer a chance to see the man a little closer, how he got started, and how he was a working actor years before fame and notoriety came knocking, and how it really hasn’t changed him.

Starting on June 6th, this documentary will be available on Screambox and Digital. I highly suggest you seek it out. Well worth your time.