Strip away the striped sweater, remove the fedora, as long has he has his glove, he’s still Freddy Krueger.
Since its first appearance in 1984, Freddy’s bladed glove has been an icon in the world of pop culture. And for good reason. It takes the threat of most villain’s everyday weapons (think Jason’s machete or Michael’s butcher knife) and elevates it to a whole new level.
What inspired this unique look? The answer is rooted in ancient history.
Artifact: Bladed glove
Appears: A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
Inspired by: Wes Craven told the filmmakers behind the documentary Never Sleep Again that he had the idea for Freddy’s glove while reflecting on humankind’s first fears. He asked himself, “What’s the earliest weapon that mankind might’ve been afraid of?”ť Craven’s settled on animal claws, and the rest was history.
MoPOP History: We’ve been lucky enough to display two of Freddy’s gloves over the years.
You can see Freddy’s glove, sweater, and fedora in Scared to Death: The Thrill of Horror Film.
Looking for more on horror? We got you covered with 31 Days of Horror.
Glove on Loan from the Collection of Jeff Nuzzo
