Malibu Resident Screens Horror Tribute Documentary

Malibu resident Heather Anderson was the main attraction at a night of horror on Thursday at the Regency Agoura Stadium 8 Cinemas in Agoura Hills.

Nearly 200 people turned out for the event that featured the screenings of I am Nancy, which was produced by Anderson, and A Nightmare on Elm Street, the 1984 horror classic that featured Anderson in the role of the heroine who takes on evil child killer Freddy Krueger

I Am Nancy—named after the character Anderson played in Nightmare—is a 70-minute documentary that pays tribute to fans who make up the horror film subculture and have powerfully influenced motion picture trends over the past three decades.

Anderson told Patch that this was the first opportunity she had to show the film to friends and family and to those who assisted in the making of the documentary.

"We've shown the movie in film festivals around the country but this is the first time locally," she said. "I'm really glad that this is happening in our backyards. [Director] Arlene [Marechal] is from Tarzana and I live in Malibu, and [Agoura] is our in-between stomping grounds."

This was the first event for the Agoura Hills Cultural Arts Council's 91301 Film series. Event organizer Steve Bavin said he was pleased to screen the two films.

"When Constance Jolcuvar [a member of the Cultural Arts Council] brought Heather's movie to us, I jumped at it," Bavin said. "A Nightmare on Elm Street is legendary, and it's great to see how the community has come together to support this."

In addition to the filmmakers, some of the stars from Nightmare came to support Anderson and the movie, including Amanda Wyss, who played Tina Gray and has the distinction of being the first person to be killed by Krueger, who was played by Robert Englund.

"Heather is my best friend," Wyss said. "And she went and made this amazing documentary. ... I'm so excited for her and came to support her work."

Agoura Hills Mayor Harry Schwarz gave the event's introduction. Cim Castellon, the vice chair of the Cultural Arts Council, spoke next with a brief background on the organization.

Anderson then introduced songwriter Jamie Coon, who wrote and performed the theme song to I Am Nancy.

Following the documentary screening, Bavin introduced some of the filmmakers and actors, including Anderson, Marechal and Wyss, for a short Q & A. They responded to questions about the making of the film and discussed the Nightmare series' place in film history.

About 40 people remained in the theater to brave the screening of Nightmare. But not Agoura Hills Planning Commission member and City Council candidate Illece Buckley Weber. :

"So, I had planned to stay for the showing of Nightmare on Elm Street at the end of the evening, but the minute I heard the wonderful theme song for I am Nancy, I started to shudder. By the end of the documentary, I knew if I stayed to watch Nightmare, I wouldn't sleep tonight. That movie still scares me after all these years."