Johnny’s character isn’t a hero. He’s that buddy who always says, “Relax, it’s probably nothing,” while the killer is literally in the closet. You know that guy. He’s the one who eats the questionable gas station sushi and says, “I’m sure it’s fine.”
Glen smokes a joint, plays video games, and tells Nancy to just ignore the terrifying dreams. He is the voice of toxic optimism. “Maybe the demon will get bored and leave,” he implies. We’ve all had that friend who tries to rationalize a clearly insane situation.
It’s like convincing yourself that the weird noise in your apartment is just the pipes, even though the pipes have never screamed your name. Glen is that denial, personified in a denim jacket and feathered hair.
The Hair as a Co-Star
We need to take a moment to honor Johnny Depp’s hair in this movie. It has its own gravitational pull. It’s fluffy, it’s voluminous, and it has more personality than some of the other characters. You honestly root for the hair to survive the movie.
When Freddy finally gets Glen, the hair is the last thing to be swallowed. It’s like a beautiful, feathered flag of surrender. You can almost hear Freddy say, “Wait, I need a trim first.” It’s iconic in a way that only 80s horror hair can be.
If you ever feel bad about a bad hair day, just remember: Johnny Depp’s hair was killed by a dream demon. Yours is just a little flat. Perspective.
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