Kill of the Month: Glen Lantz

Whether we like to admit it or not, we watch horror movies for the kills. More often than not we’re drawn to gruesome on-screen deaths. The bloodier, the better. Welcome to a revamped series from the old Truly Disturbing days. Hope you’re prepared for a grisly read.

 NAME: Glen Lantz
KNOWN AS: Glen
GENDER: Male
KNOWN RELATIVES: Mr. Lantz (father)
Mrs. Lantz (mother)
Unnamed older sibling – deceased
BORN: 1964
DEATH: 1981

 POLICE REPORT
The deceased’s parents advised responding police the victim had gone to bed at a reasonable hour but was disturbed by a phone call. Later calls to the house would suggest the call came from the Thompson residence. Sheriff Donald Thompson confirms the victim was dating his daughter, Nancy.

            Running a check into their relationship shows Miss Thompson has been displaying erratic behavior in recent times.

            Mr. Lantz, the deceased’s father, removed the phone off the hook when Nancy refused to stop calling.

            The deceased’s mother checked on her son before bidding him goodnight. She advised the first officers on scene that he was watching Miss Nude America while listening to his records before he fell asleep. A few minutes later, she heard him cry out. Rushing down the hall towards his room, Mrs. Lantz was met with a disturbingly gruesome scene as his room was completely covered in blood. The ceiling, walls, floor.

            Forensics have had a hard time locating a body. Eye-witness accounts state the bed exploded into a geyser of blood.

            Coroner’s initial findings suggests homicide. With the amount of blood found at the scene, it would seem more than one murder took place in this room as more blood was found than the single human body contains.

            WHY IS THIS KILL IS MEMORABLE?

            In the slasher world circa 1984, creative kills were few and far between. Introducing the world to Freddy Krueger gave audiences blood, guts, and gore all with a creative edge.

            This kill was memorable for multiple reasons; creativity, the spinning room, the initial body falling from the bed – though that was deemed too gruesome for the final cut of the film. All that pales in comparison to the scene being the demise of a then-unknown Johnny Depp.

            The practical effects were novel at the time and have been repeated several times since. Just without the same impact. The spout of blood that spewed forth from the bed was problematic and the room didn’t quite tilt around fully, hence why if you watch the scene closely you’ll notice the blood shoots out a little earlier than anticipated. But despite its issue, the scene is still impactful today as it was back in 1984.

            The role of Glen Lantz was portrayed by Johnny Depp in his first ever role. According to the late Wes Craven, Johnny got the role for his soulful brown eyes, and because Wes’ daughter was insistent that her father cast him.

            Though now known for his quirky role choices, Johnny played Glen strait-laced. A jock with a heart of gold, Glen is Mr. Nice Guy. When his girlfriend, Nancy (Heather Langenkamp) starts to have nightmares, he steps in as the voice of reason. Despite the crazy stories she tells, he backs her up, agreeing to stay by her side even against his parent’s wishes.

            Unable to stay awake, he suffers at the hands of the infamous dream demon, becoming one of Freddy’s most memorable kills.  

            Glen Lantz was in the prime of his life. A good student, accomplished athlete, and almost perfect boyfriend. His only crime was not being able to stay awake.