A Nightmare on Elm Street vs. The Hmong Sleep Deaths: The True Story Wes Craven Used as Source Material

The Fear Archive investigates the Hmong sleep deaths — a series of unexplained nocturnal deaths among Southeast Asian refugees in the early 1980s that Wes Craven has cited as direct source material for A Nightmare on Elm Street. Between 1981 and 1983, healthy young Hmong men living in the United States began dying in their sleep. No warning. No medical explanation. The Los Angeles Times covered the cases. Wes Craven read the coverage and asked: what if the thing killing them was inside their dreams? Tonight Amanda and Mike use the same source material Craven used — the actual 1981 and 1983 articles — to trace the line from real unexplained death to one of the most iconic horror films ever made. Hosted by Amanda Kagiwada and Michael Ryan Assip. Executive produced by Cassie Jozefov. A Violet Hour Media production. LISTENER WARNING: This program includes discussion of real-world violence and other subject matter that may be upsetting for some listeners. Please proceed with caution. Popular Topics Include: A Nightmare on Elm Street true story, Hmong sleep deaths, SUNDS, sudden unexplained nocturnal death syndrome, Wes Craven, Freddy Krueger, Hmong refugees, sleep death horror, true crime horror podcast, Fear Archive, horror podcast, Violet Hour Media, real nightmare deaths Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices