'Killer' gig for Englund

Pic will star McRae, Jungman, Franzese

By PAMELA MCCLINTOCK

Englund

Robert Englund, best known as Freddie Krueger in the "A Nightmare on Elm Street" franchise, will direct "Killer Pad," a horror-comedy from producers Wayne Rice ("Dude, Where's My Car?") and Avi Chesed that's set to begin lensing late next month in L.A.

Script was penned by tyro scribe Dan Stoller. Film stars Shane McRae, Eric Jungman and Daniel Franzese, and rapper-indie music mogul Master P will do the soundtrack.

Story revolves around three friends who use money from an insurance claim to move out of their parents' homes. They score a place in the Hollywood Hills and refuse to believe that the house has a dark history. Rice is producing through his shingle Rice Films. Chesed, who first teamed with Rice in producing a TV pilot last year starring Jon Lovitz, helped to arrange financing for "Killer Pad."

Englund previously directed the feature "976-EVIL," which New Line released in 1989.