Laguna Beach resident Robert Englund, turned down for the role of Luke Skywalker in 1977, made his mark as the arguably even more iconic Freddy Krueger from the Nightmare on Elm Street movies, the pizza-faced, finger-knived, sweater-and-hat-wearing child murderer who roams the dreamworld stalking the descendants of the pissed-off parents who killed him. Englund played Freddy in eight feature films, one TV series, an ill-conceived rock 'n' roll album ("Freddy's Greatest Hits" -- yes, I have a copy), and a music video with the Fat Boys.

For a while, Englund was trying to push the idea of a Freddy prequel, allowing him to play the character without prosthetics. As this backstory had already been pretty much covered on both the TV series "Freddy's Nightmares" and the sixth Freddy movie Freddy's Dead, it's hardly surprising that this idea never gained traction. A second Freddy versus Jason movie was supposed to be in the works too, featuring Bruce Campbell's "Ash" character from The Evil Dead, but that never happened onscreen, though a comic-book version recently came out.

Now, however, word comes down that the franchise will continue without Englund altogether. The inevitable Nightmare on Elm Street remake is now in development (alongside a Friday the 13th reboot), and the role is going to be recast.

About a month ago, I trailed the Southern California Paranormal Research Society on a series of paranormal investigations of local Orange County locations. The group had some unconventional beliefs to say the least (their leader believes he has a portal to the light in his abdominal region. . .) but I still enjoyed myself and learned a lot about the human imagination.

Anyhow, they are apparently makin' the media rounds and will be appearing on ABC 7 tonight at 11 p.m. (Timely, with Halloween tomorrow, hm?) So take some time and watch will ya? It should be a ghoulish experience.

You can read an account of my investigative journey, listen to some audio clips and view a slideshow of images here.

In honor of Halloween the OC Weekly has compiled a list of haunted Orange County locations courtesy the database of haunted places on Shadowlands.net.

So take some time and have a read. Even if you don't believe in ghosts, at least you can learn about some local legends and scare yourself silly! Mwahahaha!

Anaheim

Anaheim Fairfield Inn by the Marriott - This motel is right next to a freeway and is said to be haunted by a couple that died in a car accident.

Anaheim High School - A WWII bomb shelter supposedly rests under the school, and people claim to hear constant banging on the old, locked steel door at night - usually after football games.

Anaheim High School Theater - Voices have been heard in the auditorium and deep laughter on the balcony.

Chain Reaction - Employees report hearing talking and laughing late at night in the back alley and in the bathrooms. Upon investigation, no one is there. A homeless man was found dead in the back alley several years ago. The venue has been converted from a biker bar - where there were many reported stabbings - into the club it is now.

Click the photo for pictures from an OC paranormal investigation.

Upon meeting Dan Mewhinney, you would never guess that the fit, brunette, blue-eyed man with the gap-toothed smile has powers beyond your wildest imagination. He believes he possesses the ability to speak to spirits and demons from beyond the grave.

"People have no idea what it is like," Dan says of his gift. "It is very hard to find support. People think you're crazy."

Indeed they do. When Dan was just 14, his parents sought to have him medicated to control the voices he says he's experienced since infancy.

Dan claims to have been born under a "veil," or, with a portion of the embryonic sac surrounding his head. This, he says, allows him to be extra sensitive to the world around him and may possibly be the source of his powers.

He recalls hearing the voices for as long as he can remember. It was only when he began insisting that his imaginary friends were real that his parents thought he was mentally ill. They took him to a therapist and eventually sought serious mental help at which point he was put on Lithium to stop the voices and visions. Dan claims it was only when he recorded the voices and played them to his doctor that people began taking him seriously. Thusly, he stopped taking the medication and began perfecting his skills.

Dan is clairaudient, meaning he can hear voices and sounds that others around him cannot hear. He believes these are the voices of spirits that have not yet crossed to the other side.

Lucky for these spirits, Dan can help them cross via the portal located in his torso. The spirits are guided through by the angels that accompany him on his every move.

"I am a walking portal," Dan says. "There is a portal in my midsection that I use to cross people into the light. With the help of my guardian angels of course."