Rating of
3/4
Review - A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Delorted - wrote on 03/23/08
When Nancy Thompson (Heather Langenkamp) dreamt that a burned man was trying to kill her, she was frightened to learn all of her friends had the same dream. Now she must fight her own imagination to destroy an evil presence from a haunting past in “A Nightmare on Elm Street.”
Here begins one of the most successful horror franchises in cinema history, and the first film really shows why. Its frightening killer is a unique idea that could only come from the mind of director Wes Craven. Freddy Krueger is one of the few horror baddies that stands the test of time as a scary figure. They used just enough effects to make his character seem both terrifying and real. The music, also makes a great impact on the senses, creating a chilling atmosphere that leaves you on the edge of your seat.
Unfortunately, there are also many flaws scattered throughout. For the time, the effects were probably very cutting edge, but today they stand out as being a it too fake. The entire final sequence, not to mention the final scene, are very poorly written and look ridiculous. Some of the acting isn't exactly remarkable, but you can let it slide since it's not really supposed to be something spectacular.
“A Nightmare on Elm Street” is a really good start to a really strange set of movies. It may not be perfect, but it's well worth watching for any true fan of horror.
Acting: 7/10
Writing: 6/10
Video/Editing: 8/10
Audio/Music: 9/10
Entertainment: 8/10
Final Score: 7.6/10
