Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!
Plot Summary: Teens are tormented and killed by an evil being that comes to them in their dreams.
Review: Onward to one of the most imaginative franchises in history: the Nightmare series. Long before the days of borderline comedy, and even before the "Freddy" days, the original was an incredibly creepy and creative film. The main thing I love so much about this movie is how original it is and how successfully it creates a dream-like atmosphere for the viewer. As the director, Wes Craven, has said many times, he was inspired to write the first film by a real life incident which in itself is disturbing. In the real story, Mr. Craven took many direct elements that would be incorporated into the final film concepts. In this process, we have the creation of one of the most iconic movie villains in history, Freddy Krueger. Not only is this character unique in every regard to his personality compared to previous killers, but Robert Englund truly gives life to the character. Freddy has become so beloved and watered down in recent years that many forget he was actually a child molesting killer which I attribute to how excellently Englund has acted out the character; the jokes, his humor, and presentation makes your want to see Freddy win. I have always loved this notion of the "dream demon" as Freddy would even be referred to as in later entries. All of the other cast is memorable and well acted, and I do love Heather Langenkamp as Nancy but Freddy steals the show; we also see Johnny Depp's breakout role. Given that Freddy kills in your dreams, this film used some impressive practical effects to create many unique scenes that play with the audience's perception; it is these little touches that I always love. The first death, which many people remember most, involves Tina being dragged along the ceiling as her dumb boyfriend watches powerlessly. Watch one of the documentaries (Never Sleep Again is amazing) to fully appreciate how hard that effect was to pull off; it's these risks and imagination that led to the payoff of the final production. The music is wonderful and a favorite, the characters are notorious, the effects are top-notch, the plot and direction were incredible, and the film successfully created a new and unconventional look to horror. With all that said, it is no wonder this film became a huge success and launched six sequels, the infamous cross-over film, a remake, and a TV show. And while the franchise has many strong entries, the original is by far the best! Check it out!
Notable Moment: When Nancy falls asleep in class and she sees Tina in her bodybag roaming about.
Final Rating: 8.5/10
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