Spoilers

In 1984 Wes Craven directed the film A Nightmare on Elm Street. The film went on to a level of fame that few horror films have ever had the pleasure to obtain. The film itself is one of Craven’s stronger efforts and might even be his best film. It takes similar elements that we’ve seen in horror films before like the wholesome girl fighting off an evil creature and turns it on it’s head. Heather Langenkamp who stars in the film is in my opinion one of the very best heroines in horror history. She is the perfect level of vulnerable and badass. She truly seems like a person that could take on Kruger if push came to shove. A Nightmare on Elm Street is one of the horror classics of a generation.

A Nightmare on Elm Street is one of the finest horror films ever made. I truly believe that. With all of it’s wonderful gore effects and effective scares the film really makes itself well known in the genre. Many horror films lack a typical villain that you can really get to know and Kruger is the antithesis of a great villain. He is sardonic, evil and tricky. He’s the type of villain that you would hate to meet in real life but would love to watch on screen. Robert Englund does a fantastic job of portraying Freddy in this film specifically with it’s darker and more serious tone. Heather Langenkamp is also a force to be reckoned with in this film and in my opinion is the best horror protagonist since Laurie Strode in Halloween.

Although A Nightmare on Elm Street may seem cliche’d in some points with the over-characterization of some actors in the film and some really predictable moments it always stays one step ahead of most horror films. The film sometimes comes off as a Black Comedy which is always a fantastic thing in the horror genre because horror and comedy go hand in hand.

There are so many classic moments in Nightmare on Elm Street it’s difficult for me to even think of some of my favorites. You would have to immediately go to the first death in the film involving Tina being torn apart above her bed. That moment is one of the many reasons why I absolutely love A Nightmare on Elm Street. The moment is so intense. We do not see Freddy, we don’t really know how Tina is dying. All we see is her floating above the bed and blood pouring out of her. It puts a smile on my face just thinking about it. Johnny Depp also has his first classic scene in cinema with his death in this film. His character Glen dies near the end of the film. He is absorbed into the bed and an explosion like coke and mentos happens. It’s a beautifully done horror effect and still probably my favorite moment of the film. Wes Craven isn’t often associated with some of the better directors in horror because he’s so hit and miss but I think he truly created some memorable scenes in this film. Some other scenes I love are the bath-tub sequence and The ending of the film.

A Nightmare on Elm Street is often considered one of the finer horror films ever made and I cannot disagree with anyone on that. I think it stands head and shoulders above almost every slasher film made before and after it. Although the series has often become a sort of joke among horror fans, the first film still gives me chills. With it’s black comic ties and truly frightening moments A Nightmare on Elm Street leaves an impact that won’t let you sleep for the next few days.

-Grade- Classic Horror

A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy’s Revenge will be my next entry.

~ by resdog55 on May 2, 2010.