A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Posted on January 15, 2006
Filed Under Classics, Creepy stuff, Movies, Series, Slashers
From a post-Scream perspective it’s easy to forget that Wes Craven also left an indelible impact on 1980s horror with his finest creation to date, the inimitable Freddy Krueger. A Nightmare on Elm Street is-without doubt-the superior of the two movies and Craven’s never really topped it. Rather like Halloween, a plethora of sequels and spin-offs has tarnished the reputation of the original Krueger brand but these should not be allowed to blot out the sheer magnificence of the original.
Horror audiences in the 1970s/early 1980s grew accustomed to a diet of dark and gritty movies whose underlying themes were more often than not premised on a critique of modern society rather than traditional leitmotifs of monsters or ghosts. A Nightmare on Elm Street exploded onto the scene like a signal-flare. In terms of theme, Craven offers up an original and interesting premise- a child-murderer who was killed by an outraged community starts to appear in the dreams of the children of those who destroyed him and bumps them off one by one. Craven masterfully blurs the dividing line between fantasy and reality and steadily removes all bases of reference (and comfort) to the audience. Initially the two are clearly delineated, with Krueger confined squarely to the dreams of his victims. As the film progresses they begin to merge and the plight of his teenage victims becomes harrowing to watch, especially their futile attempts not to succumb to sleep.
What makes it even more chilling is the fact that the dream sequences are so well put together. Krueger’s basement lair is beautifully rendered and perfectly conveys the confusion and general eeriness of the dream-world, with him popping up in the most expected of places. The chase sequences can be a little overdrawn at times but this is never enough to disturb the balance of the film. What rescues them is the character of Freddie Krueger himself, who was rightly catapulted to the horror halls of fame. He gets all of the best lines and bumps his victims off with such inventive flair, to say nothing of his iconic garb or weaponry. Whilst it’s difficult to wish malice on any of the leads - particularly the excellent Heather Lagenkamp - you’ll find yourself hoping that Freddie does manage to get to them in order to see how he does it (Johnny Depp’s exit has to be my personal favourite).
Re-watching it recently I was amazed at how little Nightmare seems to have dated. It remains one of the more stylish horror films I’ve ever seen, and though the 1980s do creep in at some points it remains timeless in most respects. You’ll not believe for one second that the main protagonists are 15 years old but again these little glitches are instantly forgotten as soon as the trademark red and green sweater pops into view. Dispense with the sequels but ignore this gem at your peril.
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