Friday, July 1, 2016

Don't Watch This Alone!: A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET


Welcome to the another installment of DON'T WATCH THIS ALONE!, where we review the best, worst, and everything in between in the world of horror.  This week we review a classic in the genre...A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET.

This movie had a lasting impression on me as it was the first horror movie I ever remember watching. I absolutely loved this movie, mainly because it played on my fears, which sounds weird, I know. I wasn't able to sleep without thinking Freddy would come for me, and that song that plays during the movie, "1, 2, Freddy's coming for you", is etched in my memory.

The film centers around a group of teenagers who suffer from terrifying nightmares. They must stay awake or the supernatural murderer, Freddy Krueger, will kill them in their dreams. Their parents don't believe them, but they themselves are hiding a dark secret.

This film was the first one in horror director Wes Craven's Nightmare franchise, which clocks in with a whopping 8 films, not including the 2010 reboot and the upcoming planned second reboot. Wes Craven would go on to create another highly popular horror franchise, Scream, which consists of 4 films and a TV series. Nightmare was definitely a highlight in the 1980's slasher film genre.

The main character, Nancy, played by Heather Langenkamp, ends up being the "final girl". Her interaction with her mother after the first murder really shows her vulnerable side, reacting to the situation the way most teenagers would. I enjoy when actors are able to do that. She is joined by none other than Captain Jack Sparrow himself, yes, that's right, Johnny Depp, in his feature film debut. Depp played Nancy's hero perfectly. Her chemistry with Depp was amazing. But, this film was so much more than that.

The acting was a little over the top, but it was still great. The last scene is a perfect example, when Nancy's mother turns into Freddy. The breakout performance, to me, was Robert Englund as Freddy. He epitomized the terms "villain" and "monster" in the horror genre. It wasn't that the other actors were bad, but he was just that amazing. This movie is important in my journey as a film critic because it introduced me to the horror genre, and if you haven't seen it yet, what are you waiting for??

Lisa's Score: 9/10


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1 comment:

  1. i never realized johnny depp was in this movie. horror is not my favorite genre but its growing on me. i will have to watch this again.

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