A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)
Review by Bindi Lavelle

The birth of one of horror’s most induring, iconic boogy-men, Freddy Kruger in a 90 minute nut shell. Wes Craven blends horror and fantasy to create some very memorable, very bloody dreamscapes.

When serial child killer Freddy Kruger is burned alive by an angry mob inflicting vigilante justice, he vows to come for their children. And he does, appearing in unsuspecting teenagers dreams. The problem being, any injury you receive in your dream is inflicted in real life. If you die in your dream, you can’t wake up.

The monster inside your dreams is a great terrifying concept; the reassurance that a dream is nothing more than ‘just a dream’ is lost. The illusion of safety is lost when staying awake is the only way to ensure survival.

The practical effects of this film are stunning as the audience is carried through the main characters’ dreams, a world which can so easily be manipulated by Freddy.

It is easy to see why this film and more to the point, Freddy have carved their place amongst the icons of horror films. The rich concept coupled with visuals which are equal measures of fearsome and fantastic. A Nightmare On Elm Street is a true treat of all horror fans, especially practical effects buffs 9.5/10