The birth of a franchise.

Rating: 8/10 (11 May 2010)

After watching the 2010 re-make of this film I dug the old one out of moth balls so I could compare the two films. It had been about 15 years since I last saw the original and I have to say my opinion has not changed on how I felt about the old one, whether it was 1984, 1995 or 2010. I was glad that the sands of time did not change how I felt. It was painful to hear the ridiculous 80s canned-music, but I was able to get passed it. When I look back I remember that this film really hit the mark back in 1984. I remember that it was popular, did not anger the critics and made some good cash, plus it spawned seven sequels that racked-up $340,000,000 worldwide at the box office. After the success of Michael Myers and Jason Vorhees it was time for Freddy Kreuger, but the difference here was a supernatural sub-plot that was on a much higher level, in the fact that Freddy can kill his victims through their dreams, when Jason and Michael just kill. So, that was the part that the writers had to sell to the audience. Another plot device that helped this film move along was the schlocky dark-comedy aspect of it. Freddy drops all kinds of jokes and one-liners for comic relief and Robert Englund definitely sells it and sold it well. He would be Freddy in every one of the sequels and some people are mad that he wasn't in the 2010 remake. Not me though. I think after eight films spanning 19 years that was good enough. Great jog Rob, but let's reboot this thing. Anyway, back to the original film. The structure of this film is quite good, in the fact that, with the introduction of each character, each one feels like they could be the main character until Freddy knocks them off and you think, "Wow, now what"? Each character had a pretty-good back story, not like the characters that Michael and Jason had to deal with. There are a few things that seem to be missing in the plot and I can't say anymore here, but the film somehow sells it. It must have if it spawned seven sequels and a remake 26 years later. The cast was tough, and I mean the acting, but this film also has a place in film history as being the first film for Johnny Depp. Oh, and John Saxon is John Saxon. What I thought back in 1984 and what I thought in 2010 was that I saw a new kind of horror franchise in the making that entertains with a little silliness thrown in.