the one that started it all (and then some)

Rating: 8/10 (20 September 2000)

Freddy Krueger, though much maligned and retroactively abused by numerous sequels, is a classic creation. Wes Craven's central idea, that a homicidal maniac would haunt, stalk and kill you in your dreams, is brilliant. It is the thrust that pulls the original film in the series swiftly over its low budget flaws and occasional cheesy effects.
No one reading this review should be ignorant of the NOES series. If you are, I will not spoil it for you. If you haven't seen the first one, and are a fan of horror and fantasy flicks with a dark edge, you are in for a treat. The plot is basic, but as I said, the core concept is so great it suffices by itself (along with some great spooky nightmare scenes). The core concept is ALL you need to know going in (if you've never seen it before, which by now should be unlikely, but new teenagers are made every day...to be slaughtered by Freddy). Kick back, grab a cold one, and enjoy the movie that started the longest craze in recent horror movie history. Thumbs (or rather claws) up.