A Highly Imaginative Horror Film

Rating: 9/10 (9 August 2001)

Teens in a Los Angeles neighborhood are sharing common nightmares about being chased and killed by a disfigured bum in a slouch hat who has knives for fingernails. With original special effects, the nightmares are merging into reality, as teens are killed under inexplicable circumstances. Writer-director Wes Craven tantalizingly merges dreams with the ensuing wake-up reality but fails to tie up his thematic threads satisfyingly at the conclusion. **SMALL SPOILER** Note: Look at the part when Freddy gets hit with a sledge hammer and falls down the stairs; youu can see that he falls on Matresses. Why would those be on the stairs!?! ***1/2 out of *****