The Best That Slashers Get

Rating: 10/10 (30 January 2019)

Despite some mediocre acting on occasion, this film stands head and shoulders above the many, including my personal favorite, Halloween, based on sheer inventiveness and psychological intrigue.
One of the greatest heroines in horror history is the character of Nancy. Her melodrama and innocence belies a steely strength of will and maturity that the other kids lack. She has endured the pains and drama of a fractured home, but from parents who do clearly love her, and this is part of the resonance we find in Nancy. Her strength has basis in the subtext of her reality. She's tough, but not broken. We believe her. We believe she is the prepared one. I do not think of her as a "scream queen", for she is 100% heroine.
The other kids are all real, too. For each character, we see exactly why they are who they are. We get to see the products of suburbia in decline. I remember these kids.
Cleverly written and directed by Wes Craven, on a budget of $1,800,000, the film was downright scary when I was a young teen. I remember having to watch this with the lights on. Watching it today, it is still an entertaining watch. You can not understate how great makeup and special effects look in this film.
Robert Englud looks amazing and is very memorable.
The ending leaves a little to be desired, but what a damn imaginative horror film overall.