An influential classic with a lot of scary fun

Rating: 9/10 (30 September 2013)

I have a confession. I'm a sucker for slasher movies. So maybe this isn't a totally objective opinion. But if this film isn't a classic horror movie I don't know what is! The premise is famous: the dreaded killer Freddy Krueger stalks teenagers in their dreams. There are a lot of iconic scenes, such as the bed that swallows a person whole, or Freddy's stretching arms, or the girl who's dragged violently across the ceiling. That last one is actually really haunting and looks good even on today's standards. Practical effects just have that magic to them.
The acting is a bit over-the-top, the hairdos scream 80's fashion, as do the clothes, and the dialog is a bit cheesy, but I feel all these elements serve to create an enjoyably familiar and entertaining setting of comic horror.