Solid horror outing (possible spoiler?)

Rating: 7/10 (3 April 2002)

"A Nightmare on Elm Street" made Robert Englund a new horror star. His portrayal of the sinister Freddy Kreuger has haunted many a real-life nightmare. Although his screentime is limited, his scenes are among the most memorable in the film. I cannot imagine anyone else playing the character.
Heather Langenkamp has not met with success as an actress, but she does a solid job here. She makes Nancy a sympathetic character who just might be going crazy. However, my favorite was Johnny Depp, in his film debut. At a young age he already has the charm and quirkiness that has been his trademark since.
The nightmares themselves are viscerally compelling. Tina's death scene has not lost any of its terror over the last sixteen years. How audiences responded to it upon its initial release is something I'd love to see.
"Nightmare" is not a great film. The plot development is fairly routine, and it sometimes seems a bit protracted, despite its short running time. Still, it's one of the few films to stand out from among the 80's drek.
*** (out of ****)
Released by New Line Cinema