the only horror film that scared me...

Rating: 7/10 (15 August 2001)

Ok, I was only ten at the time, but of all those classic horror films of the 80's this is the only one that kept me awake after it was over. The fact that it deals with dreams had a hand in that as well. I know that it would have the same affect if I saw it for the first time today. Everyone knows the story by now, but here's my two cents: a group of four friends are being tormented at night by a creep in their sleep. Now, it's undetermined how long this has been going on, which would've been interesting to know, so we could contrast how long it lasted before he starts killing them! Yep, in their sleep, he has someway of manipulating time and space, and physically slashing them with knives he has affixed to his hand (the famed "glove"). The ability of which was something that was never determined either. Heroine Langenkamp realizes what's going on when one of the menaced kids says it looked like four razors were cutting his girlfriend at once. She tries to mastermind a plan to bring the killer from the dreamworld, into the real one. A truly innovative premise for it's time, which included elements from more convential horror films, made this a memorable and heavy hit. Aside from your usual dark and spooky imagery, one of the more overlooked effects is the absolutely chilling music. Lots of slow screeching, bongy noises, then shocking keyboard stingers to help jumpstart your heart. They contribute to the eeriness as much as anything else. And anyone who says the film is dated must be in a dreamworld of their own, as buckets of blood spewing everywhere (though TREMENDOUSLY overused in the silly bedroom death involving Depp) never go out of style. The film has really held up well, as nothing like it has come along since. The performances still work, Saxon's doubting dad, Blakely's boozy mother, cute and spunky Langenkamp, and then the man of your dreams, the hardly heard, but coarse voiced, giggly Englund as Freddy. One downspot is the "second" ending, a confusing moment designed to finish the film with a scare, that made no sense. But overall a fine beginning to a series that would spawn 7(!) movies.