A load of preposterous nonsense

Rating: 6/10 (26 November 2014)

This 80s slasher flick follows a group of teenagers who are, as usual in slasher films, facing a terrifying killer. However, this is no ordinary villain. It's Freddy Krueger, who attacks them in their sleep. And as we all have to sleep sometimes, this is a very frightening idea. Sadly, the actual film fails to do it justice. Hailed as a terrifying horror classic, A Nightmare On Elm Street is anything but. It's not without its highlights. Robert Englund is a treat as Krueger and turns him into one of the more menacing horror movie monsters. The make up artist deserves praise as Kruger's appearance is horrifying and adds to the limited fear of the movie. The acting is good in a horror film for once (Look out for a pre fame Johnny Depp getting gruesomely dispatched in the film's most memorable death scene) and Wes Craven shows there is plenty of reason to call him the master of horror. His direction is overall pretty good and there are 3 genuinely startling moments (The fourth was spoiled by the trailer).
The script is pretty lame and the dialogue is very boring. The dream sequences soon become repetitive and the film doesn't go as far as it could have done. It feels like it doesn't meet it's full potential. It's very irritating and totally ridiculous as the way the protagonist defeats Krueger is pretty lame. As usual, the killer inexplicably reappears and sets up a sequel. The main problem with ANOES is that it's not scary. It has some tense moments but it's not interested in tension or creepiness. What it is interested in is loads of fake blood, undeniably impressive special effects and nightmares. At times it feels like some laughably awful Halloween joke shop advert for fake blood and Halloween masks. It's not scary; it's just showing off how good its gore effects are and this is very off putting. Also, this is nasty, preposterous slasher fare with no real purpose. Cowering in the shadow of Halloween, Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Scream and even Child's Play, this is definitely not one of the horror genre's finer offerings.
4/10