The Suburban Nightmare

Rating: 9/10 (12 October 2008)

Let's take a trip back in time, 24 years ago to be precise. The horror genre had established slasher movie icons such as Michael Myers and Jason Vorhees as the new standard and the horror genre itself was rapidly evolving. Enter a seasoned, yet underrated filmmaker in Wes Craven. Craven's gift to the genre in "A Nightmare On Elm Street" was a colorful and unique villain in Freddy Krueger, brought to life by the incomparable Robert Englund. Instead of merely dispatching horny babysitters and camp counselors with long, sharp objects, Freddy dwelled in the dream world, haunting the children of those who burned him to death in his previous life. Part cautionary tale, part suburban nightmare, "Elm Street" had a little something to creep out everyone. Who can deny the psychological implications of avoiding sleep at all costs? The mere idea that  despite the fantastical elements  such a seemingly safe environment could host such evil is almost a wake up call to never fall asleep or become complacent. Almost as chilling as the concept itself were the ways in which Freddy would dispatch of his victims. Donning a glove with razor sharp blades for each finger and using the unlimited possibilities of the dream world, nothing was off-limits. From bloodbaths that reached the ceiling to a rather nasty fire, Freddy created the ultimate, inescapable nightmare.
Watching the film today, it still holds up. Yes, the effects are as dated as the overall style of the film. But below the surface is still a quality film that stands well enough on it's own. Heather Langenkamp plays Nancy, one of the more independent and strong "survivor girls" of the 80's slasher boom. Langenkamp possesses a rare charm, and as the archetypal girl-next-door, she sells an out-of-this-world concept by keeping her performance grounded in reality. Many will note her co-star, her boyfriend across the street, a very young Johnny Depp. Depp also brings a sense of realism to the table, delivering some early, if somewhat choppy acting skills. Granted, it helps that Craven was and is amongst the more intelligent of horror directors, and his vision is still relevant today. The idea that a new generation can inherit the burdens of their parents is a timeless theme that remains potent. The key factor here is that the movie is just as intelligent as it is shocking for it's time. As for Freddy, he is the ultimate boogeyman. He is the evil that never truly dies and Englund plays the part to the creepiest degree, you know, before he became the class-clown of the genre. Although the overall impact of the film was watered down by sequel after sequel, this one still retains it's class. Unlike most films of it's time, it never sacrificed story for obligatory gore, or nudity for that matter. Despite looking somewhat dated by today's standard, there isn't much else that dates the film, no cheesy pop songs, catch phrases or hair styles. It's just a straight-forward, true horror movie that packs a mind-blowing punch in a briskly-paced 90 minutes. The birth of a legendary villain, a timeless concept, "A Nightmare On Elm Street," nearly two and a half decades later, is a cornerstone of modern American horror, a true essential.