A landmark in Horror

Rating: 8/10 (19 May 2003)

One of the most popular horror films ever made. After nearly 20 years it still scares the hell out of you. *SPOILERS* : Panic breaks out under a group of teenagers when they find out they all have the same nightmares. They all dream about an awfully mutilated man with a disturbing red 'n green sweater and knives for fingers. Tina is the first to die, she gets cut in her dream but keeps on bleeding when her boyfriend wakes her up. Tina's best friend Nancy seems to be the main target now. She realizes this and doesn't dare to go to sleep. When she does, she haves fights with the guy and gets hurt. Then she finds out who this maniac killer is. His name is Fred Krueger and her mother tells her he used to be a child killer. He escaped his punishment and the parents took the law in their own hands. They set fire to his shed and he burned to death. It seems now that he's back where the parents can't protect their children..in their dreams. Nancy realizes that Fred is too powerful in her mind so she comes up with a plan to bring him out with her when she awakes. That way, he can be beaten, she thinks...
Starting from the opening credits, you just know this is gonna be great horror. With very scary theme music in the background, you see a mutilated pair of hands create a glove with sharp knives attached to it. This movie has got everything it needs: teenagers you don't care whether they live or die, a horrifying maniac and great make up effects. This original, written and directed by Wes Craven, got a lot of sequels. Some of them were really enjoyable, some of them were pure crap but nothing beats this first one. Also very memorable: when the opening credits say : "introducing Johnny Depp"