beginnings are always better

Rating: 8/10 (20 September 2006)

It wasn't until 1984 that "A Nightmare on Elm Street" was released, which was twenty-four years after "Psycho" and six since "Halloween", but somehow this flick still stands on its own as a real original piece of cinema. It takes the psychological aspects of Hitchcock's classic work, the unstoppable serial killer aspects of Michael Myers, and merges it with a low-budget surreal environment.
Even with a young Johnny Depp given very little to do, noticeably tiny budget special effects, and an honestly preposterous premise, the frights in this movie still work. This could only be possible with the overacting teenagers who are recognizably scared, which is one aspect filmmakers sometimes overlook. Sure folks are danger, sure the editing is flashy and jumpy, but don't expect the audience to be scared without the talent peeing their pants. This one did it right. Unfortunately Hollywood continues to try their luck with this franchise.
The original is always better.