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A Nightmare on Elm Street

A Nightmare on Elm Street

List Price: $12.98
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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The movie that spawned a generation of insomniacs
Review: As someone who has watched this film would say, "make friends with coffee" for this movie has risen to the occation of that of a horror classic. Unlike most reviewers, I will not tell you the entire plot as many others have done. For even if we explained in simple datail the reign of terror that the well known murderer, Freddy has inflicted upon the children of Elm Street it certainly would leave you with a taste in the mouth that would leave you wanting so much more. Instead I will explain the film's unique plot as a whole and give you the tools to understand the frightening and dark world of Freddy Krueger.

If one was to watch almost all of his films, one would see a pattern of abstract and almost unreliable techniques for Freddy's coming back to haunt the unknowing children of Elm Street who only rest peacefully when his name doesn't come about or for that matter, his very existence isn't heard of. To truely understand where Freddy is coming,let's review what exactly he did to piss off the parents of Elm street to begin with. First off, a man who kills children is not a likeable charactor in a town of suburban folks with bottles of alchole hidden in their personal locked bars. Second, let me just say this for fact sake, as horrible as it may seem Freddy liked little girls more than boys and did more to them then is explained anywhere else. You'll begin to understand this once you've seen the way he treats his virgins in other films.

Now, although the parents had him arrested once he had killed too many of the town's kids (how many before it became enough?) IT seemed like everything was going pretty good until the court ruled agianst the town stating that a piece of evidence was obtained illegaly and therefore, Freddy was released to reign more havoc. The parents, being as upset as they were decided to take the law into their own hands and in a very medevil kind of way threw lit bottles of alchole into his house causing the entire house along with Freddy to burn. Afterwards, who knows how long. The memory of Freddy Krueger began to stir about the town and soon enough it begins to terrorize the students living on Elm Street. of course, if it were my kids and I had helped to bring an end to a phycho killer I would have moved very far away but then again without irresponsible parents you have no film. So the show must go on. Anyway, Freddy comes back around this time and the parents are devistated but at the same time reluctant to think that Freddy has come back at all.

I suppose the reason for this film's strong impact upon the general public is it's overwhelming sense of fear. How a film delivers it's killer and how that killer strikes is how most films have become so popular. Halloween; Mike stalks his victims on Halloween, Candyman; comes out at the sound of his name being stated three times, and last but not least Jason; who's reign of terror comes out from his overwhelming aggression for those who visit his grave or should I say Camp Crystal Lake. For Freddy Krueger, it doesnt take a costume and some candy, a visit to your local camp for the summer,or a stupid slumber party dare game, all it takes is the simple slumber that could possibly be your last. Wes Craven is a genius when it comes to the overall feel of the film and his defining need to scare the living daylights out of you for pure fun. Sure, you'll probably spill your popcorn all over the couch, and sure you'll most likely hate yourself for watching the film at such a late hour alone before bed time but at least you'll still be alive tomorrow. So sleep dreams because 1_2_ Freddy's coming for you!

My need to stir away from the overall plot of this film is a bit of a silly one i'm sure since I've told you so much about Freddy but has yet to direct you to the overall story line but I have a good reason for doing so. It's pointless sometimes to know what is to come in a film such as this. What does one expect anyhow? a laid out script of events to take place? It would do you no good anyhow because the fear that will envilope you when you watch this film with make all other prior thoughts disapear and instead you'll be wondering if you should stay up a little longer then usual. But don't take my advice, see it for yourself. And be sure to let me know if insomnia looks good to you too? A Nightmare on Elm Stree is a true classic of it's kind and worth every penny. Just do what I do, set your alarm clock!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: glenn
Review: Glenn was the cutest boy in all horror movies. OF course I am referring to Johnny Depps acting debut. Great job Johnny, although I get quite sad when you get eaten by the bed.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Freddy is the greatest
Review: One, Two Freddy's comin for you three, four better shut your door five, six get you crucifix, seven eight gotta stay awake nine, ten never sleep again. This ryhme refers to the greatest slasher of all time. Freddy can kill you while your awake but there's no running away. Sleep always gets the better of you. Freddy can get out of dream world if you awake and Freddy touching you. If I was Freddy I would do that and be a regular killer like Jason or Michael. He was supposidly killed when parents threw molatov cocktails in his workshop and they lit it on fire. That would explain all of his burns on his face. His weapon is his glove that has knives on each finger. His uniform is his green and white sweater and hid black hat. He's the only big slasher that can talk and he runs at you instead of walking like Michael. Nancy was alone in her attempt to kill Freddy by taking out of dream world. She beats him but Freddy never dies. This is a great movie and it's better when you watch it at night. Then it's even more scary.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: its bloody perfection!!!
Review: once you watch this movie you will never want to sleep again. it is horrofying and gruesome. the things freddy does in this grand horror movie are superb. this movie is simply the best of the series) not including Freddy VS jason. "if nancy dosnt wake up screaming she wont wake up at all". that subtitle made me wanna get it from the start i first lade eyes on it. you will too. if you dont like blood do not AND I REPEAT DO NOT!!! watch this movie. it is for those who are willing to place their courage of nightmares in jeoperady. when you are ready grab some popcorn, a tv,a soda, AND A CRUSIFEX! buy it and good luck!!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The film that revolutionized the horror genre
Review: It is a true testament to writer-director Wes Craven's genius that many people now first think of Scream rather than A Nightmare on Elm Street upon hearing his name. While Scream certainly re-energized the horror movie genre, A Nightmare on Elm Street revolutionized it entirely when it was released in 1984. Twenty years after the fact, the movie doesn't seem quite as scary as it did originally, but this movie has truly shocked and frightened many a moviegoer over the years, resonated with untold numbers of men and women in a new and undeniably powerful way, drawn in many viewers that had never cared about horror before, and introduced one of the greatest, most popular horror icons of past, present, and future in Freddy Krueger.

When you really look at the genesis of this movie, its incredible success is truly mind-boggling. Wes Craven had already made waves in the business with such horror classics as Last House on the Left, but the script for A Nightmare on Elm Street made the rounds of Hollywood for three years before the relatively unknown New Line Cinema stepped up to make the movie a reality. The total budget for the film was well under two million dollars, and the filmmakers basically worked miracles to make the film as viscerally shocking and beautifully gory as it is. A tremendous cast was assembled: veteran actor John Saxon and newcomer Johnny Depp (in his very first role) are terrific, Robert Englund needs no introduction for his unforgettable portrayal of Freddy Krueger, and a young and innocent Heather Langenkamp delivers a dazzling performance as Nancy Thompson. (Ronee Blakley's performance as Nancy's mother is over-the-top and rather poor in general, but this is essentially the movie's only weakness.) Many people think that Englund carries this film with his brilliant portrayal of the nightmarish killer, and in a sense he does, but for me it is Langenkamp's performance that absolutely makes this movie something way beyond special. I have always been a big Langenkamp fan; she brings to Nancy a mesmerizing sense of innocence, charm, and natural beauty that wins the audience over completely. Freddy is a dark and menacing presence, but he really doesn't get that much camera time in this first film; Nancy is the essential conduit that connects the audience to the horror.

I don't think much is required in terms of explanations or plot summaries here. Freddy Krueger was a murderer of children who was hunted down and burned to death by local parents. He still exists, though, in the world of dreams, and now the teenaged children of the men and women who destroyed him are his targets. Nancy and her friends all begin to see this strange burnt man in an old fedora and a dirty red and olive green sweater in their dreams; Nancy soon learns that whatever happens in these awful dreams also happens in real life. The first victim dies a spectacular death, one that surely poured heaps of shock value on 1984 audiences and which still works wonderfully today. Several other notable deaths follow, and Nancy knows that she alone must face Freddy and somehow engineer a trap with which to snag him. It's not easy killing a dead man who lives in dreams, of course, but Wes Craven built a really beautiful logic into the story that makes it work convincingly.

The special effects of this film are remarkable, especially given the tight budget restraints. The death scenes are powerful and bloody, the atmosphere and look of the boiler room sets in particular are dark and malevolent, everything about Freddy's look and performance are perfect, and even really cheap effects such as the phone tongue and melted stairs work beautifully. The special features included on the DVD are nothing short of superb, especially the commentary by Wes Craven, Heather Langenkamp, John Saxon, and director of photography Jacques Haitkin - I learned so much from this commentary (including the fascinating true-life facts that helped give birth to the original idea in Craven's mind), all of which made me all the more impressed with this seminal horror classic. A Nightmare on Elm Street is one of the most enjoyable, powerful, and influential horror films ever made, and the transfer to DVD makes this film look better than ever.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Classic horror film that is better than you think it is
Review: Wes Craven's "A Nightmare on Elm Street"(1984) is one of the best in its genre. While it follows the same overall formula of other slasher horror films, it uses psychological and suspenseful techniques to frighten the audience rather than the villain just jumping out of the closet at its victim every other scene. It also uses the world of dreams to make a fresh and new environment in which to have the terror happen. I have to say I usually rent horror films for a laugh but "A Nightmare on Elm Street" was actually engaging and entertaining for what it was. This is definitely Wes Craven's best film and much better than the other famous slasher horror film series like "Friday The 13th" and "Halloween." If you want to see a good modern horror film than "A Nightmare on Elm Street" is your ticket.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: It All Started Here
Review: Well what can be said about this movie that hasn't already been said innumerable times? It's one of horror's most infamous legends, right up there with "Psycho" and "Night Of The Living Dead".
Everyone knows that Freddy and Jason are the two greatest of all time as far as fictional characters are concerned (Michael Myers sucks, in my opinion). But I would have to give Freddy the advantage because he can do supernatural things, whereas Jason just goes around killing people with a machete. Jason may have been around longer, but Freddy is much more powerful (I sound like a real connoisseur of horror movies, eh?).
Anyway, this, the original, is one of the genre's all time greatest. Everything about this movie is great - the acting, the suspense, the score, the atmosphere and, above all, the creepiness of it! No one has ever played a horror villain as good as Robert Englund. I won't go into details about the story of this movie, because most people already know it. Suffice it to say that it has some killer scenes that are just unforgettable. Okay, the WHOLE MOVIE is unforgettable, but some parts obviously stand out more than others. My personal favorite scene is the one where Tina encounters Freddy in the dark alley, with his arms stretched out some 20 feet long. CREEPY.
Like I said, the acting is great in this film, too. It just wouldn't have been the same without the goddess Heather Langenkamp. This gorgeous heroine really adds to the greatness of the movie. John Saxon, Johnny Depp and Ronee Blakley also give wonderful performances.
I don't necessarily think that this is the best one in the series (that honor goes to part 3), but it's definitely in the top 10 horror movies of all time. And considering how many of them have been made over the years, that's quite an achievement.
And of course, the DVD format is the only way to go. The commentary from Wes Craven, Langenkamp, Saxon and the photography director (I forget his name) is especially interesting. And you also get to see the original trailer of the movie when it first came out. In your face, VHS!

By the way, check out the scene where Nancy gives us a great shot of her underwear from behind. YOWZA!!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Whats Up With The Ending?
Review: This is a classic horror movie that will be watched for years to come due to the popular iconic pyscho, Mr. Freddy Krueger. I have seen all the NOES movies, and I have to say only three of them were any good in my opinion. I would see this one first, then NOES Part: 3, and finally my favorite, Freddy vs. Jason. Can someone please explain in a review the ending to this film. I heard Wes Craven was forced to make this horrid ending to please the studio, so even he hated it. Anyways, great starting place to enter your dream world, and meet everyones favorite Crispy Critter for the first time...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The original one and the best one
Review: I saw this one on T.V, and I loved it, the setting and the story is just excellent.And Freddy is not just a killer, hes the dreammaster, and he could be a comedian.The other Freddys are good but this os the best. Freddy vs Jason is probably gonna make this one look cheesy.This is worth buying is u a Freddy Krueger which everybody should be.Just dont go to sleep.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Depp as Glenn
Review: This is the first movie Johnny Depp was in. His character was named Glenn and he got eaten by a bed. He was lovable and sweet. Go see it just for Johnny.


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