Review of A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) by Casperlew — 17 Sep 2019
When most people think of 70s-80s horror films they either think Halloween, Friday the 13th or A nightmare on elm street. The first film in the series is unarguably the best (as is usually the case). The primary element that elevates A Nightmare on Elm Street above many of its contemporaries is that the storyline invites intellectual participation.
In addition to offering the visceral thrills that are necessary in a genre entry, Craven's screenplay works on another level. He wants viewers to think about the division between dreams and waking, between fantasy and reality, between other worlds and this one.
He also warps expectations - at times, we're aware that the characters are trapped in a dreamscape, but there are times when we're not. And there are occasions when we think they're dreaming and they're actually awake.
And of course, we got Freddy Krueger.
This review of A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) was written by Casperlew on 17 Sep 2019.
A Nightmare on Elm Street has generally received very positive reviews.
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