Review of A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) by Uditha D — 12 Aug 2012

Compared to the crap that was its remake, this Nightmare is more grossly horrifying. Compared to the staple of modern slashers, this Nightmare is determinedly superior. It is in its representation of characters that the traditional norms of a slasher are abandoned - the children here, though young and adolescent as they are - are the innocent party, paying the retribution meted against an individual who was sinned against, perhaps not too wrongly for his own crimes, by their own parents.

Perhaps some may view the blood splurges and gore as being a little too sickening, and it was in a way, even more so than The Exorcist itself! But in the end I liked it very much indeed, particularly in the way Robert Englund played the nefariously perverted Freddie Krueger.

For fans of slasher films, this is undoubtedly the most supernaturally thrilling in that genre (while Halloween retains that title in the natural, suburban setting), and is definitely a must-watch!