Review of A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) by John C — 12 May 2018

"A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors" is considered by many fans to be the best of the entire "Nightmare" franchise. Written by Chuck Russell and Frank Darabont, and based off a screenplay by Wes Craven and Bruce Wagner, "Dream Warriors" is the true sequel to the original film.

Picking up six years after the events of the first "Nightmare," a group of troubled adolescents band together to battle against the relentless Freddy Krueger. With the help of Nancy Thompson (Heather Langenkamp), Kristen (Patricia Arquette) and the others discover their dream powers to bring the fight to Freddy, and destroy him for good.

Our band of unassuming heroes features Kristen (as mentioned above), Nancy (also above); Kincaid (Ken Sagoes); Joey (Rodney Eastman) Taryn (Jennifer Rubin); Jennifer (Penelope Sudrow); Will (Ira Heiden); Phillip (Bradley Gregg), and that's just the teenagers! Also starring is Craig Wasson as Neil Gordon, Priscilla Pointer as Dr. Simms, a young Laurence...or Larry Fishburne as Max, and John Saxon returns as Lieutenant Thompson. *Whew*.

Now that's an extensive cast!

"Dream Warriors" is really where the franchise becomes like a comic book--balancing fantasy, action, and horror in very imaginative sequences despite its economical budget. There's really something for everyone in this sequel, and it's easy to see why it's the fan favorite.

You want fantastical dream scenes? This movie's a conveyor belt of the whimsical and surreal. You want Freddy one-liners? Well, this is the first "Nightmare" to really dish 'em out! You really can't go wrong with this movie.

Most importantly, "Dream Warriors" brought Freddy Krueger into the spotlight. It's his show, and Robert Englund steals the show with his devilishly pun-ridden quips. He relishes the role, and his performance in "Dream Warriors" was really a jump-off point for Freddy Krueger as a horror icon.

"A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors" is a fun ride all the way through. Filled with memorable characters, thrilling dream sequences, and Freddy Krueger in the driver's seat, "Dream Warriors" set the template for the subsequent "Nightmare" films.