A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Directors C

  
  [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img] Wes Craven's benchmark creature of terror: Freddy Kreuger. Combined with the brilliantly intelligent premise has strongly helped make this deservedly remain one of the greatest suspense horror's of… More
  [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img] Wes Craven's benchmark creature of terror: Freddy Kreuger. Combined with the brilliantly intelligent premise has strongly helped make this deservedly remain one of the greatest suspense horror's of all time. It's an incredibly smart slasher movie that never loses it's ability to bring forth a unique enigmatic and eery sense of isolation among it's victims. The victims? Us.

• Sophie B

  
  It has ages fairly well but the massive amount of copy-cat films has made this film seem not so good to a new viewer. I'm sure that when it came out it was amazing, and it is a really good story with a superb soundtrack. The acting was believable and the tension was created… More
  It has ages fairly well but the massive amount of copy-cat films has made this film seem not so good to a new viewer. I'm sure that when it came out it was amazing, and it is a really good story with a superb soundtrack. The acting was believable and the tension was created perfectly. I look forward to seeing the rest in the series.

• Jason C

  
  This movie is a true classic. The concept is pure genius and ended up advancing the entire slasher genre. Even after nearly 30 years and countless sequels, the idea of a murderer hunting his victims through their dreams remains disturbing. As for Freddy, this is the character at… More
  This movie is a true classic. The concept is pure genius and ended up advancing the entire slasher genre. Even after nearly 30 years and countless sequels, the idea of a murderer hunting his victims through their dreams remains disturbing. As for Freddy, this is the character at his filthy, sadistic best. There are moments in the film that haven't aged well, and they really dropped the ball with the ending, but this will always be one of the greatest horror movies ever made.

• Brad W

  
  One of the greatest horror flms in the history of movies, a all time classic, really scary.

• Dan S

  
  An effectively-made, slightly campy horror film that knows how to scare correctly while developing one of the most terrifying, legendary killers in all of cinema. Unlike so many horror movies that are usually plagued with terrible dialogue, wooden characters, dumb decisions, and and… More
  An effectively-made, slightly campy horror film that knows how to scare correctly while developing one of the most terrifying, legendary killers in all of cinema. Unlike so many horror movies that are usually plagued with terrible dialogue, wooden characters, dumb decisions, and and overdose of "campy"-ness, this one gets most of it right. Heather Lagenkamp's solid, at-times over-the-top performance as the lead is what makes the film worth it, seeing that she is a character we care for, notably due to her mother's drinking problem (brilliant little subplot tossed in nicely by director Wes Craven) and father's arrogance (John Saxon, playing it straightforward). Sure, it's corny from time to time, but Craven is a master of suspense and plays his cards right for a majority of the film's duration, which results in some genuinely spooky moments.

• Tyler K

  
  Now, let me say that I did enjoy the movie. I never got bored and honestly wouldn't mind watching it again... but my major concern are the very poor effects the movie lays on you. I mean truly terrible effects that are (hopefully, I haven't seen it yet) cleaned up in the… More
  Now, let me say that I did enjoy the movie. I never got bored and honestly wouldn't mind watching it again... but my major concern are the very poor effects the movie lays on you. I mean truly terrible effects that are (hopefully, I haven't seen it yet) cleaned up in the 2009 re-make. The story is explained a little poorly, meaning it isn't that good. It's simple and unrealistic, but it is a major psychological trip on your brain. It is hard to understand a very simple story... I mean, how odd is that? Within the movie, odd nightmares are common... deadly nightmares are frequent. And, to top it all off, the creepy jump rope song... it's just like Dead Space's twinkle little star song. It's just so inappropriate that it's scary... I can still remember the haunting lyrics. "1, 2, Freddy's coming for you. 3, 4, better lock your door. 5, 6, grab you're crucifix. 7, 8, gonna stay up late. 9, 10, never sleep again."... too bad sleep deprivation will prevent that from happening... meaning that you are going... to... DIE...

• Zach B

  
  Around the time that this film was made, the entire slasher genre of films was already made a complete mockery of. You had the countless, terrible sequels to staple horror films, the low budget exploitation films, and the entire name of horror was a complete joke. Then, out of no… More
  Around the time that this film was made, the entire slasher genre of films was already made a complete mockery of. You had the countless, terrible sequels to staple horror films, the low budget exploitation films, and the entire name of horror was a complete joke. Then, out of no where, a little horror film about nightmares and dreams comes about and everyone is forced to take the genre seriously. A Nightmare On Elm Street is, when boiled down, one of the most intelligent and still effective horror films that has been made. In terms of direction, Wes Craven shows his origins of being a master film maker sense his films The Last House On The Left and The Hills Have Eyes. He makes the film work by keeping the origins of the main killer, Fred Kruger (Robert Englund), a complete mystery. Plus, how he is able to make the transitions from the real world to the dream realms is also effective. Now you have the script. To this day with this film being twenty plus years old, the script is still fresh and smart as it tackles the mysteries of dreams and the effect that they have on people. Another thing to point out is how it takes the themes of Loss of Innocence. Now, the acting. For the most part, the acting is one dimensional with the exception of Englund, Heather Langenkamp, and Johnny Depp (this being his first film). These three carry the film on their shoulders and do a good job on making this film great. But, between all three, it is, of course, Englund that steals the show. Now for the score. It is mostly repetitive, but for the basic of the main theme that this film is known for, it is wonderful. The score of a film is suppose to set the tone and that is what this film does. Overall, this is an effective horror that does have some flaws.

• AJ V

  
  I wish I'd never seen this movie, not that it's bad, but because it's too good. By that I mean that it's the scariest thing I've ever seen on film, and it gives me nightmares just thinking about it, so I better end this review now.

• danny d

  
  freddy is an absolute icon, which probably overvalues this first film a bit but his legend allows it. the film does have some genuine frights and englund is masterful as the larger than life villain, the film deserves respect for its contribution to 80's culture.

• KJ P

  
  Whatever You Do Don't Fall Asleep, that's the catch phrase here, and I found myself falling for every scare here. This film sets the bar high, but if is wasn't for the stupid ending, I may have enjoyed this film a little more. I waiting for everything to come together… More
  Whatever You Do Don't Fall Asleep, that's the catch phrase here, and I found myself falling for every scare here. This film sets the bar high, but if is wasn't for the stupid ending, I may have enjoyed this film a little more. I waiting for everything to come together and make sense at the the end, but the end made the film more confusing. I loved A Nightmare On Elm Street, but the ending sucks!

• Dean !

  
  A classic and probably the best and scariest of the Freddy films.

• jd c

  
  The best of the series. A true horror classic that's bloody as hell. A Nightmare on Elm Street is a bloodfest, and it's scary. It still manages to frighten. Wes Craven is a master of horror, he's my second favorite horror director of all time (first being John… More
  The best of the series. A true horror classic that's bloody as hell. A Nightmare on Elm Street is a bloodfest, and it's scary. It still manages to frighten. Wes Craven is a master of horror, he's my second favorite horror director of all time (first being John Carpenter). This is one of the few entries in the series where Freddy Krueger is actually serious (well, more so than the rest). Yes it has it's funny moments, but mainly from the characters and most of the humor seems unintentional (well at least I find these parts funny). It's just the famous one-liners that I find funny. A Nightmare on Elm Street is the best in the series, by far. It redefined creative goriness. The bloody bed scene with Glen (Johnny Depp) is one of the most inventive kills in horror movie cinema (it's just as memorable as the stomach scene in "Alien" (1979) . Elm Street is a bloody, definitive classic and will always remain so. Every horror fan should have already seen this, and if they haven't, then maybe they should rethink labeling themselves a "horror fan". This movie is chillingly stunning. Nightmares will never be the same! One of my favorite horror films. <a href="http://s294.photobucket.com/albums/mm89/JDHallowEEn/HorrorQf/?action=view&current=ElmStreet1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm89/JDHallowEEn/HorrorQf/ElmStreet1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

• Tony G

  
  In its time "Elm Street" was one of the most sadistic mainstream slasher films in the marketplace. Freddy Krueger was not a mindless killing machine ala Jason Voorhies or Michael Myers or even a deranged cannibal like Leatherface, he was a haunting serial killer with a… More
  In its time "Elm Street" was one of the most sadistic mainstream slasher films in the marketplace. Freddy Krueger was not a mindless killing machine ala Jason Voorhies or Michael Myers or even a deranged cannibal like Leatherface, he was a haunting serial killer with a taste for revenge that ran deep into teenager's dreams. Despite its low budget, "Elm Street" impresses by chilling via an excellently told story with simplistic sets and what could be mistaken for a cast of B-listers. More importantly, "Elm Street" reaches deep into our dreams and threatens to make them "Nightmares".

• Jeff "

  
  Nightmare On Elm Street is a true classic in the horror genre, it's also one of the best slasher films in the 1980's. The film is terrifying, and will keep you on the edge of your seat. There are some fairly memorable scenes in the first Nightmare including the scene where… More
  Nightmare On Elm Street is a true classic in the horror genre, it's also one of the best slasher films in the 1980's. The film is terrifying, and will keep you on the edge of your seat. There are some fairly memorable scenes in the first Nightmare including the scene where Johnny Depp gets sucked into his bed and a lot of blood sprays from the hole in his bed. Nightmare is filled with such awesome, horrifying scenes that's sure to thrill you, and ultimately scare you out of your mind. The rest of the cast does a great job, and the film is solid enough to hold ones attention till it's shocking climax. The best performance of all, belongs to Robert Englund, who brings Freddy Krueger to life! A must see classic!

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"Whatever you do don't fall asleep."</i> In the dreams of his victims, a specteral child murderer stalks the children of the members of the lynch mob that killed him. <center><font size=+2 face="Century… More
  <i>"Whatever you do don't fall asleep."</i> In the dreams of his victims, a specteral child murderer stalks the children of the members of the lynch mob that killed him. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> Wes Craven's horror classic holds up remarkably well, and remains a truly scary movie. Freddy was always a more chilling villain than Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees. Whereas the other two went about their ritualistic killings like zoned-out zombies, Freddy delights in his, and enjoys the fear his victims feel as he toys with them before he murders them as much as he enjoys the murders themselves. And he's just physically scarier as well: he runs, darts around, can pop up anywhere as anything. Wes Craven's genius in this entire series was the plot hook that has Freddy only able to murder in his victims' dreams. This allows Craven fantastic, surreal set pieces, that really do manage to capture the feelings that nightmares have in actuality. One of the best in the horror gen

• Tsubaki S

  
  Just like any other big horror franchise: a decent movie that spawned a bunch of atrocious and useless sequels, remakes, spin-offs and what not. Heather Langenkamp is seriously cute with her 80s hair, like, deadly cute. Why we don't see more girls like her in movies? These days… More
  Just like any other big horror franchise: a decent movie that spawned a bunch of atrocious and useless sequels, remakes, spin-offs and what not. Heather Langenkamp is seriously cute with her 80s hair, like, deadly cute. Why we don't see more girls like her in movies? These days they're all anorexic boring skanks with the personality of a brick.

• Chris G

  
  Just as Jaws made you afraid to go into the water A Nightmare on Elm Street makes you afraid to fall asleep. Wes Craven has created the modern day bogeyman that can only get to you in your most vulnerable place-your unconscious. In the town of Springwood a group of four friends… More
  Just as Jaws made you afraid to go into the water A Nightmare on Elm Street makes you afraid to fall asleep. Wes Craven has created the modern day bogeyman that can only get to you in your most vulnerable place-your unconscious. In the town of Springwood a group of four friends (which includes a young Johnny Depp) begin to have nightmares about a razor fingered man in a red and green sweater and old brown hat: Freddy Krueger. Things go from bad to worse as the group is picked off one by one in their dreams by Freddy until it's down to the lone heroine (Heather Langenkamp) going militia on Freddy. Wes Craven's creation was probably one of the most frightening images of 1980's horror cinema. That is until a long line of sequels that slowly turned him into a Don Rickles from hell, throwing off one liners as he dealt with the never ending supply of Elm Street children. But in the original film (and to a lesser degree the second one) Krueger (played by Robert Englund) is the embodiment of fear. Craven uses those weird dreamlike qualities to give those sleep sequences the feel of a dream: an example is the arms when they reach between two buildings in the alley. Your safest place is in your bed and even that is shattered in this film. This is a horror masterpiece. It's one of those films that defined itself and didn't allow itself to become defined by its genre. The problem is the sequels that followed it, each becoming more and more camp as the numbers grew higher. Leave the first one as a standalone film and it's a great achievement on Craven's part. Take it as part of the never ending series and it becomes diluted in the crazy scenarios and one liners of the following films.

• E.J. B

  
  (Review coming soon)

• Thomas B

  
  Pretty scary and very cheesy. Full review later.

• Conner R

  
  Just the character of Freddy Krueger is worth the movie. Can you come up with a creepier way to scare children. I mean, a serial killer who singles out kids and butchers them with claw hands. Then to have him be a burn victim and haunt your dreams, too amazing. It's a great movie… More
  Just the character of Freddy Krueger is worth the movie. Can you come up with a creepier way to scare children. I mean, a serial killer who singles out kids and butchers them with claw hands. Then to have him be a burn victim and haunt your dreams, too amazing. It's a great movie on top of that. You have really good teen actors, great directing, believable effects and a plot that isn't a rehashed idea. It was an original story, something that the 80s really didn't have much of. It stood out because of its unique supernatural, yet believable, aspect. I commend Wes Craven for making it work

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