A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

	Directed by: Wes Craven	COUNTRY USA GENRE Horror NORWEGIAN TITLE Terror på Elm Street RUNNING TIME 91 minutes
	Produced by: Robert Shaye
	Written by: Wes Craven

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Nancy Thompson	Heather Langenkamp
Freddy Krueger	Robert Englund
Glen Lantz	Johnny Depp	½
Tina Grey	Amanda Wyss
Rod Lane	Nick Corri	½
Lr. Don Thompson	John Saxon
Marge Thompson	Ronee Blakeley

Review

Wes Craven's tale of a handful of teenagers in the small Midwestern town of Springwood who are haunted in their dreams by a murderous, blade-handed burn victim, and must challenge the boundaries between dreams and reality, has retained its thematic and cinematic potency. The film has mediocre acting and a highly selective regard for realism, but Craven combines smooth horror with themes that become increasingly resonant as the film proceeds. Perhaps the most remarkable merit here is the quality of the special effects, which were inexpensive and simple by 1984's standards, but even so still hold their own against the overpaced CGI effects of more modern horror films. Consider, for example, how Craven dares to keep his camera resting on Langenkamp's feet as she runs up the failing stairs – it is an arguably (and regrettably) outdated horror effect that evokes desperation rather than sensuous shock. Although A Nightmare on Elm Street may never become nailbitingly suspenseful, it is trendsettingly creative and inconsiderately cheesy at the same time.

Copyright © 19.03.2009 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang

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