99 - A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors

Connection To A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 2 - Sequel and Robert Englund of course returns from the previous installment.

Of all the Freddy sequels (including New Nightmare) this is my favourite - this was true when I was a youngling and true now. Maybe I liked it most as a youngling because of it's connection the first one - two characters return and the "kids" are probably the most memorable here.

I should point out though that I am aware this was the first film that really set the formula for the three films after it - Freddy tailoring the nightmares to the kids and Freddy quipping one-liners - it's just like and I think I mentioned this in talking about Batman Forever, where I said the elements that people disliked about Batman & Robin where already there in Forever they just wasn't as bad.

This was the only one of the Elm Street sequels besides the meta-New Nightmare which had any input from Wes Craven (he co-wrote the script) and perhaps that be a reason why this is the best sequel... because it's closest to the classic original.

Heather Langenkamp returns as Nancy and yeah... she's not exactly an amazing actor this time around either but it's really good having her back in the fold - here the action is set in an hospital ward where all the youngsters are scared of sleeping, obviously most people just think there are being crazy except trainee Nancy.

Speaking of the young cast - Patricia Arquette making her debut is Christine, a girl who ends up on the ward when Freddy makes it look like she slit her own wrists, already here she shows talent, Jennifer Rubin, was somebody you would have thought had a much better career but that's the way it goes sometimes.

The tailored nightmares best two are among 2 of the early ones - the puppet master and death by TV - I think because it's fun seeing the denial of the hospital staff after these ones before Craig Wasson's doctor starts getting on board.

SPOILER - My one complaint is the film the IDIOT BALL moment of the end - The Dream Warriors have beaten Freddy, and Nancy's dad (John Saxon) who was just killed trying to bury Freddy's bones shows up as a spirit to say goodbye, everyone stands by looking on happy that Nancy gets to say goodbye and see hugs him, guess what it's really Freddy and this results in her death. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid - END OF SPOILER.

Overall a great horror film in it's own right, a few adjustments and it could have stood on it's own and still be remembered, the stuff that would come most associated with Freddy are only just starting here so they are at a minimum. Recommended.

97 - A Nightmare On Elm Street

Connection To WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE? - Johnny Depp.

Some horror villains seem to become instantly iconic - Michael Myers, Pinhead, Jason, even Chucky among others and of course probably my favourite of the bunch - Freddy Krueger.

The A Nightmare On Elm Street films where regularly viewing for me as a kid - I'm not sure why I was allowed to watch them, I was allowed to watch most horror I don't remember getting told I couldn't watch a particular one, I did have a self imposed rule though - I would put a video on before bed, the rule was never a horror just in case it give me nightmares.

When I started writing that sentence I actually didn't plan on ending it with the word nightmares but it's more then suitable, and I think that is the magic of the Elm Street films (even the lesser ones and there is plenty of them), most of these other horror villains as scary as they are can only get you in real life, Freddy though can get you in the thing we've all got to do our sleep and he's the one in control.

Objectively A Nightmare On Elm Street is a film of some genuine scares but also I have to admit of bits that look dated, but for a film that holds up this well it's not worth holding them against it (the phone bit - just how it looks was one of the scenes I was talking about and the very last shot is worth mentioning).

This film belongs entirely to Robert Englund, whose performance helps make Freddy an instant iconic character, which makes up for the let's be honest mostly not so great teen performances (Johnny Depp included) - which I'm not saying they are bad just not stellar. This first film doesn't forget that Freddy is mean't to be an hideous child-killer while the later sequels seem to think he was a badly burnt stand-up comedian (he would do well on America's Got Talent).

I think this film had more atmosphere then any of the sequels (including the good ones), Nancy seeing Tina in the clear body bag is still a haunting image (sorry there was plot spoilers for a near 30 year old film there) and Freddy's appearances are kept to a minimum so the mystique is still there.

Overall, still holds up remarkably well - the more recent remake didn't capture what was so special about this... they didn't realize - a film this good makes you overlook anything that is dated about it.