{"id":3816,"date":"1989-10-01T00:01:16","date_gmt":"1989-10-01T00:01:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nightmareonelmstreetfilms.com\/site\/?p=3816"},"modified":"2026-02-02T15:52:20","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T23:52:20","slug":"are-you-ready-for-freddy-the-man-of-your-dreams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nightmareonelmstreetfilms.com\/site\/are-you-ready-for-freddy-the-man-of-your-dreams\/","title":{"rendered":"Are You Ready for Freddy the Man of Your Dreams!"},"content":{"rendered":"

A<\/em> Nightmare video review<\/em><\/strong>
\nBy Kevin McMahon<\/p>\n

Published in Monsters Attack!<\/em>, Issue 2.<\/p>\n

Writer Kevin McMahon takes a quick viewer’s journey through the Nightmare on Elm Street<\/em> series in preparation for the then-upcoming A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child<\/em>.<\/p>\n

ARE YOU READY FOR FREDDY\u2026 THE MAN OF YOUR DREAMS!<\/strong>
\nA NIGHTMARE VIDEO REVIEW by KEVIN McMAHON<\/strong><\/p>\n

He\u2019s been called the classic bogeyman, the incarnation of our deepest and most frightening fears\u2026 College students have written dissertations on his character\u2026 His own mother has called him \u201cthe bastard son of a thousand maniacs!\u201d He has achieved world renown as the murderous villain we love to fear!<\/p>\n

Freddy Krueger hit the movie scene in 1984 when A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET<\/strong> was released. A sleeper hit (pun intended), the movie was made for a little over two million dollars and has grossed many times that to date. It also spawned three sequels to date with another due out this year, as well as a popular syndicated television show FREDDY\u2019S NIGHTMARES<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Freddy has even inspired rock stars like DOKKEN and THE FAT BOYS to pen songs about him.<\/p>\n

The writer\/director of the original A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET<\/strong>, Wes Craven created Freddy Krueger and the \u201cnightmare\u201d genre out of his own interest in dreams and the subconscious. He pursued the subject in college and later as a director saw nightmares as a common ground of terror we all share. He realized it was a subject that would place few limitations on his creativity.<\/p>\n

Craven went about creating the evil embodiment of our worst nightmares; Freddy Krueger. \u201cA filthy child murderer who killed at least 20 children in the neighborhood\u201d, we are told in the first film. \u201cThe lawyers got fat and the judge got famous\u2026 but somebody forgot to sign the search warrant in the right place and he was freed just like that\u201d. The angry townspeople chased Krueger down, trapped him, doused him with gasoline and set him ablaze. Now he\u2019s back to wreak his revenge by tormenting and killing the children of those responsible for his grisly death. He attacks the kids in their nightmares knowing if he kills them in their dreams they die!<\/p>\n

The actor behind the makeup of Freddy is Robert Englund, previously most noted for his role as Willie in the short-lived \u201cV\u201d television show. Englund has helped create the character of Freddy and plays up the personality with a satanic glee.<\/p>\n

Others worth noting for their contributions to the success of Freddy Krueger are David Miller and Kevin Yagher. Miller was responsible for the makeup duties on the first film and he painstakingly applied the latex appliances every day to Englund\u2019s face, sometimes taking up to three hours. For the second and subsequent chapters Kevin Yagher perfected the makeup, making it thinner and more stomach-turningly lifelike!<\/p>\n

The character of Krueger has struck a common chord in audiences and critics alike. His menacing figure, his grimy red and green sweater, slouched hat and trademark razor-fingered glove combined with his scarred, burned face and malevolent wit have attracted fans everywhere. He has achieved phenomenal cult status with ardent fans attending the films over and over dressed in their Freddy best.<\/p>\n

Although the films boast highly inventive FX, mechanical, makeup and optical, they are regarded as far more than simple slasher or gore movies. The \u201cNIGHTMARE\u201d movies are more surreal than gory but they are still not for the faint of heart for there is blood\u2026 lots of blood! The concept of interplay between nightmares, dreams and waking moments intrigues viewers as well. The opportunity to be thrown in and out of reality makes for exciting filmmaking in the hands of an imaginative director.<\/p>\n

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET<\/strong>: The first of a potentially endless series introduced us to Freddy Krueger with a new definition of the bogeyman. Written and directed by Wes Craven, who earlier had given theater-goers nightmares with LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT<\/strong> and THE HILLS HAVE EYES<\/strong>, NIGHTMARE<\/strong> scored with horror fans as well as the ever-important teen market.<\/p>\n

The plot centers on four teens who are all sharing the same disturbing nightmare. The film centers first on Tina (AMANDA WYSS) as she is pursued in her dreams by a creep with a vicious razor fingered glove. She ultimately succumbs in a thrilling sequence requiring a rotating room courtesy of mechanical effects wiz Jim Doyle and many gallons of stage blood. Tina gets tossed around the room, defying gravity, as her boyfriend Rod (NICK CORRI) watches helplessly. Later he is implicated as the killer and winds up in jail.<\/p>\n

The film switches focus to Nancy (HEATHER LANGENKAMP) whose reclusive gin-swilling mother (RONEE BLAKLEY), helped kill Freddy Krueger. She even saved his razor-fingered glove as a memento! Nancy\u2019s father, the local police lieutenant (JOHN SAXON), is another model of incompetence\u2026 as are all parents and authority figures throughout the series. Perhaps this is another reason the \u201cNightmare\u201d movies are popular among teens!<\/p>\n

The remainder of the film deals with Nancy learning more about Freddy Krueger and then her attempting to outwit him in a variety of exciting nightmares! Next door boyfriend Glenn (21 Jump Street\u2019s Johnny Depp in his first feature role) provides little help and eventually falls prey to Freddy! Through Glenn\u2019s death Nancy finds the courage to challenge Freddy and with survivalist ingenuity she triumphs\u2026 but only temporarily! Before the final credits we know Freddy will be back.<\/p>\n

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET<\/strong> rates a high recommendation for its well-paced action, dazzling effects sequences and talented group of actors which combined creates a contemporary horror classic.<\/p>\n

PART II: FREDDY\u2019S REVENGE<\/strong>: Under new director Jack Sholder and screen-writer David Chaskin it\u2019s a whole new start for the Freddy Krueger show. It\u2019s now five years later and a new family has moved in on Elm Street: the Walsh family. They are comprised of Mr. and Mrs. (CLU GULAGER AND HOPE LANGE) Walsh, young daughter and teenage son Jesse (MARK PATTON). Jesse hasn\u2019t even unpacked before he gets a late night visit from Freddy! At first he passes it off as the heat in his bedroom but when he and new found girlfriend Lisa (KIM MYERS) discover Nancy Thompson\u2019s diary explaining the first movie, things really catch fire\u2026 things like the family bird and toaster!<\/p>\n

PART II: FREDDY\u2019S REVENGE<\/strong> differs from the original in that Freddy seeks to use Jesse as an accomplice in his murders\u2026 torturing him as he slowly cracks his mind and controls his body. The personality of Freddy also emerges as more sardonic than in the first and marks a turning point for the character. Freddy now taunts his victims, displaying a taste for puns and one-liners. He offers to Jesse, \u201cYou have the body and I have the brains!\u201d as he tears open his head to reveal his pulsating grey matter!<\/p>\n

Freddy uses Jesse to lead him to new victims for which he is rewarded by being implicated in murder. The high school coach, Schneider (MARSHALL BELL) rides Jesse only so long before Freddy lashes him to the shower pipes and scrubs his back with his gloved hand, then leaves Jesse holding the bag, or glove!<\/p>\n

Jesse continues to be plagued by Freddy and after Freddy kills his best friend Ron Grady (ROBERT RUSLER) in spectacular fashion by physically tearing himself free from Jesse\u2019s body, Jesse escapes with little of his sanity. He returns to Lisa\u2019s where a pool party is in full swing. Freddy crashes the party, turns the pool into a hot hot tub, pops a few beers and disposes with a few troublesome teens before exiting in a flaming flash with Jesse\u2019s body. Much of this scene was rumored to have been left on the cutting room floor, yet it remains one of the film\u2019s more thrilling scenes.<\/p>\n

The lovelorn Lisa knows only one place to find the killer; the boiler room where Freddy hangs his fedora when not haunting the teen\u2019s dreams. Freddy welcomes her with a few sight gags but love drives Lisa on. She proves her true love by kissing Freddy\u2019s pocked and pilled puss transforming it via exploding flames back into her princely Jesse. Yes, even Freddy fans are suckers for a \u201cfeel good\u201d ending.<\/p>\n

PART II: FREDDY\u2019S REVENGE<\/strong> is the one film that has little to do with the previous film or the ones that follow. Nonetheless, it is well worth the look for horror fans and required viewing for any true Krueger fan.<\/p>\n

PART III: THE DREAM WARRIORS<\/strong>: The third installment in the \u201cNightmare\u201d series marks a decided change for the better. Freddy\u2019s popularity warranted cameo appearances by Zsa Zsa Gabor and Dick Cavett thus establishing Freddy as a world class monster! Director Chuck Russell lives up to the assignment as his dynamic visual style and layering of dream upon nightmare upon nightmare takes the viewer on a whirlwind tour of explosive FX laden scenes from the very start and rarely lets up through the film.<\/p>\n

The story centers on the last of the Krueger victims who are so messed up by their tortured dreams that they\u2019re locked up in a mental ward. After an inspired nightmare where the bathroom plumbing slashes her wrists, Kirsten (PATRICIA ARQUETTE) is committed by her self obsessed mother.<\/p>\n

Nancy Thompson (HEATHER LANGENKAMP) from the first film returns as a Harvard grad interning at the hospital and assisting Neil Goldman (CRAIG WASSON). Together, they try to help the kids\u2026 against the better judgement of the rest of the hospital staff Attar one youth walks off the roof believing to be a human puppet, another gels her fatal “big break” into television and a third tongue-tied youth lapses into a coma. the rest vow to do battle with Freddy. Nail must convince Lt. Thompson (JOHN SAXON), now a morose boozer, to help him bury and consecrate the bones of Freddy Kroeger, lifting the curse of Elm Street. Meanwhile, the dream warriors each face off against Freddy with their fantasy dream powers which allow some of the films belier moments. A mortally wounded Nancy gives Freddy a hand… his gloved hand right in the chest! Once again F1eddy Krueger is vanquished\u2014until next time!<\/p>\n

PART IV: THE DREAM MASTER<\/strong>: The next \u201cNightmare\u201d movie picks up shortly after the last left off. Kirsten (TUESDAY KNIGHT replacing PATRICIA ARQUETTE in the role) and the other surviving dream warriors Kincaid (KEN SAGOES) and Joey (RODNEY EASTMAN) are now somewhat normally adjusted high school students. The film introduces a new crop of students destined for bad dreams. Kirsten\u2019s best friend is Alice (LISA WILCOX), a somber part-time counter waitress whose spike haired brother is Kirsten\u2019s boyfriend Rick (ANDRAS JONES).<\/p>\n

When Kirsten starts having bad dreams again she calls on her old friends from part 3. Using her powers, she pulls them into her dream. They take exception, not wanting to tangle with Freddy again and with good reason! Freddy wastes no time in retiring them for good. He then sets his sights on Kirsten and when her mother slips her some sleeping pills, it\u2019s curtains for Kirsten! But she manages to bring her friend Alice into the nightmare and as she dies passes her power and strength on to Alice.<\/p>\n

The dream warriors are now history and Freddy concentrates on Alice and her young friends as future trophies. When Alice falls asleep in class her friend Shiela (TOY NEWKIRK) gets the life sucked out of her by Romeo Freddy Krueger. Later in one of the film\u2019s more intriguing sequences, Debbie\u2019s (BROOKE THEISS) worst phobia becomes her worst living nightmare as she is transformed into a cockroach and checks into Freddy’s own roach motel! <\/p>\n

As each of her friends die, Alice gains their power and with the help of boyfriend Dan (DANNY HASSEL) she suits up to do battle with Freddy in the film’s climactic close. Calling on the strength of all her fallen friends, Alice ultimately defeats Freddy with his own image.. “in the reflection of my mind’s eye, evil will see itself and it will die.” The finale is an ambitious and stunning achievement as the souls imprisoned in Freddy’s chest rend themselves free and once again destroy Freddy Krueger!<\/p>\n

Director Renny Harlin has created another worthy chapter in PART IV: THE DREAM MASTER<\/strong>. He follows the same continuity as the third, embellishing upon earlier themes; such as Freddy\u2019s chest where the souls of his victims are held. Harlin\u2019s nightmares are well executed but lack the same humor Freddy displayed in number 3, though this rarely detracts from what is essentially a satisfying horror movie.<\/p>\n

Horror fans will find something to scream about in each of the \u201cNightmare\u201d movies. With NIGHTMARE V: THE DREAM CHILD<\/strong> due out in August, FREDDY\u2019S NIGHTMARES<\/strong> seen in most areas and Marvel\u2019s new Krueger Comic, Freddy fans won\u2019t be resting easy! Pleasant dreams!<\/p>\n

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Scans<\/strong><\/p>\n

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