In the early 80s, Wes Craven read several articles from the LA Times about Hmong refugees dying in their sleep. According to these stories, these people believed something terrible would happen if they slept, which gave Craven a movie idea. He drafted a script about a dream killer and shopped it to various studios, but none were interested. The only studio that showed interest was New Line Cinema, which was a distributor at the time. Through several negotiations and business dealings, New Line president Bob Shaye acquired a $1.1 million budget for Craven’s ambitious project. The cast mostly comprised young, up-and-coming actors and a few veterans, including John Saxon and Ronee Blakley. The movie was shot in mid-1984 in the LA area, though numerous production issues almost killed the movie. But through sheer perseverance and determination, A Nightmare on Elm Street slashed onto theater screens in November 1984.
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Synopsis
Tina (Amanda Wyss) has been having recurring nightmares about a mysterious man with a bladed glove attacking her. She confides in her friend, Nancy (Heather Lagenkamp), who reveals she has similar dreams about a disfigured killer. Nancy, her boyfriend Glen (Johnny Depp), and Tina’s boyfriend Rod (Jsu Garcia) agree to stay over to keep Tina safe. Unfortunately, Tina gets slashed to death, and Rod is hauled off to prison despite his pleas of innocence. Nancy keeps seeing the mystery man in her nightmares and realizes what happens in her dreams will come true. She confides in her parents, Donald (John Saxon) and Marge (Ronee Blakley), but they don’t believe her. However, her mom confesses that the mystery man is Fred Krueger (Robert Englund), a child murderer who died years ago. Will Nancy stop this dream demon, or will she and her friends be Fred Krueger’s next victims?
Review
A Nightmare on Elm Street is considered one of the greatest horror films ever, and it’s easy to see why. It has a great cast, a stellar script, a memorable villain, and fantastic gruesome death sequences. In a time when the slasher genre was on the decline, this movie shows that there was some creativity left. This film shares similarities to a typical 80s slasher, but its central gimmick makes this one stand out. Everyone has nightmares, so having a slasher where the killer stalks your dreams is uniquely frightening. Not only are we most vulnerable when we sleep, but the killer can exploit our worst fears and inhibitions. The film also explores themes of repressed guilt, questioning authority, and the struggles of adolescence. The kids are facing horrific terror, but their parents aren’t helpful because they’re keeping everything a secret. It’s much more intelligent than your usual slasher.
Heather Lagenkamp makes for one of the best leads in a slasher film, coming off as strong and independent. She quickly figures out what’s happening and takes matters into her own hands when no one else will. Though her screen time is limited, Amanda Wyss does a good job playing the Janet Leigh role in the movie. Jsu Garcia, under the stage name Nick Corri, is also terrific as the misunderstood Rod, whose cocky persona quickly breaks. An unknown Johnny Depp shines as Nancy’s skeptical yet supportive boyfriend, who dies in a uniquely gruesome way. Hollywood legends John Saxon and Ronee Blakley shine as Nancy’s parents, who try to understand her situation despite their troubles. Robert Englund steals the show as Fred Krueger, whose devilish grin, slouched stance, and menacing laugh make him instantly memorable. There’s also an appearance from Charles Fleisher, who later voiced Roger Rabbit.
Given the limited budget he had to work with, Wes Craven created an excellent horror film with scope and ambition. Jacques Hitkin’s stylish cinematography and Rick Shaine’s expert editing add a sense of surrealism that enhances the film. There are moments when you’re unsure if what you’re seeing is real or a dream. This would’ve made things confusing or hard to follow in a lesser director’s hands, but Craven balances it out perfectly. Admittedly, there are moments when the low budget sticks out badly, namely with some effects used looking extra fake. Granted, I’d rather have goofy-looking practical effects over excessive CGI that makes everything look like a video game. While the slasher genre faded as the 80s wore on, this film was the last hurrah of the initial boom. Overall, A Nightmare on Elm Street deserves its status as a horror classic even 40 years later.
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