Even now, nearly thirty years after his introduction, Freddy Krueger still has some serious scare-power.
This mainly stems from the work of writer/director Wes Craven, who managed to tap into some of the society’s most primal fears when he created this jumper-wearing, dream-stalking monstrosity.
Watched now, the original film could be easily be considered laughable, but instead it gloriously blends visceral horror with an old-fashioned playfulness which makes for a thoroughly enjoyable watch.
Craven’s intelligence shines through in his understanding of human fear and he perfectly tapped into it with this 80s horror classic in which the traditional rose-tinted dreamscape is transformed into a terrifying, soul-encompassing nightmare.
★★★★