A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984) Dir: Wes Craven
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This is one of the most iconic horrors ever, spawning many sequels and remakes, none quite matching this original's acclaim. However, it is a little difficult to watch without my modern perspective influencing my opinion.
I love physical effects for the most part, even the bad ones can be endearing in older films. But there is one or two moments in this that are just laughable.
Furthermore, the scare factor of this film has all but disappeared, though I can appreciate why it was scary when it was initially released in 1984. The narrative is rather simple, but still functional - honestly the film is more about Kreuger than any arcs.
Heather Langenkamp stars as the traditional "final girl" protagonist. Her performance is not amazing, but that doesn't really matter, as mentioned, the film is more about the villain.
Speaking of which, Freddie Krueger is played by Robert Englund, who masters that cheesy 80s horror villain persona - which you can't help but be entertained by, even if you won't be scared by it.
The film also features a young Johnny Depp in his feature film debut. He provides a reasonable performance in his supporting role.
Finally, I'll give a mention to John Saxon who has a couple of good scenes here and there.
Overall, despite the relatively poor aging of this film, I can still see why it is so beloved by the horror community. Wes Craven directs what is a classic horror that, even through modern eyes, can still be enjoyed - even if you are unlikely to be scared.
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