Does A Nightmare on Elm Street hold up?

⭐⭐⭐

This classic horror, written and directed by the late Wes Craven features the iconic slasher Freddy Krueger, brilliantly played here by Robert England. His performance is the perfect blend of horrific absurdity keeping you glued to the screen no matter how much you'll want to look away. The explanation behind Freddy's power is left unsaid, making him all the more frightening. It's little wonder this villain is both loved and feared to this day.

In truth, it's the idea of the film that stands out rather than its execution. Able to strike anytime and in any way imaginable within our protagonist's dreams, the potential for scares is endless. That being said, despite a few gruesome kills and some impressive practical effects. It never explores any of the dreamworld madness and creativity I was hoping for, instead, it keeps most dreams almost identical to reality holding it back from greatness and leaving us with a fairly run-of-the-mill slasher.

Our lead Nacy played by Heather Langenkamp is sadly quite forgettable, as is the rest of the cast. (Except for Robert England) While still worth the watch for horror fans, it lacks the unrelenting frights of modern horror flicks to keep you on the edge of your seat, and offers very little character-driven narrative to compensate. Classic though it may be, A Nightmare on Elm Street is by no means a must-see.