In the 1980s, Wes Craven created one of the most iconic horror characters ever. Freddy Kreuger is shrouded with mystery as a character who disturbs his victims in the dream world. Craven was certainly a genius horror film maker whose legacy has lived on through time. Unlike most modern horror films, A Nightmare on Elm Street moves beyond the basic jump-scare horror convention. Rather, the film creates a mesh between reality and dream. For me, this is a film that is more fun to watch than many other horror films.
This film stands out as a classic, but clearly has some dated aspects to it. A lot of the effects are based on creating a creepy character. Kreuger is made to be a repulsive creature with burn marks and other oddities. Certainly I was disgusted by much of the character model, but some of it just seemed out right creepy. Often, Kreuger seemed more like a pedophile than he did a killer.
I think I am going to finish up this review with a short rant on why horror films do not appeal to me very much. The last horror film I saw in theaters was The Babadook and I loved it, but I just cannot help but notice that contemporary horror films are not made with quite as much attention to detail as other genres often are. Most of them just go on jump-scare tangents that get boring to me after a while. In film history, there have been many horror films that I have enjoyed because they reach a broader approach. For example, The Shining is a brilliant horror film because it brings in a brilliant soundtrack, engaging cast, and Kubrick's amazing direction. I just wish that the genre would turn back to its roots and strive to create better films than Paranormal Activity and Annabelle.
The Bottom Line: Wes Craven creates a memorable character that lives on in the horror genre.
Score: 7/10
This film stands out as a classic, but clearly has some dated aspects to it. A lot of the effects are based on creating a creepy character. Kreuger is made to be a repulsive creature with burn marks and other oddities. Certainly I was disgusted by much of the character model, but some of it just seemed out right creepy. Often, Kreuger seemed more like a pedophile than he did a killer.
I think I am going to finish up this review with a short rant on why horror films do not appeal to me very much. The last horror film I saw in theaters was The Babadook and I loved it, but I just cannot help but notice that contemporary horror films are not made with quite as much attention to detail as other genres often are. Most of them just go on jump-scare tangents that get boring to me after a while. In film history, there have been many horror films that I have enjoyed because they reach a broader approach. For example, The Shining is a brilliant horror film because it brings in a brilliant soundtrack, engaging cast, and Kubrick's amazing direction. I just wish that the genre would turn back to its roots and strive to create better films than Paranormal Activity and Annabelle.
The Bottom Line: Wes Craven creates a memorable character that lives on in the horror genre.
Score: 7/10
