Scaredy-Cat Review: A Nightmare on Elm Street

Title: A Nightmare on Elm Street
Director: Wes Craven
Year of Release: 1984
Scaredy-Cat Level: 👻 (a wee bit scary, but all pretty predictable)
Subgenre: Supernatural Slasher

Plot Summary (Spoiler-Free)

A child killer seeks revenge on the people who killed him by haunting the dreams of their teenage kids, but not before creeping them out a ton (is that right?). However, teenager Nancy is onto him, and will stop at nothing to catch him in her dreams, despite everyone (including her asshole parents) telling her she’s a nutjob.

SPOILER ALERT!

The rest of this review contains some details and thoughts that might reveal a bit too much about the movie — you have been warned!

The Scaredy-Cat Experience

Jump Scare Count: There are quite a few! If you’re new to horror, they might catch you out, but for the rest of us, they’re pretty predictable.

Tense Moments: All of the dream sequences keep you (slightly) on edge, with Freddy’s power to make almost anything happen. His ability to twist reality is still creepy, even if you can see it coming.

Spooky Atmosphere: The setting — a shadowy little street, dark hallways, and that terrifying boiler room — still brings a lot of eerie vibes that work for a good scare even after all these years.

Bits That Scared Me

• The whispering gets under your skin, for sure.

• Tina sliding up the wall while being gutted is disturbing and actually quite well done.

• The creepy body bag scene with Tina—definitely unsettling!

• The bug coming out of Tina’s mouth…eugh!

• When Freddy jumps out from behind the bed. You know it’s coming, but it still gets you!

The Funny Bits

• Freddy’s long arms in that one scene. Looked a bit silly.

• Nancy looking in the mirror and saying, “Oh god, I look 20 years old”

• The dialogue in general is a bit ropey! “I brought something out from my dream.” – no shit, Nancy.

• The tongue coming out of the phone!

• The mom being dragged through the tiny window in the door — super fake-looking!

Scaredy-Cat Verdict

While not as terrifying as it might have once been (and certainly not as nightmare-inducing as when I last watched it as a five-year-old), A Nightmare on Elm Street is still a fantastic horror film. The creative and gruesome deaths, like Tina’s scene, give the film a level of inventiveness that holds up. Freddy’s whole “don’t go to sleep” tactic is a timeless concept that’s still effective, even after forty years. Plus, the cheesy effects now add a whole new layer of charm—turning some scenes into laugh-out-loud moments that keep the horror both entertaining and (unintentionally) funny.

Final Thoughts

This is a classic that manages to deliver both laughs and scares in a way only an ‘80s horror can. Some of the creepy effects haven’t aged perfectly, but the nostalgia factor is strong, and there’s still a lot here for horror fans to enjoy. A Nightmare on Elm Street may not be the scariest slasher out there, but it’s iconic, creepy, and surprisingly fun — even after all these years.

My (Out-of-Context) Thoughts During the Movie

• "Look at the care and attention going into making that claw glove. Gotta respect that."

• "Why was I allowed to watch this as a 5 year-old?"

• "They dreamed the same dream, uh oh!"

• "There's always a douchebag in these films."

• "Did Jesus keep her safe there?"

• "Stay in the house, Tina!"

• "Why the long arms? He looks like Mr. Tickle."

• "Nancy's mom got a drag queen to do her make-up."

• "And her dad sucks."

• "Maggots 🤢"

• "Would you really be singing the Freddy song in the bath if you were her?"

• "Do people really fall asleep and drown in the bath ALL THE TIME?"

• "Mom picking the lock like a pro."

• "Red Bull would sort her out."

• "Instead of PJs, how about falling asleep with full body armour on? Throw in a shotgun too."

• "This funeral is awkward."

• "Where was she hiding that hat?"

• "Slap!"

• "Why is the mom keeping that claw glove? Is this gonna be like Friday the 13th?"

• “Or should I say… FREDDY the 13th? Right? Get it? Never mind.”

• "Johnny Depp rocking the crop top."

• "Nancy walked so Kevin McCallister could run."

• "How much booze has the mom drank?"

• "Sledge hammer to the nuts!"

• "Wtf where did the mom go?!"

• "They're taking this really well."

• "The mom has given up drinking, just like that."