"A Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge" is the 1985 sequel to the original film, written by David Chaskin and directed by Jack Sholder. This time, a new family moves into Nancy's house from the first "Nightmare" and a teenage boy named Jesse falls prey to Fred Krueger's machinations via his dreams.
Unlike in the first film, Fred Krueger decides to persuade Jesse to kill for him by possessing his body. It's now up to Jesse's girlfriend, Lisa to come face to face with Fred Krueger and free Jesse from his clutches before it's too late.
Starring in the film, is Mark Patton (Jesse Walsh), Kim Myers (Lisa), Robert Rusler (Grady), Marshall Bell (Coach Schneider), and Robert Englund returning as Fred Krueger.
The giant elephant in the room with "Nightmare 2" is that it features a lot of homosexual connotations. From Coach Schneider and his liking towards Jesse and Grady, to Jesse's embarrassing dance scene, and finally the idea that Fred Krueger is actually Jesse's homosexuality appearing despite his best efforts to conceal it. In this regard, "Nightmare 2" is quite appropriate as the 80s was a time when homosexuality was relatively a societal taboo. At the end of the film, the theme that love conquers evil is touched on--it's cheesy--but it was 1985.
What's important to realize is that when "Nightmare 2" was made, New Line Cinema (yes that one) didn't know that they had the makings of a franchise. Instead, the filmmakers jumped on the backs of the Universal monster movies, and made the monster the star of the show. So "Nightmare 2," while the rules of the first film are missing, is somewhat innocent on its own.
The problem is that "A Nightmare On Elm Street" became a large franchise down the road. So in the grand scheme of things, "Nightmare 2" is an inferior sequel in the series. The possession motif doesn't work for "Nightmare," and the uprooting of the established rules really hurt this film.
The Good-
- Unintentional humor
- Mostly good makeup effects by Kevin Yahger
- 80s cheese
The Bad-
- Cheese-tastic acting all around
- Throwing out of the "Nightmare" rules
- Some very odd, yet funny, scenes
"A Nightmare On Elm Street" is a 1984 horror film, written and directed by Wes Craven. The story follows a teenager named Nancy, and her fight against the child killer/dream demon known as Fred Krueger.
As her friends start being murdered, Nancy searches for answers from her parents. When the truth is finally revealed, Nancy realizes that the power to defeat Krueger lies within herself.
Starring in the film, is Heather Langenkamp (Nancy Thompson), John Saxon (Lt. Thompson), Amanda Wyss (Tina Gray), a fresh-faced Johnny Depp (Glen), and last but not least, Robert Englund as the villainous Fred Krueger.
"A Nightmare On Elm Street" taps into the idea that we are helpless when we sleep. That's what really makes Fred Krueger such a frightening antagonist. The idea that we could meet our demise while dreaming, and the fact that we all dream, enables "Nightmare" to stand out among the slasher films of the 80s.
Primarily, "Nightmare" is about the secrets people keep from each other, and the harm that comes from them. This is explored when Nancy discovers the connection between Krueger and her parents.
In the climax of the film, Nancy takes a stand against Krueger by declaring that she won't give him any more of her fear. "Nightmare" crescendos with the themes of self confidence and strength in the face of evil.
"A Nightmare On Elm Street" is still a solid horror film, and it features many iconic scenes and creepy imagery. Although its modest budget and tired slasher troupes bog it down, there are some interesting themes going on beneath the surface.
The Good-
- A unique story that is universally scary
- A strong female lead character
- Good use of special effects--albeit with a low budget
- Excellent imagery and dream scenes
- Deeper themes and ideas than most slasher films at the time
The Bad-
- Overall, sub-par acting from the most of the cast, but that's excusable
- Some effects look dated
The giant elephant in the room with "Nightmare 2" is that it features a lot of homosexual connotations. From Coach Schneider and his liking towards Jesse and Grady, to Jesse's embarrassing dance scene, and finally the idea that Fred Krueger is actually Jesse's homosexuality appearing despite his best efforts to conceal it. In this regard, "Nightmare 2" is quite appropriate as the 80s was a time when homosexuality was relatively a societal taboo. At the end of the film, the theme that love conquers evil is touched on--it's cheesy--but it was 1985.
