Since U Didn't Axe Me: "Wes Craven's New Nightmare" (1994) Review

After the "Nightmare" franchise crumbled under its own weight, Bob Shaye and New Line spent some time thinking about how to resurrect Freddy at least one more time. Krueger's creator, Wes Craven, who had since fallen out of touch with Shaye and New Line, felt that it was time to bring "A Nightmare On Elm Street" full circle and back to its horror roots.

"Wes Craven's New Nightmare" is written and directed by Wes Craven. The film plays with the idea that the actors of the original film are being haunted by an evil spirit posing as Fred Krueger, and the line between dreams and reality starts to blur.

Heather Langenkamp, who played Nancy from the original film returns to play herself (sort of) as she learns that New Line is working on bringing Freddy back to the big screen. "New Nightmare" also features Bob Shaye (as himself), Robert Englund (as himself and Freddy Krueger), John Saxon (as himself), and even Wes Craven is in the movie!

The acting is pretty solid all around, but the boy (Miko Hughes) who plays Heather's son, Dylan, can be quite annoying in the first half of the film. Although he does do a good job when the tension starts ramping up, his performance is definitely the biggest flaw in the film.

There are a lot of memorable dream sequences in "New Nightmare" that help bring the sense of terror back to the series. While there aren't so many deaths scenes in the film--they are quite effective and evocative of the first "Nightmare."

Wes Craven breaks the fourth wall to create a movie within a movie. At the time in 1994, I don't think there was ever really a horror film like this. Craven weaves a story that not only harkens back to the first "Nightmare," but also opens the door to a much more terrifying Freddy Krueger. This is by far the film's strength, and it shows how much imagination Craven put into this return to form.

"Wes Craven's New Nightmare" is a strong finale for Freddy Krueger, and a love letter to the fans of the first film. Definitely check this one out! This is a must-watch for fans of the "Nightmare" series.

The Good-