One, two, Freddy’s…well, he’s already shown up because A Nightmare on Elm Street is officially 40 years old. And still beloved by more than a few horror fans. A Nightmare on Elm Street hit the theaters in a limited capacity on November 9th, 1984. It received its wide release on November 16th (of the same year) and, from there, became a horror hit. Thus, making Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) one of the most recognized horror figures. Nancy Thompson (Heather Langenkamp) is one of horror history’s most iconic final girls.
If you need a brush-up on A Nightmare on Elm Street and all its supernatural slasher goodness, I’ve got you covered. The film follows Nancy and her friends, who are terrorized and murdered through their dreams by Freddy, a child killer turned vengeful spirit. Little does Freddy realize Nancy isn’t about to back down and die in her nightmares. She pushes to find out why Freddy wants to kill them and uncovers a shocking revelation.
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Quite a bit of the credit for why this is a classic often goes to Wes Craven (director and writer) and Freddy/Robert Englund. Meanwhile, Nancy is a huge part of what makes this iconic slasher so unique. She bravely goes up against Freddy at multiple points in the film, demands answers from her alcoholic mother, and hates relying on her absent-minded boyfriend. The final girl trope has evolved, and while Nancy might not be interested in sex (a common trait in the original definition of final girls), she’s not a damsel in distress either. And that adds to why fans love her so much.
Having a top-notch final girl in the first film of your franchise usually helps endear people. Not to mention, Heather Langenkamp has a charming energy and still looks back on her role with fondness. It’s refreshing to see the legacy of A Nightmare on Elm Street be as long-lasting as it is.
Of course, A Nightmare on Elm Street did more than propel the careers of those in front of and behind the camera. It impacted horror, much like the other major horror franchises. A Nightmare on Elm Street helped New Line Cinema become successful as a film studio, even being dubbed “The House that Freddy Built.” Not to mention how the first film and franchise inspired and impacted horror to the point where Freddy’s influence is apparent in other horror media. Take Stranger Things 4, for example, and how Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) is a Freddy-coded villain.
The film (or, more specifically, Freddy) also inspired plenty of talking horror figures moving forward. Imagining a world in which Freddy was never born (so to speak) is incredibly strange. For instance, we wouldn’t have seen a trend of horror figures like the leprechaun in the Leprechaun franchise or Chucky (Brad Douriff). Most of the figures are witty and wisecracking, much like Freddy throughout the franchise.
In addition to helping New Line Cinema become successful and inspiring other talking horror characters, A Nightmare on Elm Street took what people knew about slashers and offered an alternative. Slasher villains are treacherous enough in waking life, but to be chased in your dreams, where anything can happen? That’s another level of terrifying for Freddy’s victims. It’s a unique twist on what makes a villain in a slasher so scary. Freddy being an unapologetic child murderer when he was alive also plays into that.
Freddy’s overall appearance differs from your Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees type of villains. Both Michael and Jason are your silent types with masks. Meanwhile, Freddy cracks jokes in his striped sweater, hat, and glove with finger claws. Freddy doesn’t have a hulking frame either and is relatively fast when he chases the teens. A Nightmare on Elm Street has that scare factor, but Freddy’s behavior is playful and deranged. Who doesn’t love a deranged villain?
As someone who recognizes this film’s classic status, I can’t help but wish I could go back in time and watch it in theaters on opening weekend. It’d be quite the experience, especially knowing what A Nightmare on Elm Street becomes for horror fans across generations. What people at the time likely considered to be a one-off became a franchise that may never see the light of day again.
The horror genre is better off having this film exist, and it’s never a bore to revisit if you’re a fan of it. Many thanks will always extend to Wes Craven for being a horror genius, Freddy for haunting our nightmares, and Nancy for being a lovable final girl into survival.
