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A Nightmare On Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)Written by William Kotzwinkle, Brian Helgeland & Scott Pierc Directed by Renny Harlin
The fourth movie in the franchise is the first to feature Freddy Krueger as a pop-culture icon. Whilst the previous film was clearly attempting to create one, this new film capitalizes on the success of its predecessor.
Just to get this out of the way - I'm not a fan of this film. It's not the worst in the franchise, but it's far from good. It's dull and downright stupid in places.
The surviving characters from the previous film return and are promptly dispatched - a recast Kristen Parker (played by Particia Arquette in the previous film - now played by singer Tuesday Knight, probably to capitalise on her popularity at the time) is much less likable this time around. In 3 she's a likable, sweet, niave and innocent girl. Here she comes across as a bit of a bitch - but not a bitch, bitch - the fun bitch that every group has. This is completely to do with the performance - but it works if you think about it. Kristen would no doubt be changed by the events of the previous film.
The film has Freddy cracking wise left, right and centre ("I love Soul Food!" he declares as he munches on a human meatball, claiming their soul) and we move from one over the top kill to the next. The film features another Dream Warrior - this time she's like a Super Dream Warrior - new main character Alice takes on the abilities of every victim Freddy claims throughout the course of this film... which is kinda dumb. I get it - the idea is to give Freddy a nemesis that can kick his ass... but it's never explained properly. It just happens...
The worst thing about this movie is the new cast, for the first time the Elm Street kids feel like they're just Freddy-Fodder. Gone is any actual character development, and we get even more tired cliche characters. The geek, the chick who is obsessed with working out - one note characters. If less time had been spent on the over the top kills (which once again detract from the horror of what is actually happening. See Nightmare 1 for how to do it) and more time developing these characters, we might have actually cared about what happens.
The film is a bit of a mess - it tries to hard to follow the formula established in Nightmare 3, but lacks the punch and drive of that film. It's not really going anywhere and it knows it, and sacrifices character and development in favour of over the top special effects.
That said, it's very watchable as a 'good-bad- movie. Englund is on top form and he makes Freddy a joy to watch. For a slasher movie, it's excellent - but it just doesn't live up to the standard set by the earlier films in the series.
Freddy is now the star of the show, and even more of his backstory begins to unvelop. Nightmare 4 truly is the Freddy Krueger show - and New Line would use his new-found popularity to launch a Nightmare On Elm Street themed television show. Once I get those on DVD I'll be doing similar reviews for each episode (all 44 of them) but until then we move on.
The fourth movie in the franchise is the first to feature Freddy Krueger as a pop-culture icon. Whilst the previous film was clearly attempting to create one, this new film capitalizes on the success of its predecessor.
Just to get this out of the way - I'm not a fan of this film. It's not the worst in the franchise, but it's far from good. It's dull and downright stupid in places.
The surviving characters from the previous film return and are promptly dispatched - a recast Kristen Parker (played by Particia Arquette in the previous film - now played by singer Tuesday Knight, probably to capitalise on her popularity at the time) is much less likable this time around. In 3 she's a likable, sweet, niave and innocent girl. Here she comes across as a bit of a bitch - but not a bitch, bitch - the fun bitch that every group has. This is completely to do with the performance - but it works if you think about it. Kristen would no doubt be changed by the events of the previous film.
The film has Freddy cracking wise left, right and centre ("I love Soul Food!" he declares as he munches on a human meatball, claiming their soul) and we move from one over the top kill to the next. The film features another Dream Warrior - this time she's like a Super Dream Warrior - new main character Alice takes on the abilities of every victim Freddy claims throughout the course of this film... which is kinda dumb. I get it - the idea is to give Freddy a nemesis that can kick his ass... but it's never explained properly. It just happens...The worst thing about this movie is the new cast, for the first time the Elm Street kids feel like they're just Freddy-Fodder. Gone is any actual character development, and we get even more tired cliche characters. The geek, the chick who is obsessed with working out - one note characters. If less time had been spent on the over the top kills (which once again detract from the horror of what is actually happening. See Nightmare 1 for how to do it) and more time developing these characters, we might have actually cared about what happens.
The film is a bit of a mess - it tries to hard to follow the formula established in Nightmare 3, but lacks the punch and drive of that film. It's not really going anywhere and it knows it, and sacrifices character and development in favour of over the top special effects.
That said, it's very watchable as a 'good-bad- movie. Englund is on top form and he makes Freddy a joy to watch. For a slasher movie, it's excellent - but it just doesn't live up to the standard set by the earlier films in the series.
Freddy is now the star of the show, and even more of his backstory begins to unvelop. Nightmare 4 truly is the Freddy Krueger show - and New Line would use his new-found popularity to launch a Nightmare On Elm Street themed television show. Once I get those on DVD I'll be doing similar reviews for each episode (all 44 of them) but until then we move on.
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