| | | | A Nightmare on Elm Street
(1984) |
re you ready for Freddy?
Young Nancy Thompson is your common-or-garden teenager.
An intelligent, popular youngster, She and her friends all live on the quiet, uneventful Elm Street, a leafy part of Springwood. Lately, however, they've all been suffering terrible nightmares. Each teen dreams of being stalked by a horribly scarred man with razor-sharp knives for claws.
Soon however, their nightmares becomes real when one of their number is brutally torn apart during a sleep-over. Soon, each of them are fighting for their lives against an enemy who knows their deepest fears and desires and uses them against them.
While searching for a way to beat him and regain her sanity, Nancy finds out that the stalker was a child-murderer called Fred Krueger, who held the streets of Springwood in a grip of fear back when Nancy and co were still children.
Fred had been caught and arrested, but a bungle on the search warrant meant he was set free...
The townsfolk sought vengeance, and burned Krueger to death for his sins.
Before he died, Freddy swore vengenance on the town for their actions. His re-emergence in the dreams of the teenagers proves his prophecy has come true.
With this knowledge, and the realisation that Fred can be brought to the "real world", Nancy prepares to fight Fred not only to save her only life, but also that of the entire town...
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Much like he would achieve with "Scream" a decade later, Wes Craven revolutionised horror with this neat twist on the standard "stalker/slasher" film.
The film achieves greatness because it uses themes and situations that most people have dreamed about from time to time e.g. Trying to run away from someone but finding that the ground has turned to porridge and you can't escape. This is in contrast with later editions of the series, which became more outlandish with the dreamscapes.
The SFX, although made on a lower budget, are more realistic than the sequels, as is the acting and characterisation. Heather Lagenkamp in particular merits reward for her moving portrayal as a troubled teen who refuses to quit in the face of overwhelming odds. For a debut performance, Johnny Depp demonstrates the skill that is evident in films such as "Edward Scissorhands", making the character of Glen seem like a regular guy on the street. The supporting cast are of a high calibre also, although the characters of Tina and Rod are underused. Ronee Blakely comes close to descending into melodrama, but narrowly misses it, provoking feelings of sentiment. John Saxon, though, is good in his role as Nancy's father and is a stand-out of the film. The key performer, though, has to be Robert Englund. In an evolution of his character from "Death Trap", Englund oozes disdain and sleaze as Fred Krueger. His performance is subdued, and never descends into the pantomime performances of "baddies" such as Jason Vorhees. The character is displayed as the typical psychopath i.e. charismatic, intelligent but with no regard for life. Although they would be diluted as the series continued, Krueger's actions and reactions are frightening and close to the knuckle.
The only flaws with the film are the music, especially the dismal closing credits theme and the ending, which was tagged on at the behest of New Line cinema to open the possiblity of sequels. It spoils the mood of the film, detracting from it's overall high quality.
Overall, though, it is a recommended film and minor masterpiece.
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Craven has insisted that it took so long for his script to be optioned that his ideas were stolen by other producers including those who made "Dreamscape". 
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Johnny Depp also made a cameo in "Freddy's Dead" as an anti-drug commercial sponsor who cracks an egg into the frying pan,"This is your brain and this is your brain on drugs." -Thanks to Kyla
While in college, writer/director Wes Craven wrote a paper on dreams and learned to write them down after he awoke.
Freddy Krueger was named as one of the 50 greatest movie villains of all time by the American Film Institute when they did the 2003 special "AFI's 100 Years, 100 Heroes And Villains". -Thanks to John Edward Kilduff
Heather Langenkamp played on the short lived ABC tv series, "Just the Ten of Us."
Freddie Krueger's blood is green.
Just before Glen is pulled into the bed, the television station announces its name: "KRGR".
There is a connection between many of the Nightmare on Elm Street films and the 80's television show Just the Ten of Us. Several of the daughters in that show played lead/supporting roles in the Elm Street series. Starting with A Nightmare on Elm Street, actress Heather Langenkamp "Nancy" played the overly religeous daughter, Marie, on the show. Next, in Nightmare on Elm Street 2 one of the kids trapped on the school bus in the film's beginning, JoAnne Willette, played the tomboy daughter Constance "Connie" Lubbock on the show. With Nightmare on Elm Street Part 3: The Dream Warriors, Heather Langenkamp reprised her role as Nancy yet again. Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, featured actress Brooke Thiess who played the sex-crazed Wendy Lubbock on the show. In the film she portrayed a body building girl who ultimately got transformed into a cockroach. Lastly, the family's son on the show, played by Matt Shackman, used to wear a Nightmare on Elm Stree t-shirt (depicting Freddy Kruger), that was featured on several different episodes. -Thanks to Skip Burke
Charlie Sheen auditioned for the role of Glen and almost got the part but allegedly wanted too much money. -Thanks to Grobe23
Nick Corri also appeared in "Wildcats" with Goldie Hawn, Wesley Snipes and L.L. Cool J. -Thanks to T.j. Damon
"Evil Dead" can be seen playing on Nancy's TV in one scene. Wes Craven and Sam Raimi have this ongoing thing of refrencing each other in movies. It started when Raimi put a ripped "Hills have Eyes" poster in the cellar in Evil Dead. Craven put Evil Dead on the TV in ANOES and Raimi put Freddy's glove in the tool shed in ""Evil Dead 2". -Thanks to Matt Hilton
Heather Langenkamp has a syst on her forehead throughout the entire movie. -Thanks to Steven Murray
In the beginning of the movie, when Tina is dreaming that she's in the boiler room, if you look closely, right before Freddy jumps up from behind her, you can see him crouching on the ground. -Thanks to Tony C.
When Tina is woken by someone throwing things at her window, it is in fact a tooth (supposed to be Freddy's) stuck in her parents bedroom window, when she looks out into the back-yard and says, 'Who do you think you are? Whoever you are...' -Thanks to Steven Murray
Amanda Wyss had previously appeared in "Better Off Dead", where she played the ex-girlfriend of John Cusack. Amanda, who played Tina, is the only actor from the first film not to appear in another. Heather Langenkamp, Nancy, is of course in Part 3 and New Nightmare, as is John Saxon. Nick Corri, Glen, is in New Nightmare very briefly and Johnny Depp appeared in the sixth installment, Freddy's Dead. -Thanks to Juan
John Saxon is better known as a stalwart of cult film, with his appearances in films such as "Enter the Dragon", and "Tenebrae".
There were a number of sequels to "ANOES", the latest being "Freddy vs Jason", which united the two greatest horror characters.
Prior to "ANOES", Robert Englund was better known as the alien, Willy, on the TV series "V".
Heather Lagenkamp and John Saxon would return to the series in episode 3, "Dream Warriors". They both returned again in "New Nightmare". -Thanks to Patty
The events leading up to the first film are shown in the pilot episode to the TV spinoff, "Freddy's Nightmares". The revelation that the document leading to Fred's release was an illegal search warrant and the execution by the townspeople are shown in this episode.
The man that plays Tina's mother's boyfriend was Johnny Depp's agent/manager at the time. -Thanks to Steven Murray
There is a scene when Rod scratches the tree with a gardening tool. Wes Craven still has that same exact tool in his shed, along with the tongue phone. -Thanks to Nick
The man who treats Nancy in the hospital also did the voice for Roger Rabbit (Another great 80's movie) -Thanks to Shears
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Find much more great trivia in the filmmaker's commentary on the Nightmare on Elm Street DVD.
Rediscover your favorites! If you like
A Nightmare on Elm Street or 80's Horror classics, then be sure to
check out this list: ..... Lost Boys ..... Near Dark ..... Fright Night ..... Hellraiser ..... Shining ..... Poltergeist ..... Scanners ..... American Werewolf In London ..... Night of the Creeps ..... Paperhouse ..... One Dark Night ..... Re-Animator ..... Prom Night ..... Mausoleum ..... Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama .....[More]
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The scene where Nancy sets Freddy on fire in the basement was the longest single shot of a stuntman on fire, and is still in the top three. -Thanks to Steven Murray
The genesis of this ground breaking new type of horror movie lay with it's director, Wes Craven and his friend Steve Miner. They had read news reports of children who had been suffering with nightmares so terrible that they were unable to sleep any more through sheer terror. Having been given sedatives to send them to sleep, they thrashed horribly in their sleep and... died. Craven mused that "what if there was a killer that stalked you in your sleep?"
This was the debut of Johnny Depp in a major motion picture. He accompanied friend Jackie Earle Haley to the auditions, where he was spotted by director Wes Craven, who asked him if he'd like to read for the part.
Wes Craven modelled the the look of Freddy Krueger after an insane hobo from his hometown that had frightened him as a child. -Thanks to Kevin Austin
Wes Craven got the name "Freddy Krueger" from a boy that used to bully him when he was a kid. -Thanks to Nikki
Freddy Kruger was designed by Wes Craven to be the typical "silent" serial killer such as Jason Voorhees or Michael Myers. But in the sequels Freddy developed a cheeky persona that enabled him to be the black humored villain. This movie was the only time that Freddy wore this particular sweater, which had solid red sleeves. All those worn afterward had green stripes on the sleeves as well. -Thanks to Ashley
The lamb that appears in the first nightmare of the film could not be persuaded to run across the corridor and so recieved a hefty kick up the backside. Not something that anyone would admit to today.
In the end scene, the top to the convertible came down faster and harder than expected. The expression from the actors is real.
During the scene where Nancy is looking in her bedroom mirror after days without sleep she says, "Oh my God, I look 20 years old". Heather Langekamp was really 18 at the time of filming. -Thanks to Joe Taranto
The special effects created are revealed in a video documentary called "Nightmare", which chronicles the series until episode 4, "The Dream Master".
The original film had a miniscule budget, including a mere $20,000 for all the makeup effects! Make-up artist David Miller deserves the credit for making it look like $20 million.
All the boiler room scenes were filmed in Lincoln Heights Jail which was a condemned building due to all the pipes being coated in asbestos.
Wes Craven used his memories of being a virgin and having to listen to friends in the next room making out for the love scenes. He does recall it being one of the worse times of his teenage years and was able to reflect that in Glen's face (Johnny Depp).
During the first murder, a rotating room was used. Tina (Amanda Wyss) was told to go with the room which produced an excellent scene. Believe it or not, some of the more gory takes were left out.
Spandex was used for the bedroom scene where Krueger is coming through the wall.
There was an alternate version to Johnny's death scene. They were originally going to have a shot where you see him emerge from the bed, blood drenched. I found this out on the two tape deluxe edition set (tape two). -Thanks to Nick Napolitano
The scene where Nancy is in the bath and Freddy's hand reachers up was actually shot in a swiming pool and Heather Langenkamp was replaced by a stunt girl who was actually Bob Shaye's girlfriend at the time! She was resting on two slabs of wood to make it look like she was in the bathtub. -Thanks to Shears &Amp; Nick Napolitano
(Just a rumor!) There was a kissing scene between Glen and Nancy but it was dropped bacause the actors were laughing too much through the takes. -Thanks to Shears
The original Elm Street is in Wheaton, Illinois - where Craven grew up and attended Wheaton College. None of the addresses in the movies are real. -Thanks to William
During the scene when Nancy is running up the stairs, away from FREDDY, her feet get stuck in a porridge like substance. Bisquick was used to make the effect of the stairs swallowing Nancy's feet -Thanks to Ryan
During the set up for most of the sleeping scenes, Heather Lagenkamp (Nancy) had a habbit of actually falling asleep since she didn't have to do anything. Wes Craven used to put things in her nose while she was sleeping according to the commentary on the DVD. -Thanks to Greg
Ronee Blakley allegedly refused to wear the make-up she was given, thinking it made her look unattractive, and so used to wipe it off and do her own. -Thanks to Steven Murray
They are currently planning a re-make of Nightmare on Elm St without Robert Englund, although a petition has been set up to stop it here. -Thanks to Steven Murray
Heather Langenkamp cut her foot in the scene where she is dreaming that Rod is about to be murdered and is running back to her house (just before she runs up the gooey stairs). If you watch, when she's running to her front door, she starts to hobble on the one foot. -Thanks to Steven Murray
There were four different endings filmed:
1. Where Nancy and her friends simply drive away happily.
2. One where Freddy is driving.
3. One where the hood comes up and Nancy and friends scream, but her Marge just waves and
4. The ending that is.
Heather and the rest of the cast were very shocked by the ending chosen. But Robert Shaye wanted to make sequels. -Thanks to Steven Murray
Amanda Wyss (Tina) also starred in the Eighties teen film "Fast Times at Ridgemont High". -Thanks to Steven Murray
There is an edited scene just before Rod is hanged in the jail cell, showing Nancy screaming at her father and the other police officer in the hallway outside to, 'Hurry up!' -Thanks to Steven Murray
There was a lot of discussion if Nancy would own a black dress to attend Rod's funeral, due to her being only 15. They decided she wouldn't and put her in the blue dress. -Thanks to Steven Murray
Heather Langenkamp and Amanda Wyss auditioned together, both winning their parts. The scene they rehearsed was the one in which Nancy and Tina realize they've dreamt about the same guy in Tina's house. -Thanks to Steven Murray
Amanda Wyss (Tina) appeared in many episodes of 'Cheers' and was also a key character in the series 'Highlander.' -Thanks to Steven Murray
The multipede that crawls out of Tina's mouth in one of Nancy's nightmare's got loose on the set and had to be caught by the insect handler. -Thanks to Steven Murray
With one exception (Freddy walking through jail-cell bars), all of the F/X in Nightmare were done using physical F/X rather than trick photography.
Wes Craven had to sign away all the rights to the movie to NEW LINE CINEMA in order for him to direct. He intended the film to be a one off, but after NEW LINE aquired the rights, Robert Shaye insisted on the 'open ending' for sequels. -Thanks to Steven Murray
(Amanda Wyss) Tina's death sequence was originally much longer, with Freddy chasing her all around the street, to her front door and finally back to the back yard. This was cut to save time. -Thanks to Steven Murray
None of the major studios were interested in producing Craven's script. Many thought it was literally too nasty!
The first studio to show any interest was in fact Disney! They discussed the possibility of a "toned down" version suitable for kiddies!
This was the first real movie by New Line Cinema. Before that, they were just a distribution company for college campuses. -Thanks to Ashley
There was a kiss filmed between Heather Langenkamp and Johnny Depp, but after many takes, Craven cut it from the movie, saying that it looked to awkward. -Thanks to Steven Murray
Nick Corri (Rod Lane) had to run down the street from the police in bare feet for over ten takes because he kept stopping because the road was so hot from the sunny day. -Thanks to Steven Murray
In the last confrontation Nancy has with Freddy, you see her pushing him down the stairs. Yet if you look closely you can see the mattress that the "Stunt" Freddy falls on. -Thanks to Shears
In the scene where Nancy is running up the stairs away from Freddy, you can see the place on the steps that is going to turn to goo under her feet before she steps on it. -Thanks to Zakiyyah
When Nancy checks the time on her watch, she's wearing a sweater you don't see when the camera shows the wide view
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|  |  |  | | A Nightmare on Elm Street
Locations |
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 Featured Movie Location: Nancy's house
Wanna see the real life filming location used for Nancy's house in the movie? These scenes were actually shot at a private residence, located in Los Angeles, S. California. [New! Show Google Map]
Nancy's boyfriend's house (played by Johnny Depp) is right across the street just as it was in the movie.
The school sceens were filmed at the John Marshall High School, 3939 Tracy Street, LA, which still stands today.
The Police Station where John Saxon works, is really an old abandoned library in Hollywood, located at 4575 Santa Monica blvd at Vermont Ave in East Hollywood [Thanks to Robert Vannoy]
The boiler room of the old Lincoln Heights Jail at 421 North Avenue in Lincoln Heights was also used.
Can you help? Do you know any of the Los Angeles, S. California (or any other) filming locations used for A Nightmare on Elm Street? [Please send them in]
|  | | | | ![[16:9 -Widescreen Enhanced]](16_9.gif) | ![[5.1 CH SURROUND]](dd5.gif) | Trailer, Commentary, Featurette, OutTakes |
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| | | | Trailer, Commentary, Featurette, OutTakes |
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The soundtrack by Charles Bernstein is competent and highly experimental.
It doesn't really inspire any sense of dread or fear, as opposed to the soundtrack for "Halloween", for example. Granted, it does promote a resemblance of a lullaby but it's nothing special.
It comes complete with the soundtrack from the sequel.
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