A Nightmare on Elm Street still deserves to be considered a classic; it’s an atmospheric, memorable and suspenseful slasher, full of creative and shocking kills, and featuring one of cinema’s most recognisable villains.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 3, 2025

Wes Craven's 1984 slasher classic has been spoofed, repackaged, and plagiarized to death, but the original Nightmare still stands out.

| Original Score: 8/10 | Nov 14, 2024

Craven's low budget masterpiece benefits from a whip-smart screenplay and a career-defining performance from Robert Englund.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Nov 11, 2024

A Nightmare on Elm Street overcame significant financial challenges and wound up introducing two iconic horror characters and innumerable set pieces that define the genre. The film is nothing less than a masterpiece.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Nov 6, 2024

Right out of the gate, it’s clear why 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' is on the Mount Rushmore of slashers. It expertly shapes a candy bowl’s worth of suspense, providing a chilling introduction to its iconic villain.

| Oct 25, 2024

Wes Craven’s imperfect but entertaining horror that still has considerable black-comic energy.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Oct 23, 2024

Contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t considered an instant classic by anyone upon its original release. There was a reason for its middling response.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Oct 20, 2024

Wes Craven, known as the master of horror and sultan of shock, brings terrifying thrills in A Nightmare On Elm Street, a true classic of the genre.

| Original Score: 4.5/5 | Oct 14, 2024

Craven employs some startling horror setups and knows how to make his audience jump

| Original Score: 3/4 | Aug 18, 2023

Craven treats us to a garish visual trip into the dark side of dreamland.

| Mar 24, 2023

There is something chilling about being haunted through your dreams- a space you have no control of and can only put off for so long.

| Original Score: 9/10 | Oct 20, 2022

While the sequels, and subsequent remake, would never live up to the magic of the original, A Nightmare on Elm Street launched a franchise that would inspire and retain relevance.

| Oct 15, 2022

The original Nightmare delivers a terrifying villain and a unique concept that strips away any chance of safety. Freddy is arguably at his best, tearing through the screen into horror icon status. The final few minutes is all that prevents perfection.

| Original Score: 4.75/5 | Aug 20, 2022

It's a better than average, slick super-shocker that is as warped and twisted as anyone could wish.

| Jul 22, 2022

I have no doubt that A Nightmare on Elm Street will continue to hold its coveted place in horror history. With a mix of originality and camp, coming from a genuine fear, it's a film that can't be replicated.

| Oct 14, 2021

It was actually ... kind of fun?

| Mar 9, 2021

Can we go to sleep? Is it safe? When filmmakers attack real life phobias and security blankets, horror films hit a peak high.

| Nov 6, 2020

Krueger's makeup is still awe-inspiring and the onslaught of innovative ideas are sinisterly unique.

| Original Score: 8/10 | Sep 6, 2020

A senseless yet intriguing splatter horror film that was well-received by the public.

| Original Score: B- | Oct 10, 2019

What makes the movie work is so simple and economical-you snooze, you die. I've always admired its simplicity.

| Nov 2, 2018