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A group of friends (including Johnny Depp) all have the same nightmare: a man with claws and a Christmas sweater is trying to kill them. Unfortunately, the man is not just some bad dream: he is Freddy Krueger, and if you die asleep, you die forever.
This is Wes Craven's big break. His earlier films, particularly "Last House on the Left", may have been better, but this is the one that grabbed everyone's attention and today even those who haven't seen a single "Nightmare" film know who Freddy Krueger is: this film made Craven a master, and established a horror movie icon.
With one exception at the end, the special effects are also top notch for the time period. Bodies thrown into the ceiling, blood geysers spraying like mad. The makeup and costuming isn't bad, either... Freddy's burnt face gets even nastier when he starts to bleed maggots.
Mike Mayo is a bit cynical when he says, "Because his powers are so elastic, this little moneymaker can be killed and resurrected as long as he stays in the black." This is, of course, very true... at this point Krueger seems limitless, and even his origin is vague. Exactly how much sway this had over producers, I do not know. I can't see Craven in the office arguing that the film has sequel potential, especially since this was New Line's first major release.
If you see only one Wes Craven film, I guess I have to say make it this one. "Last House on the Left" and "Hills Have Eyes" are stronger, more edgy films, but they have not had half the cultural impact as "Nightmare". It is no exaggeration to say this film is a part of American history.
