Saturday, July 14, 2007

Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master

1988
Staring: Lisa Wilcox, Tuesday Knight, Robert Englund, Ken Sagoes, Rodney Eastman
Director: Renny Harlin (yeah… him).


The film picks up after the 3rd left off, with Kristen (now played by Tuesday Knight) attending high school with the other kids from "Dream Warriors" in toe. Soon, they discover that their apparent win over Freddy was very short lived. Which is funny because that’s pretty much what the rest of their lives will be, short lived, if they can’t figure out a way to stop him.

Alice (Lisa Wilcox), a friend, gains the same kind of powers that Kristen has in the hope that she can finally put an end to Freddy's killings. How long can any of them survive before the end?

Okay, the series shows its cracks well in this film. I actually enjoyed it (even without Arquette), even with it directed by Holllywood’s go to guy for a cheap buck, Renny Harlin. Overall the film is lacking from the two good films that fall prior to this, but is vastly superior to the films that come after (save Freddy vs Jason). Most of the deaths remain cruel, and are still walk the fine line between “funny” and horrifying.

Verdict: ** ½ /*****

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