New Nightmare (1994)

Who payed the critics

Waste of time

Don't Believe the Hype

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Wes craven does post modernism before it was cool, this 2 years before he revitilised the horror genre again with "Scream". The horror movie becomes reality as Freddy Krueger (Newly suited and booted, with a harsher glint in his eye, harsher than any of the sequels had) has been chosen by a demonic entity as a portal to the real world."The only way to stop Freddy is to make another movie." proclaims Wes Craven, as Wes Craven. It seems to be an interesting take on what the effects are on watching horror and even working in horror. Nearly everyone plays themselves, and there are a lot of tidbits and insider jokes for serious horror fans. You look at each set and there is immense detail to be found, the colour pattern of Wes Cravens office for example and what's on the shelves. The writing is extremely sharp, Wes craven has written and directed "New Nightmare", a film about him writing and directing "New Nightmare" and made it great. A highly original concept that he gets right.I watched this a few years ago and while enjoying it, i was baffled by what it all meant. After watching the whole franchise, and to be frank many more horrors, Wes Cravens New Nightmare was a joy on a number of levels.

This is Wes Craven giving a playful and weird middle finger to the franchises' treatment of his beloved Freddy Kreuger. Leaving behind the obnoxiously cartoonish tendencies of the sequels, it gets back to the existential fear of the first. The jump in technical quality is astounding; reminds you of what the difference between a mediocre and a great director looks like. But best of all, of course, is the bold meta-story itself, which comments on the haunting effects of fame in such a cool way.

Heather Langenkamp is back playing this time herself. She finds that Freddy is real - quite real and was not just a movie she made a few years back. Now can she play the role of Nancy Thompson again to save her son and herself? Well, it does have a few vibes of the original film only because Heather Langenkamp is back in it. But the story is not all that grand to me. This film undermines the original film because Heather Langenkamp is back but play herself, Heather Langenkamp and not as Nancy Thompson. Basically this film says that the original film never did happen, in fact it says that NONE of the sequels happened either. This film just blows the entire franchise or "Elm Street Universe" out of the water. If Heather was back playing the actual role of Nancy again and not herself then I would have liked this film better.It's just OK.4/10

Heather Langenkamp is happily living in L.A. with husband Chase Porter and their young son Dylan despite the earthquakes. Her fame in the 'Nightmare on Elm Street' has resurfaced as the 10th anniversary approaches. She keeps getting prank calls and signs of Freddy. Producer Robert Shaye wants her to rejoin the franchise to star in Wes Craven's New Nightmare. Dylan is getting more disturbed by a mystery man and Chase is working on a new Freddy glove. Freddy kills Chase who fell asleep while driving. Julie (Tracy Middendorf) is the babysitter.Wes Craven brings in various Nightmare alumni including Robert Englund, and John Saxon as themselves. This is not actually a Nightmare movie until the second half. The first half is really a meta-horror. It brings the Nightmare universe into the real world. It is quite effective. It's also great to have Langenkamp back and she hasn't changed. This is a great way to put a bow on the original movies. The hospital is nice. I really love the scene where John Saxon turns. Wes shows that he continues to build on the horror genre.