PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Set to a moody and awesome song by Tuesday Knight, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master begins with the words: “When deep sleep falleth on men, fear came upon me. And trembling which made all my bones to shake -Job IV, 13-14.” That’s really about as deep as this movie gets, and that’s okay. This movie has a child-murdering dream demon, so it doesn’t have to be all that serious. Right? Exactly!
This oddly lovable American supernatural horror film film emerged in 1988, as the fourth installment in the popular A Nightmare on Elm Street film series created by Wes Craven. It’s a bit fitting that New Line Cinema begins this movie with a chalk drawing of a house, as that studio is still sometimes referred to as “The House that Freddy Built.” Indeed, without “The bastard son of 100 maniacs” known as Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund), where would not only New Line be, but horror? So this movie ran with a moneymaker all the way to the bank, and by this point, Fred Krueger was damn sure going to have more laughs and weird ideas along the way!
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master Kills the Dream Warriors
The film was directed by Renny Harlin and written by Brian Helgeland and William Kotzwinkle. It serves as a direct sequel to A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, and (spoiler alert!) even has the gall to scrap “The Last of the Elm Street Kids” from the previous movie! Goodbye Joey (Rodney Eastman), Kincaid (Ken Sagoes), and even Kristen (Tuesday Knight)! Still, despite how Freddy moves through them like a hot knife through butter, this film is still a fan favorite for some. Maybe that’s because Freddy’s the real star, but still, it is impressive to see all those respected characters go, yet retain a fair amount of esteem from fans.
Other Plot Elements
The movie picks up with the surviving characters from the previous film, particularly Kristen Parker (notably played by Patricia Arquette in the third film, but recast with Tuesday Knight in this one), who possesses the ability to pull others into her dreams. As the story progresses, Kristen and her friends become targets of boogeyman Freddy Krueger, the vengeful, razor-gloved dream demon (and perennial candidate for “Sexiest Man Alive”) who haunts the dreams of teenagers in the fictional town of Springwood. “Freddy” When Kristen’s friends start dying in their nightmares, she seeks the help of Alice Johnson (played by Lisa Wilcox), who surprisingly inherits slain Elm Street kids’ powers when they die.
However, as the body count rises, will anyone be left to join Alice’s attempt to defeat Freddy and end his reign of terror? The film explores themes of dreams, the power of imagination, and the consequences of past sins. As with other films in the series, Freddy Krueger torments and kills his victims in their dreams, often using their own fears and vulnerabilities against them. The movie’s special effects and dream sequences are notable for their creativity and surrealism, adding to the horror and spectacle of the story (and it’s amazing there is any sort of coherent story, as it was such a rushed production).
“The MTV Nightmare?”
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master was commercially successful and is considered one of the more iconic entries in the A Nightmare on Elm Street series. Sometimes called (perhaps dismissively) “The MTV Nightmare,” it marked a shift in tone from the darker, more serious tone of the previous two films to a somewhat more comedic and fantastical approach (and I say “previous two films” because, let’s face it, the sequels pretty much ignore A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985).
That being said, it’s a little misleading to say the other films were actually so much darker, as Freddy was always peppering in jokes here and there, even in the first film. He was often cracking jokes, then he’d come in with the heavy stuff. Freddy Krueger, portrayed so skillfully by Robert Englund, continued to be a charismatic and darkly humorous villain, becoming a horror icon in his own right in the process. The “MTV Nightmare” stuff really applies more to the fact that the movie takes itself a little less seriously, while also quite literally having a scene where the character of Joey is watching MTV while on his water bed.
The Imaginative and Weird-Ass Kills
While all of these movies have imaginative kills, it’s fair to say A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master has some pretty wild, unpredictable ones. I previously delved into the weird robotic hand that attacks Sheila (Toy Newkirk). However, one could easily be fascinated by the bizarre, roach-infested gym workout death of Debbie (Brooke Theiss). And hey, Freddy is brought back by a dog peeing out fire onto Freddy’s grave. Weird!
So, yes, you might be able to say “I don’t like this movie,” and maybe I can even understand some key critiques, but if you’re saying this flick has no creative energy, you’ve lost me. You simply cannot say this movie is devoid of creativity. If anything, maybe I could understand the critique that it’s almost too creative, to the point where maybe it distracts from the storyline and characters a little bit. Then again, I don’t buy that critique much because, hey, Freddy is intimately familiarizing us with these character’s innermost fears while winking at us (“Rick, you little meatball!”).
This Powerhouse Kept the Freddy Train A’rollin’
The film’s success led to more sequels, as well as crossovers with the Friday the 13th horror franchise, giving birth to the monstrously silly Freddy vs. Jason (which also turned a healthy profit). While it received mixed critical reviews from critics, it remains a popular and enduring entry in the horror genre, known for its memorable kills and imaginative dream sequences. In fact, Robert Englund himself praises that weird “time loop” moment in the film, which is another creative spark that proves this sequel has something.
My favorite of this series is still Dream Warriors, but this movie still kicks sufficient ass. Speaking of which: Remember when Rick (Andras Jones) got killed by Freddy Krueger, the invisible ninja? Some people hate that moment, but I totally get it; it’s all about a true ninja warrior needing no eyes to fight. The only lame thing about that death scene is the people who exaggeratedly dismiss it! As wise man Freddy says, “Find your balance…” Okay, the scene’s a bit cheesy, just like Rick would become a little later on that pizza pie, but who cares?
What are your thoughts on A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master? Let us know in the comments!
