A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Child (1989)

User Rating:

4.6/10   

Director:

Stephen Hopkins

Writers (WGA):

Wes Craven (characters)
John Skipp (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

11 August 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

It's A Boy!

Plot:

Alice, having survived the previous installment of the Nightmare series, finds the deadly dreams of Freddy Krueger starting once again...

Plot Keywords:

Freddy Krueger | Nightmare | Dream | Murder | Rampage

Awards:

3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Robert Englund	...	Freddy Krueger / Featured Maniac
Lisa Wilcox	...	Alice Johnson
Kelly Jo Minter	...	Yvonne
Danny Hassel	...	Dan Jordan
Erika Anderson	...	Greta Gibson
Nicholas Mele	...	Dennis Johnson (as Nick Mele)
Joe Seely	...	Mark Gray
Valorie Armstrong	...	Mrs. Jordan
Burr DeBenning	...	Mr. Jordan
Clarence Felder	...	Mr. Gray
Michael Ashton	...	Gurney Orderly
Beatrice Boepple	...	Amanda Krueger
Matthew Borlenghi	...	Jock (as Matt Borlenghi)
Noble Craig	...	Merging Freddy
E.R. Davies	...	Delivery Doctor
Beth DePatie	...	Anne
Will Egan	...	Semi-Truck Driver
Stacey Elliott	...	Girl in Locker (as Stacy Elliott)
Steven Grives	...	Dr. Moore (as Stephen Grives)
Whit Hertford	...	Jacob (as Whitby Hertford)
Jennifer Honneus	...	Asylum Girl
Jake Jacobs	...	Trendy Guest
Annie Lamaje	...	Elm Street Kid
Gerry Loew	...	Orderly #1
Kara Marie	...	Baby Jacob
Roxanne Mayweather	...	Delivery Nurse
Don Maxwell	...	Coach Ostrow
John R. Murray	...	Customer
Marnette Patterson	...	Little Girl (as Marne Patterson)
Cameron Perry	...	Guest
Marc Siegler	...	Thirty-Something (as Mark Siegler)
Michael Bailey Smith	...	Super Freddy (as Mike Smith)
Pat Sturges	...	Racine Gibson
Cesar Anthony Torres	...	Cop
Peter Trencher	...	Trendy
Wally George	...	Himself
Ron Armstrong	...	Hot Seat Band Member
Ted Nugent	...	Hot Seat Band Member
Rudy Sarzo	...	Hot Seat Band Member
Eric Singer	...	Hot Seat Band Member
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Victor A. Haddox	...	Asylum Inmate (uncredited)
James Vallo	...	Paramedic (uncredited)

Directed by
Stephen Hopkins

Writing credits (WGA)
Wes Craven		(characters)
John Skipp		(story) &
Craig Spector		(story) and
Leslie Bohem		(story)
Leslie Bohem		(screenplay)

Produced by
Rupert Harvey	....	producer
Sara Risher	....	executive producer
Robert Shaye	....	producer
Jon Turtle	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Jay Ferguson

Cinematography by
Peter Levy

Film Editing by
Brent A. Schoenfeld
Chuck Weiss

Casting by
Annette Benson

Production Design by
C.J. Strawn

Art Direction by
Timothy Gray

Set Decoration by
John P. Jockinsen

Costume Design by
Sara Markowitz

Makeup Department
Howard Berger	....	special makeup effects artist
R. Christopher Biggs	....	special makeup effects artist
Lynne K. Eagan	....	key hair stylist
Kathryn Fenton	....	key makeup artist (as Kathryn Miles Kelly)
Nedra Hainey	....	makeup artist: second unit
Robert Kurtzman	....	special makeup effects artist
David B. Miller	....	makeup artist
Gregory Nicotero	....	special makeup effects artist
Louis Lazzara	....	makeup artist: Robert Englund (uncredited)
Brian Wade	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Joe Fineman	....	post-production supervisor
Kool Lusby	....	production supervisor (as Kool Marder)
Deborah Moore	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Cass Jr.	....	first assistant director: third unit
Jackie Dragon	....	second assistant director: second unit
Randy Dudley	....	first assistant director: second unit
Terence J. Edwards	....	second assistant director (as Terry Edwards)
Allen Kupetsky	....	second second assistant director
Richard Murken	....	additional second second assistant director
Kristine Peterson	....	first assistant director
Bernadette Tanchauco	....	second assistant director: third unit

Art Department
Aaron Anderson	....	carpenter
John Baldwin	....	carpenter
Christopher Bardin	....	painter
James R. Barrows	....	sculptor
David Beck	....	art swing gang
Ella St. John Blakey	....	carpenter
Don Blanks	....	carpenter
Marietta Brown	....	paint dyer
Mindy Brown	....	painter
James Doug Burch	....	carpenter
John Cales	....	carpenter (as John C. Cales)
David T. Cannon	....	construction coordinator
Robert Carmody	....	assistant carpenter
Rik Carter	....	sculptor
William Cole	....	painter
Laura Cornelius	....	art department production assistant
Anna Czerwatiuk	....	set dresser
Dobrila De Castro	....	assistant art department coordinator
Kevin DePee	....	assistant carpenter
César Díez Álava	....	assistant props
George Dunn	....	carpenter
Roy Eisenbrey	....	art swing gang
Catherine Ernst	....	painter
Sue Finnegan	....	set dresser: third unit
F. Kelly Finn	....	painter
Jimmy Flores	....	assistant carpenter
Bill Gallarza	....	assistant carpenter
Gerd Gless	....	carpenter
Batia Grafka	....	property master
Stephen Gray	....	art swing gang
Lorraine Heitzman	....	painter
Scott Jester	....	assistant carpenter
Lynn A. Johanson	....	scenic artist (as Lynn Johnson)
Jake Johnson	....	assistant carpenter
Patrick Kerner	....	assistant carpenter
Kurt Klapproth	....	carpenter
Michael Kraft	....	lead man
Larry Lee	....	carpenter
Douglas Lidz	....	carpenter
Karen Loberg	....	set dresser
David Lowery	....	storyboard artist
Josh Lusby	....	painter
Brian Marn	....	assistant carpenter
Matthew Martin	....	assistant carpenter (as Matt Martin)
Mike McCopin	....	carpenter
Art Mendoza Jr.	....	assistant carpenter
Susan Miscevich	....	scenic artist
Chris Moscone	....	stand-by carpenter
Thomas A. O'Conor	....	set designer
Joshua Ott	....	carpenter
Mona Personius	....	painter
Rick Pierce	....	assistant carpenter
Neal Polk	....	assistant carpenter
Renee Prince	....	lead scenic artist
Rees Pugh	....	carpenter
Peter A. Ramsey	....	storyboard artist
James L. Ricker	....	carpenter
Rick Rose	....	carpenter
Chris Santini	....	carpenter (as Christopher Santini)
Aaron Sims	....	character designer
Tim Smith	....	painter
Linda Syufy	....	art department coordinator
William Tabor	....	carpenter (as Bill Tabor)
Paul Toth	....	art department production assistant
Cynthia Von Suhr	....	assistant set decorator
Miriam Warwick	....	stand-by painter
Dara Waxman	....	set dresser: second unit
David A. Weinman	....	lead carpenter (as David Weinman)
Perry Welch	....	carpenter
Jane Whitehead	....	assistant set decorator
Oliver Wilson	....	painter
Barbara A. Bordo	....	painter (uncredited)
Travis Cowsill	....	stagehand (uncredited)
Thalia Harithas	....	art assistant (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bobbi Banks	....	assistant sound editor
Barbara Barnaby	....	supervising adr editor
Brent Brewington	....	boom operator
Christine Danelski	....	dialogue editor
Rubén Domingo	....	assistant sound editor
Dean Drabin	....	foley mixer
Ed Fassl	....	sound effects editor
Arnold Finkelstein	....	sound effects editor
Robert Fitzgerald	....	supervising sound editor
Richard C. Franklin	....	sound effects editor
Albert Gasser	....	dialogue editor
Allan Hartz	....	sound effects editor
Chris Jargo	....	adr editor
Ted Johnston	....	foley editor
Chris Ksanznak	....	assistant sound editor
Robert J. Litt	....	sound re-recording mixer
Austin McKinney	....	boom operator: second unit (as Austin H. McKinney)
Linda Moss	....	dialogue editor
Dan O'Connell	....	foley walker
Charleen Richards	....	adr mixer
Greg P. Russell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Hari Ryatt	....	supervising sound editor
Elijah Schkeiban	....	assistant sound editor
Joseph Singer	....	production sound mixer
Gina Spiro	....	assistant adr editor
Alicia Stevenson	....	foley walker
Lee Strosnider	....	sound mixer: second unit
Elliot Tyson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ed Callahan	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Arnold Finkelstein	....	sound effects recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Gino Acevedo	....	effects crew: David Miller Studio
David Beneke	....	effects crew: Art and Magic
Howard Berger	....	supervisor: Freddy's head de-merge effects
Paul Berg	....	prosthetics creator: Todd Masters Company
Doug Beswick	....	supervisor: "Diving Board" and "Phantom Prowler" sequences
R. Christopher Biggs	....	creator: Dan's mechanical suit and Freddy's bike
R. Christopher Biggs	....	special effects makeup
Brian Blair	....	effects crew: David Miller Studio
Theresa Burkett	....	fabricator: Doug Beswick Productions
Camille Calvet	....	effects crew: Art and Magic
Yancy Calzada	....	stop-motion effects animator: Doug Beswick Productions
Helen Cohen	....	special effects coordinator: Todd Masters Company
Mitchell J. Coughlin	....	effects crew: Art and Magic
Barry Crane	....	moldmaker: Todd Masters Company
Lisa Doering	....	effects crew: David Miller Studio
Ryan Effner	....	special effects
Mike Elizalde	....	effects crew: David Miller Studio
Mike Elizalde	....	sculptor: Todd Masters Company
Earl Ellis	....	sculptor: Ted Rae Effects Crew
Thomas Floutz	....	cosmetics creator: Todd Masters Company
Bruce Spaulding Fuller	....	sculptor: K.N.B. Effects Group
Mark Garbarino	....	prosthetics creator: Todd Masters Company
Mecki Heussen	....	effects crew: David Miller Studio
Robyn Jacobs	....	special effects coordinator: Todd Masters Company
Robyn Jacobs	....	special effects technician
Bradford Johnson	....	special effects technician
Lynette Johnson	....	miniature costuming: Ted Rae Effects Crew
Adam Jones	....	effects crew: The Character Shop Inc.
Robert Kurtzman	....	supervisor: Freddy's head de-merge effects
Rick Lazzarini	....	creator: womb with a fetal view canal
Mark Maitre	....	sculptor: K.N.B. Effects Group
Robert J. Marino	....	prosthetics creator: Todd Masters Company
Todd Masters	....	"Gretta" prosthetics and supplemental prosthetic effects
Bud McGrew	....	effects crew: Art and Magic
Mike Measimer	....	moldmaker: Todd Masters Company
David Mesloh	....	armature machinist: Ted Rae Effects crew
David B. Miller	....	creator: Freddy's baby and resurrection sequence
Dave Nelson	....	effects crew: David Miller Studio
Gregory Nicotero	....	supervisor: Freddy's head de-merge effects
Scott Oshita	....	lab technician: K.N.B. Effects Group
Ron Pipes	....	lab technician: K.N.B. Effects Group
Jon Curtis Price	....	effects crew: The Character Shop Inc.
Ted Rae	....	stop-motion animation
Joe Reader	....	effects crew: The Character Shop Inc.
Mike J. Regan	....	effects crew: David Miller Studio
James Rohland	....	effects crew: Art and Magic
William Russell	....	special effects camera assistant
Andy Schoneberg	....	additional special effects assistant: Todd Masters Company
Stacie Sharp	....	special effects coordinator: Ted Rae Effects Crew
Shannon Shea	....	effects crew: The Character Shop Inc.
Brian Simpson	....	effects crew: The Character Shop Inc.
Mark Sisson	....	effects crew: David Miller Studio
F. Lee Stone	....	mechanical effects: K.N.B. Effects Group
Mark Tavares	....	lab technician: K.N.B. Effects Group
Candace Van Woerkom	....	seamstress: Todd Masters Company
Steve Wang	....	sculptor: Ted Rae Effects Crew
Chuck Williams	....	sculptor: Ted Rae Effects Crew
George Wong	....	effects technician: Doug Beswick Productions
Brannon Wright	....	effects crew: Art and Magic
Roland Blancaflor	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Sandy Collora	....	creature effects crew (uncredited)
Richard Miranda	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)
Anthony Simonaitis	....	special effects foreman (uncredited)
Don Waller	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Tom Williamson	....	animatronics (uncredited)
AJ Workman	....	special effects design: Chris Biggs shop (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Robert D. Bailey	....	titles & opticals
Jammie Friday	....	animator
Tom Gleason	....	model maker
Peter Kuran	....	special optical effects photography
Jeff Matakovich	....	visual effects optical supervisor
Alan Munro	....	visual effects supervisor
Jim Aupperle	....	stop-motion crew (uncredited)
Chris Dawson	....	effects camera assistant (uncredited)
Robert Stromberg	....	matte paintings (uncredited)
Don Waller	....	stop motion animator (uncredited)

Stunts
Hank Calia	....	stunts
Michael Cassidy	....	stunt coordinator
Vince Deadrick Jr.	....	stunts (as Vincent Dedrick)
J. Mark Donaldson	....	stunts
Stephanie Epper	....	stunts
John Hateley	....	stunts (as John Hately)
Eddie Hice	....	stunts
Yvonne Johnston	....	stunts
Steve Kelso	....	stunts
Hubie Kerns Jr.	....	stunts
Paul M. Lane	....	stunts
John Lucasey	....	stunts
Bill McIntosh	....	stunts
Carol Neilson	....	stunts
Bobby Porter	....	stunts
Jeff Ramsey	....	stunts
Mario Roberts	....	stunts
Lori Lynn Ross	....	stunts
Lynn Salvatori	....	stunts
Sharon Schaffer	....	stunts
Anthony G. Schmidt	....	stunts
Ben Scott	....	stunts
Cherie Tash	....	stunts
George P. Wilbur	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Stuart Abramson	....	dolly grip
Tony Anderson	....	best boy grip: third unit
Robb Bradshaw	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Mark Cane	....	best boy electric: third unit
Russell Carpenter	....	cinematographer: second unit (as Russ Carpenter)
Jim Carroll	....	grip
Ellsworth Chou	....	electrician: second unit
David Clayter	....	electrician: second unit
Andre Costa	....	electrician
Dave Cretsinger	....	electrician
Foster K. Denker	....	gaffer
Dermott Downs	....	grip: second unit (as Dermit Downs)
Giles Dunning	....	first assistant camera
Charles Edwards	....	grip
Robert Fisher	....	gaffer: third unit
Samuel Buddy Fries	....	first assistant camera (as Buddy Fries)
Joan Geguld	....	best boy electric: second unit
Bill Greenberg	....	electrician
Marlin Hall	....	key grip
John Harian	....	electrician: third unit
Peter C. Jensen	....	Steadicam operator
Dan Kearns	....	best boy electric: second unit
Juliette King	....	first assistant camera: third unit
Ron Kunecke	....	lighting technician: musco light
Michael Leshnov	....	still photographer
John T. Martin	....	grip
Tim Martin	....	grip
Brian McElroy	....	electrician
George Milholland	....	grip
Christopher Nibley	....	director of photography: third unit (as Chris Nibley)
Luc G. Nicknair	....	first assistant camera: third unit
Moana Oliver	....	dolly grip: third unit
David Peters	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Toby Phillips	....	Steadicam operator
Krishna Rao	....	camera operator
Brian Robertshaw	....	gaffer: second unit
Daniel Rottman	....	key grip: second unit
Charles A. Severson	....	best boy electric (as Charles Severson)
Anthony Smith	....	electrician
Scott Smith	....	best boy grip: second unit
Monty Spillers	....	grip
Bruce Swift	....	grip
Rodney Veto	....	best boy grip
Elan Yaari	....	gaffer: second unit
Elizabeth Ziegler	....	Steadicam operator
Tom Jensen	....	additional second assistant camera (uncredited)

Animation Department
Ted Rae	....	stop-motion animator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Rebecca Widner	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Zoe Hale	....	costumer
Carolin Olive	....	wardrobe production assistant
Jacqueline Trost	....	costumer: effects unit
Lydia Shiferaw	....	costume supervisor (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Jeffrey Gottlieb	....	apprentice film editor (as Jeff Gottlieb)
Kurt Hathaway	....	apprentice film editor
Ric Keeley	....	assistant film editor
Ray Martin	....	color timer
Ralph Milliken	....	negative cutter
Heidi Scharfe	....	assistant film editor
Jody Solomon	....	post-production coordinator

Music Department
Kevin Benson	....	music supervisor
Bill Black	....	music editor
Brad Dechter	....	orchestrator
Neil Portnow	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Don Feeney	....	driver
Joe Feeney	....	transportation coordinator
Derek Raser	....	transportation captain
Lisa Schilling	....	driver: construction department
Tracy Thielen	....	driver

Other crew
Elena Azuola	....	production accountant
Susan Bazarsky	....	assistant to executive producer
Kirk Bloom	....	production assistant
Oliver Bodnar	....	stand-in
Helen Caldwell	....	script supervisor
Dan Curry	....	title designer
Crisstyn Dante	....	body double
Michael De Luca	....	production executive
Mary Jasionowski	....	assistant production coordinator
Jeffrey J. Kiehlbauch	....	production coordinator
Reginald F. Lake	....	electric consultant
Mara Lee	....	key set production assistant
Ernie Malik	....	unit publicist
Ralph B. Meyer	....	location manager
Kevin Moreton	....	production executive
Chris Moscone	....	medic
Lenny Neimark	....	assistant location manager
Margot Olin	....	assistant to producer
Craig Persky	....	production assistant
Cherie Romans	....	body double
Megan Stelzer	....	assistant to sculptor
Willow Stelzer	....	assistant to sculptor
Judy Torres	....	craft service
Thomas Vetro	....	production assistant
Michael Vogler	....	assistant accountant
Bonnie Waltrip	....	script supervisor: second unit
Julia Zane	....	production controller (as Julia Guild)
Christy Adair	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Bundy Chanock	....	set medic (uncredited)
Dan Frye	....	effects technician (uncredited)
Dan Frye	....	puppeteer: The Character Shop (uncredited)
Gail Rodono	....	post-production accountant (uncredited)
Don Wyse	....	fire safety (uncredited)

Thanks
Russell Mulcahy	....	thanks
Rachel Talalay	....	thanks

Production Companies

• New Line Cinema
• Fourth New Line Heron Joint Venture

Distributors

• New Line Cinema (1989) (USA) (theatrical)
• Hoyts Distribution (1989) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Enterprise Pictures Limited (1990) (UK) (theatrical)
• Alliance (1989) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Image Entertainment (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MCA (1990) (Canada) (video)
• Media Home Entertainment (1990) (USA) (VHS) (uncut version)
• New Line Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Video Treasures (1991) (USA) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Character Shop ("Womb With a Fetal View Cannal" Effects)
• David Miller Creations ("Freddy Krueger" makeup and "Freddy's Baby" resurrection sequence)
• David Stipes Productions (matte paintings)
• Doug Beswick Productions Inc. ("Diving Board" and "Phantom Prowler" effects sequence)
• K.N.B. Effects Group ("Freddy's Head" de-merge effects)
• Todd Masters Company ("Gretta" prosthetics and supplemental prosthetic effects)
• Visual Concept Engineering (VCE) (optical effects)

Other Companies

• Jive Records  soundtrack

Also Known As:

A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (USA) (poster title)
Nightmare on Elm Street 5 (Philippines: English title)

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Germany:16 (re-rating) (2007) | Singapore:M18 | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Iceland:(Banned) | Mexico:C | Norway:18 (video premiere) | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

The graduation sequence was cut down significantly to speed up the pacing of the film. As a result, there are several continuity errors. Among the cut footage was Dan's graduation speech, dialogue between Greta and Racine, a rap between Yvonne, Alice, and Greta, additional dialogue about parents and future plans, and a scene in which Alice's father gives her a camera she had been saving up for as a graduation present before she went to Paris (if you watch closely, you can see Alice hand her father a camera before they go to take the group picture).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Freddy puts the first spoon of goo into Greta's mouth you can clearly see her spit it out, yet in the next shot of Greta her mouth is already full. And the second time Freddy puts something in her mouth the amount and color changes from the closeup of Freddy to the closeup of Greta.

Quotes:

[on the radio]
Freddy Krueger: If I were you, lady, I'd kill the ungrateful piggy.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Texas Chain Saw Massacre: The Shocking Truth (2000) (V)

Soundtrack:

BRING YOUR DAUGHTER TO THE SLAUGHTER

Good FX, poor story

"A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child" may be the weakest of the series.

**SPOILERS**

After graduating from High School, Alice Johnson (Lisa Wilcox) decides to go to Paris for the summer with her boyfriend Dan (Danny Hassle), but her nightmares about Freddy Kruegar (Robert Englund) still haunt her. A new set of nightmares about a woman named Amanda Kruegar (Beatrice Boepple) giving birth to Freddy make her question whether she dreamed them or not. While her friends Yvonne, (Kelly Jo Minter) Mark (Joe Seely), Dan and Greta (Erika Anderson) are partying at the school when Dan gets a call from Alice to come get her. While driving to get her, Freddy attacks and kills him in a motorcycle accident. When she says that Kruegar is the source, no one believes her. Once she learns that she's pregnant, she becomes even more distraught. As Freddy begins killing her friends one by one, Alice comes to believe that Freddy has invaded her unborn child's dreams to come back into the world and enlists Amanda to help her fight her son.

The Good News: The movie does open with a bang. Alice walks into the shower after a night of sex, and gets distracted by the brown gunk bubbling up from the bottom of the shower. Investigating, she finds nothing, then is attacked by the surging water from the shower-head. Becoming trapped in the shower, she tries to break free, but then is paralleled into a dream world. We then get a few small, pretty good jumps about Freddy. It is a great way to start a movie. I do have to admit that Freddy's deaths are very creative for a fourth sequel. The motorcycle of death sequence is easily the best, but the comic book scene is also quite imaginative. Both feature great special effects and new ideas, hallmarks of the series. The special effects are perhaps the best part of the movie. Freddy's rebirth is the best part, being an atmospheric scene with lots of things crashing around Alice in the middle of a room that feature Freddy appearing at the end. Even though the story isn't a very good one for this type of series, it provides a ton of opportunities for some jumps. By having Alice know of Freddy's reappearance for a long time, it gives her the ability to see Freddy in different places and convince her she is going insane. By having Freddy appear in new places around her and scare her, his appearance also scares us. The way to finally kill him is pretty creative, and I'm surprised this wasn't thought of before.

The Bad News: This is mainly thought of as the FX entry in the series, and by and far they are right. Whereas the first one was mainly based around the suspense and shock, the second on remaking the story with a few twists, the third one being a continuation of the first one and the fourth one based around the comedy of Kruegar, the fifth one is mainly used as an excuse to show off the elaborate special effects. They all look very good and it looks like a lot of money was spent on the effects, but effects driven films, to me, are basically hollow, since once you've seen the film once and you've got a handle on the story, it doesn't do anything on repeated viewings. Effects films can only go as far as the quality of the effects, but here the weak story is the major defect. Kruegar's resurrection is handled with great care and thought, but it goes nowhere and doesn't make any sense as to why Kruegar would go after Alice. Is it because he's trying to get back at Alice for the last time, or is it because he knows he can come back through her when her child is born? It's never really explained why, and that's a weak part of the story. Another part that seems off is the humor. Freddy does off give a few good quips, but perhaps the humor is a bit blacker than in previous or subsequent films, with part six being the funniest, then comes part four in terms of comedy. A few of them are pretty good, but most are simply confusing as too why they are included. These are simply eye-rollers and aren't as clever as some of his far better quips.

The Final Verdict: Even though this is a bit more FX driven than other entries, the quality of the other entries is so great that this fine entry is considered the weakest. The FX is pretty impressive, but the surrounding story is a bit weak. That aside, it is a bit better than you may think and deserves a chance from other "Nightmare" fans.

Rated R: Graphic Violence, some language, a brief, not well seen sex scene, and brief shadowy Nudity