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Rating: I have always defined the Nightmare series as the number one horror saga of the 80s, and perhaps of all time, especially thanks to the legendary character created by Wes Craven (a director capable of transitioning from masterpieces to real junk with such ease that it leaves you speechless!). The various sequels of "A Nightmare On Elm Street" have somewhat ridiculed the character of Freddy Kruger over the years, turning him into a real jester of horror in the fifth and sixth episodes, but I don't believe that the comedic element ruined the series. Each episode had a screenplay with great ideas that allowed us to understand Freddy's different facets more deeply, so in my opinion, despite its ups and downs, it was an excellent series.
The only black sheep of the six episodes (excluding the seventh, because it’s a separate story) is undoubtedly the second one! One of the worst sequels ever! A real flop!
"Nightmare 2 - Freddy's Revenge" is a flashy, ugly, embarrassing, unintentionally trashy film, a piece of junk. It’s the chapter that should be removed from the series! But it’s not the director's fault; Jack Sholder was even too good (so to speak) in trying to uplift a shameful screenplay, which practically dismantles the basic rules imposed by Wes Craven, namely: Freddy was a character who lived in dreams, killing his victims by taking advantage of the dream world. He was a dark presence, living in the darkness of young minds, a demon who terrified you with just the sight of his blades seen in the shadows. His power to manipulate your dreams to kill you in reality was the real stroke of genius, and it's what scared the most! Here, instead, to give Krueger new life, a colossal mistake was made: making him come out into reality!!! And they did it in the worst way. The story is a sort of "The Exorcist" with Freddy instead of Beelzebub. A hypocritical and disgustingly pretentious American family moves into Nancy’s house (the girl tormented by Freddy in the first episode), and Freddy will try to possess the spirit of the boy to return to reality. I mean, he who became invincible in the dream world, where he can do whatever he wants, wants to come back to reality! He basically went stupid!
After the only beautiful sequence in the film (really beautiful!) where the young man has a nightmare about the bus, dreaming Freddy as the driver leading them into an infernal abyss, the effeminate boy starts killing with Freddy’s glove until the king of nightmares moves into reality coming out of his body in one of the worst sequences I’ve ever seen (the glove’s razors instead of nails! Oh dear!).
And here starts a remarkable involuntary comedy film. Freddy materializes during a teenage party, and starts chasing skimpily dressed teenagers who are taller than him, in broad daylight! It looks like an old man chasing kids with garden scissors because they were making too much noise. The scene reaches its peak of Trash when Freddy fights the boy's girlfriend in the living room, with an embarrassing Robert Englund (awkward movements, dead scenes, actor's embarrassment) who fortunately was never seen again! (He is less ridiculous when he plays the jester in the final chapter).
Do you think there is no limit to the worst? Indeed! Since the character’s reputation is already tarnished, all that remains is a great final! To strip Freddy of his powers, it takes nothing but that great sentiment called love! And here starts a nice making out with Krueger and the boy’s girlfriend, so that he (the effeminate one) can feel the sentiment again and return to himself. (Meanwhile, Krueger takes the chance for a touch of tongue). Unbelievable stuff!
I think Craven must have pulled out his hair! (Both he and Sholder admitted that the screenplay sucks).
Despite everything.. the film became a cult movie! But for completely different reasons. They say it was the first Gay Horror in history. The boy is openly homosexual and as the director admits, the scenes where Freddy tries to "penetrate" him and he, with his girlfriend, tries not to be penetrated and therefore resist the temptation of penetration, have clear homosexual references. If you’re Gay, tell me what you think.
Luckily, Craven took matters into his own hands, writing the beautiful third episode (even if the screenplay was heavily re-manipulated), which gave Freddy new life. However, despite its ugliness, I recommend it! The Nightmares are worth re-watching almost all of them! From the most beautiful (first and third) to the ugliest (this one!).
I recommend the mega box set "The Ultimate Collection".
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