A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985) Horror Movie Review

by Jordan

Horror Movie Poster of Freddy's Revenge

BHM Reader Submitted Review

The film takes place, presumably, about 10 years, give or take, later than the original Nightmare. Nancy Thompson is a local legend, the "crazy girl who watched her friends get butchered", according to the new main character's best friend. This film starts in the same fashion as the first, letting us in on the details of the first of many terrifying nightmares. However, this nightmare is not as scary or as atmospheric as Lisa's at the start of the original. A short sequence of events leading to Freddy approaching three kids on a school bus perched on desert ground above roaring flames is cut short, snapping to a shot of the new main character, nowhere near as brave or clever as the last, screaming ridiculously in the worst feat of bad acting for any film watchers eyes to be subjected to.

From here the film turns mediocre, and then slowly transforms into an insult to the Nightmare franchise. The acting is bad, the story terrible and the terror of the original is destroyed in favour of half-hearted gore effects. Perhaps the only engaging moment of the film is the pool party massacre, in which a newly resurrected Freddy slashes, slices, stabs and dices his way through a swarm of annoying teenagers. After a frankly idiotic kid tries to reason with him, Freddy sends one last splatter of blood and then makes an exit. Meanwhile, our unsatisfactory new protagonist has fled to his friends house, only to transform into Freddy (Here an admittedly, and surprisingly, good gore effect emerges,) and kill his friend. Then he turns to Lisa for help and they go to the place where Krueger used to push levers.

After a while of wasted time that's good for talking to friends or getting a snack in, he turns into Freddy again and chase takes place, in which a variety of domestic animals appear with huge, grotesque fangs and slaughter each other in front of the terrified girl. Then, where there should be a gigantic, bloody and gory battle there is instead a wussy emotional battle which leaves a crispy Freddy in pieces and a battered and worn silly new character.

Just when you think all hope is lost, at least they don't transform this disaster into a complete abomination, and bring in the staple surprise ending, but altogether this is a disappointment and easily the worst of the Nightmare on Elm Street series, going unnoticed to the later released Nightmare 3: Dream warriors which was, with no exaggeration, a slice of rare brilliance.

I will, however, be forced to recommend it simply because, at least in my opinion, it isn't a bad film to watch, just terrible when compared to its predecessors and followers, and any franchise needs to be watched complete.

It is not something to ever use as a primary example of a Nightmare film's staples to a Horror Newbie, ever, as it just doesn't honour the principles as well as the rest, and the original Nightmare would be a much better choice. Also, you MUST watch this following the original as the constant references to the original e.g. Nancy's diary are easier comprehended if watched in this order.

Altogether, this is obviously a Nightmare on Elm Street film, has the right elements minus the suspense and is honourably part of the franchise. It's just not as fantastically epic, as awesomely terrifying a slasher flick as the rest.