Iconic Horror Movie On Max Brings Your Worst Fears To Life
In all of cinematic history, there are movies that stand the test of time, with characters so deeply connected to franchises that they almost develop a life of their own. Right now, horror fans can see where one of those legacies was born as A Nightmare on Elm Street is now streaming on Max. Starring Robert Englund in the role that would solidify him as one of the most recognizable characters of all time, the movie is a standout favorite from beloved filmmaker Wes Craven that will never get old no matter how many years have passed.
A Nightmare on Elm Street
The year was 1984 and Stanley Kubrick had already unleashed The Shining onto the world, while Tobe Hooper had done the same with Poltergeist.
It was a solid decade for the genre and was made all the better when Wes Craven came along with his latest film, A Nightmare on Elm Street.
The filmmaker had already been terrifying audiences with other horror hits including The Last House on the Left, The Hills Have Eyes, and Swamp Thing, but A Nightmare on Elm Street was a horse of a different color.
Freddy Krueger A Menace
In A Nightmare on Elm Street, a group of local teenagers are plagued by a mysterious and grotesque man who wears a fedora, a red and green sweater, and gloves with long, sharp blades affixed to the ends. From inside their dreams, the psychopath mercilessly stalks, torments, and slashes the teens to pieces.
Hoping to find answers about his origin and put an end to his killing rampage, one of the kids, Nancy Thompson (Heather Langenkamp) faces off against the ghoul known as Freddy Krueger.
A Nightmare on Elm Street Cast
Not only would A Nightmare on Elm Street and the films to follow it (more on that in a second) launch Robert Englund to celebrity superstar status, but they also set up Heather Langenkamp as one of the biggest Scream Queens of the decade.
The movie also serves as the breakthrough role for a young up-and-coming actor named Johnny Depp who would shortly thereafter go on to take part in features like Platoon and Cry-Baby.
A Massive Hit
At the box office, the movie was a financial success for the blossoming production company New Line Cinema, raking in more than $57 million against its $1.8 million production budget.
Along with other titles such as John Carpenter’s Halloween and Sean S. Cunningham’s Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street is viewed as one of the very first slasher flicks, quickly defining a now beloved genre.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie sits with the nearly perfect critics’ approval rating of 95%, proving that, although decades have passed, the movie, its storyline, acting, and effects still hold up.
Streaming A Nightmare on Elm Street
It’s been more than three decades since A Nightmare on Elm Street slashed onto screens, and the story of Freddy Krueger still captivates audiences.
Now with six titles as a standalone franchise and three that step outside the original world, the movies have become bigger than even Wes Craven could have dreamed to be possible.
You can relive the horror for yourself or check it out for the first time as A Nightmare on Elm Street is now available on Max.
