Nightmare On Elm Street

10 Pages 2622 Words

dream made for A Nightmare on
Elm Street to be a successful horror movie.

Horror films are designed to frighten the
audience and engage them in their worst
fears, while captivating and entertaining at the
same time. Horror films often center on the
darker side of life, on what is forbidden and
strange. These films play with society’s fears,
its nightmare’s and vulnerability, the terror of
the unknown, the fear of death, the loss of
identity, and the fear of sexuality. Horror films
are generally set in spooky old mansions, fog-
ridden areas, or dark locales with unknown
human, supernatural or grotesque creatures
lurking about. These creatures can range from
vampires, madmen, devils, unfriendly ghosts,
monsters, mad scientists, demons, zombies,
evil spirits, satanic villains, the possessed,
werewolves and freaks to the unseen and
even the mere presence of evil.

Within the genre of horror films falls the sub-
genre of teen slasher/stalker films. These
teen slasher/stalker films take the horror
genre film characteristics into account,
however they add more to the formula. More
violence, sadism, brutality, and graphic blood
and gore are used to increase the terror factor.
Sexuality and gratuitous nudity are also key
characteristic of many of these films, including
this one. Imitations and numerous sequels
are also a common characteristic of teen
slasher/stalker films as well, as Craven came
back with six sequels.

A Nightmare on Elm Street and all the
following six sequels fall into its own sub-
genre of the teen slasher/stalker ideas and it
is known as the Nightmare on Elm Street
Series. This series of films adds a new
dimension to the typical teen slasher/stalker
film, depth of character and story. The
characters are not there only to be killed, but
rather they have distinct personalities. They
are independent and intelligent, particularly
the fe...