Nightmare on Elm Street-Special Edition (1984)

Premiere
"Freddy became a mythic figure." 04/01/2004 p.62

Ultimate DVD
5 stars out of 5 -- "[T]his is one of the few truly nightmarish horror movies ever made." 10/01/2006 p.108

Entertainment Weekly
"[S]ome of the effects remain nicely repulsive; Freddy himself comes across as a genuinely nasty piece of work..." -- Grade: B- 10/27/2006 p.58

DVDBeaver.com 7 of 10
A Nightmare on Elm Street is the first installment in the dragged-on Nightmare series. A few characters are introduced and then, often, hacked to bits. The plot involves former Child Molester Fred Krueger, previously killed burned to death by neighborhood children's parents. He returns in their dreams killing off more kids in individual gruesome fashion. The appeals to those keen on these particular "slash thriller" movies. personally I prefer the more "traditional" and refined horror cinema of the black and white variety. - Gary W. Tooze
 
ReelViews 9 of 10
The dream - or nightmare - is a staple of the modern horror movie. After all, even as manipulative as the device is, it's still a proven way to jolt an audience. Filmmaker Wes Craven understood this bit of cinematic psychology when he concocted the central idea behind A Nightmare on Elm Street, a title intended to be an exploration of surreal horror as opposed to just another slice-and-dice slasher movie...The primary element that elevates A Nightmare on Elm Street above many of its contemporaries is that the storyline invites intellectual participation. In addition to offering the visceral thrills that are necessary in a genre entry, Craven's screenplay works on another level. - James Berardinelli