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A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge
1985 87 min United Kingdom, United States of America R 16+
★5.6
Horror
Director: Jack Sholder
Trailers
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Description
A teenage boy is haunted in his dreams by deceased child murderer Freddy Krueger, who is out to possess him in order to continue his reign of terror in the real world.
Budget:
$3M
US Gross:
$30M
Worldwide:
$30M
Starring
Robert Englund
Actor
Mark Patton
Actor
Kim Myers
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 1986
— Best Horror Film
Key opinion
A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2 is a polarizing entry in the franchise, frequently criticized for abandoning the original's psychological dread in favor of a confusing possession narrative. While viewers appreciate its striking practical effects and visual flair, many feel the film fails to live up to the tone and terror established by Wes Craven.
| Production | The film features distinct, high-quality practical effects, particularly in the sequences where Freddy emerges from the protagonist's body. | |
| Screenplay | The narrative shift toward Freddy possessing a human host creates an illogical and confusing progression that lacks the impact of the original's dream-based threats. | |
| Acting | Robert Englund's performance is highly regarded, yet critics argue the screenplay fails to utilize his screen time effectively. | |
| Direction | The film's tone is debated, with some viewers finding the intentional campiness and surreal shifts rewarding, while others view them as a failure to maintain consistent horror. | |
| Score | The musical score is a point of contention, as it lacks the unsettling, dread-inducing soundscape of the first film, leading to a reliance on generic shocks. | |
| Theme | Audiences are split on the prominent homoerotic subtext, with some finding it a compelling thematic layer and others viewing it as underdeveloped or distracting. |