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A Nightmare on Elm Street, 4: The Dream Master (1988)

Director: Renny Harlin

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From Time Out Film Guide

The dislocated nightmare logic of Wes Craven's original has now been reduced to a black comic carnival ride designed to showcase cult-hero Freddy's stand-up act and some variable special effects. Before that, the negligible script has to explain how Old Pizza Face can extend his stalking-ground to a new generation of kids. In brief, he reaches out into the darkness to embrace shy, teenage Alice (Wilcox) who, once tainted by her knowledge of Freddy's existence, unwittingly forms a link between the two generations. There are a few genuinely inspired moments - notably the Roach Motel joke, and the extraordinary body-ripping climax. But while some of the monotonous effects are strikingly surreal, Harlin's direction creates an atmosphere which is more morbid than scary.

Author: NF 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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Cast & crew

Director: Renny Harlin

Producer: Robert Shaye, Rachel Talalay

Cast: Robert Englund, Rodney Eastman, Danny Hassel, Andras Jones, Tuesday Knight, Toy Newkirtk, Lisa Wilcox full cast

Genre(s): Horror

Duration: 93 mins


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