A Nightmare on Elm Street - Full Reaction

My recommendation is to follow this with Nightmare on Elm Street part 3, followed by Wes Craven’s New Nightmare. It makes a tidy little trilogy when viewed this way. A Nightmare on Elm Street part 2 is underrated when considering some of the deeper symbolism, but not really necessary to the lore.

Daniel Turbyfill

Creative. The critical acclaim well-deserved. The visuals are artistic and creepy. I appreciate that. The music/sound a nice touch. Yet, I am not really a horror movie guy. I did thoroughly enjoy "The Shining" (1980).

Clay F

The film was inspired by several newspaper articles printed in the Los Angeles Times in the 1970s about Hmong refugees, who, after fleeing to the United States because of war and genocide in Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, suffered disturbing nightmares and refused to sleep. Some of the men died in their sleep soon after. Researchers found that stress can cause hair to gray prematurely by affecting the stem cells that are responsible for regenerating hair pigment.

Eddie Perkins

I am having a blast catching up on these full reactions. I don't know who suggested this as a movie that isn't too scary for you, after watching you on YouTube I would not have suggested this one. I am glad you did it and toughed it out to the end. I think this is a great movie. Great reaction, you have a great channel.

Ramah Mustangs

"Shut the F up" - I appreciate that guttural response.

Clay F

Just joined after watching you for ages on You Tube. I really really hope you do part 3 and New Nightmare

Craig Hepworth

Do yourself a favor and go ahead and watch A Nightmare on Elm Street part 3. Skip part 2. Then watch Wes Cravens New Nightmare. I would say watch the others in between but I don’t think you can take it . LoL. My personal favorite of the series (1-7) is Part 4, The Dream Master.

Joe M

Wes Craven's "New Nightmare" is great -- a meta-horror movie that stars Heather Langenkamp (the girl who played Nancy) playing herself!

Michael Jung

I like this movie but I love the third one better

marco

I’m of the opinion that you aren’t going to like any slasher movies so should try basically any other genre of horror.

Trembling Colors

As long time horror fans know, finding good acting in low budget movies is like finding a unicorn. I've learned to ignore the acting and concentrate on the story. Most of the great horror directors of the 80's had bad actors in their early films.

Richard Maurer

I’ll skip this one. I’m sure you’ll understand. 😅

Nicole

Based on clues in the movie I doubt if she was even awake for that whole sequence. During that sequence Freddy drags her mother down into the bed, then her father leaves her in the room where her mother just died without much of a fuss, and finally the biggest clue, she turned her back on Freddy to take away his power - something you are supposed to do in a dream.

Richard Maurer

Your make up was on point it this espisode.

Super Powered Design (Jim)

It's been decades since I've seen this. Watching it today, I can't believe how bad the acting was. That was terrible.

Shawn Kildal

The scene with the booby traps needed to be right before the phone call to her dad where she says come and get me in 20 minutes. She spent like an hour making those booby traps. 🙄

John Cranberry

Also those movies are just jump-scare fests with little substance.

Richard Maurer

Okay, I was all psyched out just like you. I have been avoiding this movie for so long. And guess what? It didn't bother me so much. I thought Halloween was scarier. And you are right, the mother wasn't a very good actress and that didn't help at all. Neither did the plot holes that you talked about. They all bugged me. I didn't like the ooey gooey stuff, worms, etc. But compared to Game of Thrones or Walking Dead, pretty darn tame in the blood department. The storyline was very original, which I did like. I can see why there are so many sequels. All in all, a good 80s teenage slasher film. If I had seen it then it would have scared the crap out of me! Loved your reactions Cassie!

Kat Farlowe

THE CONJURING’s greatest sin is glorifying the Warrens, a pair of real-life charlatans, as all ghost hunters are.

Jason Chirevas

ugh, CONJURING is terrible

Patrick Flanagan

Movies like The Conjuring and Insidious make this movie look like a cartoon. You should react to those—if you're brave enough that is. Pretty freaky stuff.

Hunter

I haven't seen this since I saw it at a church (yes church, the adults had no idea and were in another room) youth group party (the days of VHS rentals), my first horror movie and it stayed with me. Great reaction, brought back some memories!

Keith Jones

I personally don't think you need to watch the sequels to this, unless you do an edited run of 1, 3, and New Nightmare (the three Wes Craven were involved with, as well as...well, I won't spoil it). The series mostly doesn't have any real continuity, so skipping some won't make much of a difference. If you want to find Freddy less scary, you should watch the trailer for the sixth movie, Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare, to get an idea of how silly the movies eventually got.

Tyler Foster

"She's dreaming, she's dreaming she's dreaming" like thats a safe thing lol.

Eric Wallace

No way, I never knew that. "Hide me Freddy, p-p-p-pleeeeaaase" Can't wait for a Roger Rabbit reaction here:)

Jay

Anyone else notice Charles Fleischer, the voice of Roger Rabbit, as the doctor?

Alex Villarreal

have fun!

Matt Rose

I have never seen Nightmare on Elm Street and have always been afraid to watch it. But if Cassie can do it, I can too! What better person to share it with. I will let you know how I fared....gulp.

Kat Farlowe

I'm going to argue two things slightly- 1-Jason didn't become "Jason" until part 6. So, if she "needs" to watch Friday the 13th, it is only 4 and 6, but Freddy vs Jason does a good job of recapping the backstory. 2-Saw isn't torture and gore. Saw 2+ is a different story though.

Mike Lemon

And now you make spoilers for people hace not seen the movie without shame after the attacks you have made me? Can I then call you an asshole now how did you do me? You are a hypocrite and false, little Jay.

Pepe M

I'm not a traditional horror fan. I actual am pretty weak when it comes to horror. I basically stopped watching horror when movies like "Saw" came out. Not in to torcher and gore for the sake of it. 80s "slasher films" seem more comical. What helps is the special effects are cheesier. Now-a-days the gore is so realistic I get turned off. With that said, my three heroes are: Jason, Michael Myers and Freddy. As much as I love Michael Myers, I don't think there is anything that exciting past the original Halloween. I actually do give credit to the recent Halloween films, although the last one was pretty over the top. I think Cassis should watch the latest 2 (soon to be 3) Halloweens. As for Friday the 13th, Cassie almost has to watch the 3 originals. For fans of the films, Jason doesn't really become the "iconic Jason" until the end of 3#, and you know what I'm talking about. Actually Cass should watch Friday the 13th 1 through X because there is the epic meet up between Freddy & Jason. So this brings me up to Elm Street, Cassie would probably "enjoy", err "react" best to the Elm Street films, all the way to Freddy vs Jason. Of Couse shed need to see some Friday the 13th (at least the first 3) to Watch Freddy vs Jason.

Todzilla

I’ll take “Actors that starred in horror movies before they were famous” for $400 Alex. 😉 I totally forgot Johnny Depp was in this movie! Now that you started down this path Cassie. I guess that means you have to watch “Leprechaun” starring Jennifer Aniston next! 😜

Robert da Spruce

"Freddy actually gets BETTER as a character" Not sure I agree with that. I really like some of the sequels but smart ass Freddy annoys me. By part 4, he's not the slightest bit scary anymore (I still quite like part 4, though). This may be an unpopular opinion, but I think the best version of Freddy is in part 2. He's proper dark and nasty in that one.

Jay

Is it just me or is she getting better at this horror malarkey? Hadn't seen this one for a while and the ending is a mess alright. But I love all the early dream stuff, Nancy's nightmare at school especially. And Tina's death is an all time great horror sequence, it was accomplished using a rotating room on set. Another favourite moment is Freddy coming through the wall above Nancy in Tina's bed. A pretty simple effect, they cut a hole in the wall and covered it with spandex. That's special effects designer Jim Doyle pushing through and it still looks great. Finally, Fred Kruger was some kid that bullied Wes Craven in his youth. That's where the name comes from:)

Jay

I sleep like a log and have never had a nightmare, so be careful with absolutes.

Mike Lemon

According to Google, if you're having nightmares about wolves, you're scared that you're losing power over your life. 🐺

Jon Jon the Milkshake Man

I know the "Nightmare on Elm Street" movies have a lot of flaws. (I personally feel like the first movie never quiet lives up to the full potential of its premise.) That said, it feels wrong to me that the Elm Street movies are always compared with "Friday the 13th," that other famous slasher franchise from the 80's. For me, the Elm Street movies are practically "The Shawshank Redemption," or "The Godfather" or "Citizen Kane" compared to the Friday the 13th flicks.

WastedPo

This movie shattered every kid from the 80s. I think we all have permanent sleep issues as a result.

Rodger Johnson

My Friday Night treat!!! Can't wait to watch it!!!

John Cranberry

I thought the same thing about the finger snapping. It is some high fidelity snapping at that. I kept wondering, does she snap her fingers at her kids to warn them when they are acting up?

Jason Fulbright

I think that will be much later.

Richard Maurer

I'm so glad to see you watching one of my favorite horror movies. Made no less by one of my favorite directors Wes Craven. If you ever watch any of the sequels the only ones worth it are part 3, which Craven co-wrote, and New Nightmare which Craven wrote and directed. He's also well known for Scream 1-4, which I highly recommend. You should check out interview where Wes Craven talks about how he got the idea for Freddy Kruger. When he was a kid a drunk man with a hat was staring at him at night on the street when he was looking outside his window. He also had read a story of a kid who was having nightmares and did everything he could to stay awake. When he finally did go to sleep he starting screaming in the middle of the night and fell over dead. Really creepy stuff.

Cody Nelson

It was so fun watching you watch this, thank you 😁

Joshua s. Jackson

And the movie is the slightly poorer for it.

Stick Figure Studios

Cassie reacted similar when I first saw this movie way back when I was 10 years old apart from the jumps 😆

FranciscoGios

The only others in the series worth watching are: NOES 3:Dream Warriors (it is an actual sequel, which brings the character of Nancy back), and Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (a great meta take on the movie franchise, blending the actual actors and the characters.

Brian Lowery

The ending of the film was insisted upon by New Line Cinema's founder Bob Shaye. Wes Craven the writer/director wanted it to have a happy ending. They won and defeated the bad guy, and no sequels. Bob Shay wanted to leave an opening for sequels and as he was footing the bill he got his way.

My_Cousin_Mose

For scary but not gory/violent, The Haunting (1963) and The Changeling (1980) are pretty good bets. I know the schedule's probably full, just throwing them out there!

Ben Livingstone

Exactly what I wanted from this reaction. No notes.

tiny baby kitty man

Sleepaway Camp 😂. I know there's some horrible stuff in that film but it's so much fun. The acting, all the bizarre dialogue, music and editing, Aunt Martha 😂. It's so funny.

Jay

I love the OG Candyman.

Jay

You should probably chill out with something nice and sweet like the original Candyman...

Jimmie V

I don’t want to say nice reaction Cassie. Since I know you were genuinely scared. But I do find it very endearing when you try to distract yourself and talk yourself into not being scared. Especially snapping your fingers. 😀 Not sure if it helps, but do what you gotta do to get through. Hey, I gotta an idea. Since you can’t wink, I think next time you get scared, trying to wink might distract you enough to help you cope. Worth a shot. Anyways, I respect you wanting to push the envelope of what your comfortable with. I actually think you’re making progress. I don’t think you would have ever watched this a couple years ago. So I think you should take pride in that. Looking forward to the Shaun of the Dead!

Robert da Spruce

Cassie please try to react to Practical Magic this month. It's a great "Halloween" movie right up your alley. You and Carly will both enjoy it.

Katie Jackson

I genuinely felt so bad for you watching this. I just wanted to bring you snacks and tell you when not to look.

djKENTO

We have no doubt your 'jump scares' are genuine. A good scary movie will creep you out for about 24 hrs. Bet you're over Poltergeist by now.

Darren Hill

Oh Cassie. I was a little worried when I read one of your picks to "not give you nightmares for months", was a movie about a guy who can kill you in your nightmares lol. You're a champ though, look at what you can handle now, I feel like you could tackle anything! Not Hereditary though, stay the heck away from that one. I'll be here every October to make sure no one talks you into that lol.

Erik Daniel

The worst? Hmm naw, I’ve seen worse but his parents didn’t help. If they would have let him talk to his girlfriend for 5 minutes, he would have been alive

GamerGal8684

Cassie this was a great reaction!! A lot of your questions about the film's premise get explored in future Nightmare on Elm Street movies. Also to entise you to watch, Nancy does have future appearances. Freddy actually gets BETTER as a character as the films go on. Robert Englund was able to perform more in the later films. Freddy's strength later on is in his dialogue. Hoping you give the rest a shot!

Todzilla

Cassie, I’m so proud of you! You’ve come along way since you started this channel🍿

Tara

A couple of fun facts: The first jump scare is ruined by the full screen version, as you can see Freddy ducking down on the floor before he jumps up behind Tina. When he gets knocked down the staircase toward the end, the full frame version also shows the mattress he lands on.

Drew

Johnny Depp playing the worst boyfriend ever. Every task given he failed

Jason Mangen

I'm a massive 1980s horror fan even if a film itself sucks the soundtracks are usually amazing. Re-Animator and it's sequel is a really cool film that I love re-watching along with Sleepaway Camp, Fright Night, Gremlins, The Return of the Living Dead, and Killer Klowns from Outer Space to name a few. All of these films have killer soundtracks as well, playlist filled with 80s horror theme music for October. Nightmare on Elm Street is my mums go to film for October still surprised she even allowed us to watch them with her but I guess it made me a big fan of the genre. Don't get too scared watching films like these as I'm pretty use to them so it's really interesting to see points of view from people like yourself who haven't really grown up on these type of films. Don't worry if you don't like them I just love that you're giving these films a try you know trying new things and seeing if you like them or not.

Isaac

What, no Pinhead, the best one of all.

Mike Lemon

I second this.

Stick Figure Studios

As awesome as Krueger, Voorhees, and especially Leatherface, are, Myers is still #1. He's on another level. He just is.

William Bryan

I am glad to see these classic 80s horror movies still scare folks. I love this movie because it's so 80s. Creepy stuff, synth score, and classic special efx. The movie is also so cheesy and almost soap opera like in its melodrama which I find funny. As for the "Why was the dad so casual?" ... because Nancy was still dreaming. Essentially she never woke up once she was in the dream around midnight.

Myles Away

It breaks one of Cassie’s biggest rules. Why do people keep recommending her watch that?

Tim Raths

Not sure if you're going to watch any more of this series or not but the third film, DREAM WARRIORS, is probably the best one of the franchise. It introduces more of a 'dark humor' element to the proceedings, making for a rather 'fun' time to go along with the scares. The theme song by Dokken is an all timer too.

Matt Rose

I love how most of Cassie's reactions are posted in the middle of the night (continental U.S.) but the "scary" movie is posted in the middle of the day. I hope that was on purpose.

Mike Lemon

Your reaction was awesome

Matt

It's going to get to that level,sooner or later nothing will scare you anymore..

Celeste McAllister

Drew

I was a little surprised when I saw you were doing this and I have to say well done for getting through it. You’re right about the mother she was terrible in this but it all adds to the fun. Once you’ve seen a few Slasher films a good film to watch is the Final Girls as it pokes fun at some of the stereotypes you get in these types of movies.

Dean Holt

I think The Frighteners by Peter Jackson would be perfect for your scary but not too scary October. It’s got parts you will find scary but it’s also funny and stars Michael J. Fox.

Trembling Colors

And that is why we love Spooky season 👻 with Cassie! Thank you for another great reaction. 🧡🎃🖤

Ed Garland

Insidious - must try this! not crazy horror, not blood and gore, but fun and some good jumps! you can do it. (thumps up meme here)

JC762

They don't need a stretcher up there, they need a mop.

Philip Alan

To answer one of your questions from after the movie on why the parents seemed to have no knowledge of Freddie. I've always thought it was because they wanted to keep what they did hush hush, as they'll all be charged with murder. The rest of the town who wasn't in on killing him probably doesn't want to think of the things he did in what otherwise appears to be a fairly quiet place to live. As for Nancy and co, I'm guessing they would have been fairly young at the time. There was a deleted scene from when Nancys mother shows her the glove. There's a bit that was cut where she explains to Nancy that she had an older sister who ended up being a victim of Freddie. Nancy according to that scene was too young to remember her sister

Katie Kooleyes

This is Loosely based on an actual event I think in the '60s or '70s where refugees from another country were so haunted by their experiences and their nightmares were so severe that they refused to sleep. Cue spooky music spooky music....lol

Tonio

Great reaction! The campiness is definitely part of the fun. It is almost 40 years old. Freddy is the all-time horror villain for me. One day, Dream Warriors would be worth a reaction...and New Nightmare which is quite creative. Oh btw, I know you probably don't want to hear this, but this is based on a true story! ;)

Ryan Cornell

As a horror fan this was so funny to me to watch. I saw this on Halloween night for the first time when I was about 8 lol I know very young but us 80’s babies grew up on horror. And don’t feel bad Cassie many people including myself don’t like the ending of this movie. It was confusing and unexplained. But you learn In The 3rd movie that yes everybody died in this movie except for Nancy. She returns for the 3rd film and the final one of the franchise. I love this series. Thanks for being brave for our enjoyment. Your the best!!

brooke atkins

Thought you did quite well. Happy that you didn't know the premise going into it, only makes for a better reaction. Would love for you to continue with some classics: Night of The Living Dead The Omen Carrie The Fog Friday The 13th (the hockey mask) Fright Night The Fly Scream The Blair Witch Project (please) Could even sneak in Misery which is more of a thriller but just a GREAT film nevertheless. Think Carly could handle it.

Shehab Dawoud

I can't wait to watch this later. I have a few predictions, *****Possible SPOILERS***** Cassie will "Hate him so much", jumping rope is ruined and nursery rhymes will haunt her nightmares, and the phone gag will get a huge "EWE".

Jason Fulbright

I second Scream. If Cassie can do Nightmare, Scream will be easy

William Bryan

I can answer most things you'd want to know about this. Also it was indeed Johnny Deep's first movie, he was cast because the director's daughter thought he was cute

Dustin Nelson

I actually grew up on an elm street until I was 11. Also my parents were pretty lax with what I was allowed to watch so I saw these movies when I was in elementary school so those combined certainly left an impression haha. I also highly recommend Scream for this month, it's from the same director Wes Craven, it's got some fun nods and homages to this movie.

Choof

The ending never made sense to me. Creepy stuff like not being able to sleep, and then young children chanting cuting sounding stuff until you listen to the words and it is really scary stuff. That I think comes from "Ring around the rosie" poem. Although snopes says the reference to the bubonic plague is false, it sure makes for a creepy thing to hear little kids singing it "Ring around the rosie" (the plague caused a rash around the middle of the body) "A pocket full of posie" (breathing into flowers was thought to be a healthy thing, and helped cover of the stentch of dead bodies) "Ashes, Ashes, we all fall down" (they burned the dead bodies).

Richard Bourne

Michael Myers wears the William Shatner Captain Kirk mask

Jason Dolan

Without Nighmare on Elm Street we may have never gotten Peter Jackson's LOTR trilogy.

My_Cousin_Mose

Wow! That voice you did at the beginning was creepy. I loved this reaction to such a great film. It's definitely one of the classics. It gave me nightmares for weeks. You're a brave soul Cassie.

Angel Amparo

I haven't seen the reaction yet. It didn't age well, but was made on a low budget "no budget for a bit of a troubled area." I know things about this series. Has to do with people my "passed on" Brother in Law was around, way back in his start out there in LA. I actually heard more about this franchise threw his friend Bob... But its kind of fun series for horror, and the beginning of a studio. I think? Bob worked on the Space Between Us? Not sure, forget who did what. I know some of his LA friends, just hard to line up who was connected to who. Some of these firsts of Horror then got such junk money to create with. But Nightmare is one series that you could make great sequels on just based on no boundaries. Thus the sequels were far better budget then the first, and pretty unique "most of em."

Michael J

"Fricker!" - that's a new one !

John Drake

Agree with you once again. I always thought the movie was good but that ending scene was so cheesy and bad.

brooke atkins

I guess it's time to finally watch this myself.

Tringard

Part 3

William Bryan

I was genuinely shocked to see this was the first film up for the “scary but not too scary” Halloween season kick off. If you can handle this level there’s a whole bunch of good scary movies and plenty of crap too of course.

JC762

I've already said quite a bit about Wes Craven and this film on the "upcoming" post, so I won't get long-winded here. I will just add that *SPOILER FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T WATCHED IT YET* the last scare in the film was not Craven's idea. He wanted good to win and evil to be defeated, but the producer wanted a more shocking ending. The producer ultimately won out and personally I'm not sure the movie is the better for it.

Stick Figure Studios

So Cassie still no headway on you possibly watching the Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2003 remake in a couple, three years? 🤣🤣😜😜

William Bryan

But do not skip WES CRAVEN'S NEW NIGHTMARE. It is arguably superior to the original (indeed it is my favorite Wes Craven film). It is not only an exceptionally clever premise but an extremely sophisticated philosophical meditation on the complex symbiotic relationship between life and art.

Stick Figure Studios

The ingenious thing about this concept is that pretty much any plot hole or inconsistency can be attributed to it being a dream.

Patrick Flanagan

Any nightmares Cass? 😉 JK! I know scary movies are really tough for you. So I applaud you for facing your fears head on. Even though you faced them covering your eyes and peeking through your fingers! 😀 Haven’t seen this since I was kid. It’ll be interesting if it still freaks me out as an adult.

Robert da Spruce

Hockey mask was Jason in Friday the 13th. But If I remember correctly he didn't wear it until 3rd or 4th movie. Refresh my memory if anyone knows for sure.

David Freese

oh not ok, she could hardly get through shawn of the dead last night haha

Cassie

Such a classic. Johnny Depp's first blender. Nightmare on Elm Street 3 Dream Warriors is definitely worth watching but you can skip the rest haha.

Jason Dolan

How would Carly have done?

Steve Colletti

Jumped into the deep end of the October pool, I see. Eager to see this!

Alex Villarreal

Freddy was always a creepy one 😬😅

Dante D