My Ranking of the Nightmare on Elm Street Movies

For the better part of 35 years, Freddy Krueger has instilled terror into the hearts of cinema goers all over the world. While some entries in this long running franchise missed the mark, more often than not, they were innovative and surreal. Freddy was always my favorite slasher and after rewatching the series recently I decided it was time to rank the films. So without further adieu here’s my list from worst to best.

9. Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)

While I know there are people that will disagree with me, the Nightmare remake just wasn’t up to par. It had the best effects of any of the original series but the constant use of CGI was something I found to be a bit distracting. Key scenes from the original were treated like throwaways and the story was changed in ways that I found both insulting and uninspiring. It lacked even half the personality of the worst of the sequels but I will admit that the introduction of micronaps was intriguing.

8. Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare

This film was a mess. It went the full nine yards and turned Freddy into a cartoon. He lacked any of the fear factor that he had in previous entries. The inclusion of his long lost daughter was interesting, even if it was basically the same type of twist that was used in both the Halloween and Friday franchises. There was far too much gimmick in this film. The use of 3D in the theater added nothing to the proceedings and there was far too much stunt casting. This was easily the worst of the sequels.

7. A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child

Considering that the target audience is teenagers it’s no wonder the 5^th entry didn’t do so well in the theaters. No teenage boy wanted to see a film about the horrors of pregnancy. The concept of Freddy using an unborn child’s dreams to resurrect himself was cool and I even liked the idea of him feeding said child the souls of his victims. Sadly the effects were lacking, as was the writing. The acting was less than stellar and it was very clear that studio interference led to a watered down sequel.

6. A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master

Known as the MTV Freddy this film was actually one of the highest grossing in the series. It had some really cool effects and amped up Freddy’s one liners. We got some very surreal death scenes. I’m talking to you cockroach! The biggest issue was that it became obvious that the story was being made up as it went along, which led to some serious plot holes. This also ended up leaving them without enough money to follow through on some of the death scenes. All in all a decent entry though.

5. A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge

The gay Freddy movie has always gotten unwarranted hate. It failed to live up to what American audiences wanted but it’s actually quite well liked in Europe. The story focuses on a young man this go round and it involves Freddy taking possession of his body to continue killing in the real world. This one had great effects for the time and took a chance on doing something different for which I commend it. I’m sure that view is controversial to some.

4. Freddy vs. Jason

This film was decades in the making. It was a massive success and ended up making more money than any entry in either franchise. Long time horror fans finally got to see their favorite slashers go head to head in a knock-down, drag out bloodbath. While the story had some issues, it was an absolute success. To this day fans are still clamoring for a sequel. Who knows if these two titans will ever get a rematch.

3. Wes Craven’s New Nightmare

The film that started the meta craze, this one was the most creative and innovative of the entire franchise. The idea of Freddy leaving the movies and stepping into reality to kill the people responsible for making the first film was truly inspired. It was great to have Craven himself come back and finally give us the finale fans really wanted. There were so many great moments that it’s hard to list them all. This was a reminder of what Freddy was always meant to be.

2. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Most would expect this should be number one. It’s the movie that started it all. Our slashers before had been mask wearing silent types. This was the first time we had a wise cracking monster to contend with. It was brilliant of Craven to make us fear something we have no choice but to do… sleep. This film had more iconic moments than any other flick that spawned a franchise. To this day it holds up as one of the greatest horror films of all-time.

1. A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors

While this wasn’t the first or even the most financially successful film in the franchise, it was the one that really made Freddy a household name. This is what a perfect sequel should look like. They reintroduced us to characters we loved from a previous chapter while still helping us get to know a new set of characters. They did this while still being respectful of continuity. They didn’t treat the returning cast as supporting characters only there to be killed like they did in part 4. They expanded the mythology allowing us a glimpse into Freddy’s backstory and they did so while still paying homage to the source material. This is the best of the bunch and all you have to do is watch to see why. From the acting to the effects, the story to the creativity this is the one that epitomizes the Nightmare franchise.

My Ranking of the Friday the 13th films

We all have our opinions about what makes for a good slasher flick. Many of use grew up on the Friday franchise and we certainly have our favorites. The following is my list, from worst to best, of one of horrors most iconic films series.

12. Jason X

While many will disagree with me on this, I found Jason X to be the biggest disappointment of the bunch. A clear cash grab that had very little thought put into it. Instead of adding anything new or exciting to the series it took us to the one place most film makers know better than to go, space. The concept was barely more than worthy of fan fiction and the fact that New Line green lit this project was a testament to the decline in quality, not only within the series itself, but also within that studio. There were few highlights in this film and what it had was greatly outnumbered by the drawbacks. Everything from terrible writing, wooden acting, and unimaginative deaths led to this one being a real clunker.

11. Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday

We all had high hopes when New Line finally got the rights to this series. The house that Freddy built was known for giving up and coming talent chances and giving horror the credit it was due. Sadly this was not the case with this film. A giant step outside of the cannon, at least it tried to do something original, even if it failed on many levels. Studio interference didn’t help any, taking away some of the bite this film had (don’t believe me, check out the unrated version). The special effects were genuinely some of the only highlights in this film. Even with a fairly impressive cast, this movie was doomed right from the word go.

P.S. The video below comes from the unrated version.

10. Friday the 13^th Part 8: Jason Takes Manhattan

By this time the series had seen a resurgence with the two previous installments managing to regain ground lost by the few that came before. We were finally feeling good about Jason again. Then came this dud. Taking the killing from the woods to a ship called the Lazarus was not enough to make things more entertaining. With a title and ad campaign that made us think we were about to get the most epic sequel yet, all we got was slasher on the high seas and a few, albeit iconic, shots in Time Square and the subway. Literally everything else could have been, and I believe actually was, shot elsewhere. Such a let-down for long time fans of the series.

9. Friday the 13^th Part 5: A New Beginning

While the kills and story were average fair for this franchise, something felt off right from the beginning. Moving from camps and cabins to a halfway house for troubled youth, we continue with the trend of cardboard characters that only existed to be killed off. A director that had the majority of their experience in making exploitation films seemed like it would fit right in, but managed to lose a fair amount of the personality that made the series so much fun. Even though it had some pretty sweet moments, in the end we got a generic slasher that turned out to not even be Jason after all.

8. Friday the 13^th Part 3

By this point the template had been set. A secluded cabin/camp in the woods. Check. A group of randy and rowdy teens. Check. Interesting deaths. Check. The major changes this time out were the inclusion of a final girl with a backstory that included a run in with Jason and the beginning of the extensive cast padding to create a higher body count. This was the hillbilly Jason that looked like Quasimodo. The most notable things about this entry were the use of 3D and Jason getting his now iconic mask. Otherwise it was pretty run of the mill for the series.

7. Friday the 13^th: The Final Chapter

This prematurely titled entry is most known for introducing us to Tommy Jarvis. Played then by Corey Feldman, Tommy would eventually go on to be Jason’s most formidable adversary. There were some really cool deaths, but again we didn’t know enough about, or care for the characters that were dying. By this stage it was all about seeing Jason. He was the draw and everything else was secondary. This was obvious from the less than stellar acting and the number of plot holes in the film. It had it’s moments of greatness but still didn’t come close to the best of the series.

6. Friday the 13^th (2009)

In this reboot Jason became brutal again. The sequels leading up to it had become so poorly conceived, and cartoonish that it was a great change to have our main antagonist finally get back to his roots. None of the deaths were particularly revolutionary but it paid homage to some of the greats. You also have to give credit to this flick for having the best opening of any in the series, bar none. The attempt at explaining how he got around so easily was so clever and simple I’m shocked no one had thought of tunnels before. Let’s also appreciate that the film makers were at least trying to get the series back on track even if it didn’t quite work out that way.

5. Friday the 13^th Part 7: The New Blood

It was obvious for quite some time that Jason was a supernatural force to be reckoned with, so it made perfect sense for him to get a supernatural adversary. Tina was the one character in the entire series that did major damage to the unstoppable slasher. With her tragic backstory, her doctor’s vile machinations, and a sense of longing, she took on the beast and won. This was also the film where we started to see the love interest survive as well. This entry gave us the beginning of Kane Hodder portraying our favorite masked monster. Jason finally got some real personality and that’s a hard thing to do when you can’t speak.

4. Jason Lives: Friday the 13^th Part 6

After the bad writing and the bait and switch that was part 5, audiences wanted their Jason back and boy did they get him. From the gothic opening where Jason is brought back to life by a bolt of lightning to the ending in the lake, fans got what they came for. Yes there were stock characters but there were also new character archetypes, a ton of comedy, and inventive deaths. Everything was on point here, plot holes aside. This would be our last film with Tommy but he’s still the only character to face off with Jason twice (not to mention the copycat) and still come out the victor. This is also the only film in the series where there really wasn’t a final girl. Yes Tommy had a sort of girlfriend, the wise cracking Megan, but the fight was all his.

3. Freddy vs. Jason

This film scores so high because it was decades in the making and, for the most part, it delivered. We got writers that clearly respected the source material, actors that understood how to be both serious and campy at the same time, and a director that brought a new aesthetic to the whole affair. The story was simple and brilliant. Freddy invades Jason’s dreams to convince him to kill for him, thus recreating the fear that would give him his power back. It’s hard to believe it took so long for someone to get that right. In the end the most important thing, though, was finally getting to see our two favorite horror titans duke it out. It even managed to give us an ending that more or less satisfied fans of both franchises.

2. Friday the 13^th Part 2

If I’m honest, this is my favorite entry in the series. The first had an air of mystery for first time viewing. You weren’t really sure who was doing the killing. This time around we met Jason, who would quickly become the most iconic horror villain since Dracula or Frankenstein. We got to see what he was capable of and the fact that he was vicious and brutal. In the end we also got to see a vulnerable side when Ginny put on his mother’s sweater and tricked him. This was the sequel that really nailed down the template for a successful Friday film. They hadn’t completely given up on letting us get to know some of the characters like they did in later films and the ending is still one of the most debated in the history of the franchise.

1. Friday the 13^th (1980)

Was there really any doubt that the original would top the list? No it didn’t have the buckets of blood and gore we would come to expect of the later entries. Hell it didn’t even have Jason until the end, but this is where it all began. This is where we first learned of the little boy that drowned in Crystal Lake because the counselors weren’t watching him. This is where the mold of the modern slasher really started to set. Had it not been for Jason seeing his mother beheaded at the end of this film, we wouldn’t have even made it to the rest of the series. For that reason alone, it deserves to be in the top spot. No one knew it at the time but this would start almost 40 years of big screen terror. How many movies can say that?

Happy Friday the 13th

Beware

Only a few days away

Happy Easter horror lovers

Happy Easter

Have a safe and Happy Easter tomorrow my fellow horror lovers

Happy St. Patty’s Day

Have a safe and happy Saint Patrick’s Day all.

My All Time Top 8

Lets talk about those films that shaped how we see a genre. Films that changed the game or just shook us to the core. I have a list of films that I find to be the best the horror field has to offer. These are the movies that, upon repeated viewings, remind me just why I love this genre so very much. So without further ado, in chronological order, here are my top 8 horror films of all time.

The Exorcist (1973)

In 1973 the movie going public wasn’t used to seeing what was then viewed as depravity. Many were still practicing Catholics and Christianity was a major part of public life. Most of the horror films that came before dealt with monsters from classic literature like Dracula or the Wolf Man. Then along cam William Peter Blatty’s shocking book. One my mother admits could no longer be in the house once she finished it. The public was simply not prepared for such a display of shock and awe; especially not one that centered around a young girl whose body has been inhabited by the Devil.
This film shook the public to it’s core. Reports of people running from or throwing up in the theater were everywhere. When you take a step back after recognizing the cultural relevance of this film, you can really appreciate the masterful way it was crafted. Everything, from the acting to the special effects, the direction to the writing, was spot on. The atmosphere is tense and foreboding. The entire film is an exercise in endurance not only for the characters, but for the viewer. It also kicked off a slew of other religious horror films such as The Omen and single-handedly showed the studios that film goers were ready for something far more disturbing than they had seen in the past.

Halloween (1978)

By 1978 it was clear that audiences were ready, yet again, for something new. They had survived the endurance tests that were The Exorcist and Texas Chainsaw Massacre and needed a little bit of a change. It was at this point that John Carpenter came onto the scene. The man who would go on to become one of the most prolific genre directors ever was given the task of taking a small budget and making something simple but frightening with it. The idea of a babysitter being stalked on Halloween was brilliant. What person couldn’t relate to that? With the opening frames we were shown that this would be something far different than we had ever seen before. Opening with an onscreen murder and the revelation that it was committed by a 7 year old boy shocked audiences and let them know that they had to be ready for anything. The casting of Janet Leigh’s daughter was another stroke of genius. This film may owe a lot to Psycho but as far as slashers go, it defined the subgenre and made Jamie Lee Curtis a star. Let’s also remember that every slasher to come after this would rely heavily on the tropes set forth by this film. Then there’s that theme music. Good luck getting that out of your head.

Salem’s Lot (1979)

As someone that grew up in the 90’s I understood how exciting it was to have a Stephen King miniseries to watch. Many have been made but the grand daddy of them all is 1979’s Salem’s Lot. Based on one of King’s earliest novels, it centers on a town that is slowly taken over by vampires. In true King fashion we come to know the inhabitants of this small Maine town very well before they fall victim, one by one, to the machinations of the mysterious Mr. Barlow. The reveal of this fanged beast was enough to send my young heart racing, not to mention the glowing beady eyes. Even as a Saturday matinee this film scared the daylights out of me. Shout out to my mother for allowing me to watch this at such a young age. The scene with Danny Glick floating outside of Mark’s bedroom window will stick with you. If you haven’t had the opportunity to check this one out, do it. You’ll thank me later. This isn’t you’re average vampire flick.

Jacob’s Ladder (1990)

This film is a grand mind fuck. For those that have not heard of or seen the film, it stars Tim Robbins as a soldier who comes home and begins to battle his own demons so to speak. This one will mess with your head from beginning until the end. It’s a brilliant film from Adrian Lyne. While less controversial than his other work, this film nonetheless delivers on so many levels. Robbins is fantastic as a man living on the edge of his sanity. He seems to be tormented by demons, both literal and figurative, throughout the movie. Is he losing his mind, are these demons simply hallucinations or is there a demonic force really following him? The answer to all of those questions is worth the price of admission. Bonus points to those that understand the ending based on their knowledge of the Vietnam war. You, especially, will find this to be a great ride.

Candyman (1992)

Let me first say that my mother (again) took me to see this film when I was only 11 years old. I will admit that I had nightmares for months and even had to sleep with her for a portion of that time. I was literally scarred for life. Having said that though, this film is a masterclass in how to balance suspense and gore. The cinematography is wonderful. The direction is superb. The acting is top notch. The score is haunting. Based on a short story by Clive Barker, this film was a surprise hit. It was the first African American slasher and for once it wasn’t set in the suburbs or the country. It’s set right in the heart of the ghettos of 90’s Chicago. The scares are visceral and will shock you and even break your heart a little. These aren’t faceless stock victims falling prey to a masked man. These are fully realized characters that are dealing with a myth come to life. Tony Todd plays the Candyman with such heart and style that you actually find yourself feeling sympathy for him at times. This is one of the films that showed me how powerful horror could be.

Interview with the Vampire (1994)

This film is truly beautiful. You can’t say that of many horror films. The costumes, sets, and art direction are all spectacular. Based on the Anne Rice novel and directed by Neil Jordan, this film was epic in it’s scale. This is something you may not have noticed though because of the intimacy with which it was filmed. Everything about this film was perfect. No I’m sure there are purist fans of Rice’s work that will argue that Antonio Banderas was not the right choice for Armand but that doesn’t take away from his performance as the character. There were two big surprises in this film. The range of Kirsten Dunst at such a young age was astounding for one. The other surprise was Tom Cruise. Rice herself was very vocal about not wanting him in the role of Lestat. Even she took back her words after seeing him on screen. He was captivating and villainous. While Brad Pitt played the lead, Cruise arguably stole the whole show.

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Let’s be honest, at this point we have all seen way too many found footage films. It’s a cheap and easy way to turn a profit and studios know this but they never would have, had it not been for this modern classic. Before you even got into the theater to see the film they were using the internet and tv to market the film in a way that no other film had ever done. To this day there are folks who still swear these kids actually died. They took a modest budget and managed to create a worldwide sensation. The story of 3 documentary film makers disappearing in the woods was not very original, but the way the story unfolds allows the audience to see them fraying at the edges. This film is polarizing for sure, but it provokes a reaction. Seeing this opening weekend was a real surprise. After that shocking and infamous final scene I actually witnessed people running and screaming from the theater. I personally remember staring at the screen for a good 10 minutes after the credits trying to really take in what I had just witnessed. I’ve never had that reaction before or since.

Frailty (2001)

Why this film isn’t better known, I have no idea. It is one of the most disturbing and thought provoking horror films ever made. One night two young boy’s widower father comes into their room telling them there are demons in the world. He then proceeds to tell them God has tasked them with finding and destroying these demons. What follows is a brutal voyage through the depths of fear and religion. Bill Paxton is amazing as the father and even directed the film. I wish he had directed more because he did such a great job. The young boys are cast perfectly and really carry this film. Watching these boys follow along as their father axe murders people is truly uncomfortable. This is also Matthew McConaughey in one of his early roles, displaying how good he actually can be. The twist at the end of the film takes you aback and leaves with questions that may start discussions most wouldn’t expect from a horror film. Make sure this one gets on your list of things to watch. It’s absolutely worth it.

So there you have it. These are my all time faves. Maybe you’ll agree. Maybe you won’t. Hell maybe you’ll find a new fave here. Feel free to respond. I always love feedback.