Wes Craven's New Nightmare

This one's defeated by the rigid formula.

Englund once again is in bravura form as Freddy, playing as much for nasty laughs as unnerving shocks.

The climactic punch-up fails to match the power of the first film's true ending, but in deconstructing his own bastardised creation, Craven redeems both the series and his own tarnished reputation.

An ingenious, cathartic exercise in illusion and fear.

An intricately constructed horror film, it not only takes you to hell and back, but thoroughly engages the mind as well as the emotions.

Wes Craven’s New Nightmare provides compelling commentary about franchises and good psychological horror, but stumbles on the finish line with its campier finale.



It’s a cool idea as far as it goes, which is to say, it doesn’t go far at all.

Quintessential Wes Craven: smart, creative, meta and featuring a number of dazzling horror set pieces. Langenkamp shines, particularly in the hospital scenes.

Wes Craven brings the most unique and artistic installment for his return. The pre-Scream meta storytelling is fresh and fun for fans of the franchise and Freddy is actually scary again. I do find myself missing the imaginative carnage along the way.