Overall Rating
  Awesome: 35.8%
Worth A Look: 25.93%
Average: 25.93%
Pretty Bad: 3.7%
Total Crap: 8.64%
2 reviews, 69 user ratings
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| Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, A |
by Greg Muskewitz
"The use of a budget actual improves the franchise from the previous two."
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"A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors" comes two years after the series' messy sequel. The way Freddy's Revenge" left things didn't give it a very hopeful outlook, but surprisingly, this one takes a turn for the better, and so far takes the crown of best.Far more imaginative than the prior two "Nightmares," this presents a much more logical and developed premise. Kids in the local area are committing suicide at an alarming rate. Those survivors are placed in a hospital where their irrational behavior can be examined. The newest patient is Patricia Arquette, who is believed to have purposely slashed her wrists. The commonality of the group is they all share the same nightmares all controlled by Freddy --who else? Along returns Heather Langenkamp (her acting not much better), now a college-trained psychologist. She came for no other reason than to help since she's experienced in this arena.
Freddy is tougher than before, feeding off of his "conquered" children's souls. Arquette is featured with a unique power to "pull others into her dreams." And by using dreams with no limits to supply fighting back (more attitude, martial arts abilities, extra strength, wizardry, etc.) hence the "Dream Warriors." This is far more "scary" to compliment it, far more creepy, original, intense and contructed. The real trouble for the warriors comes whem one of the patients, a mute boy, is trapped in a coma where he's sitting bait for Freddy.
The effects and lavish look of this entry are way more professional and atmospheric. It's a bonus because it seems to play back. Chuck Russell has taken over the directing, and he selects spectacular composer and David Lynch staple Angelo Badalmenti to create a moodier score.
The script is more polished and presentable, though sometimes it slips back into what detracted from the others. More is learned about Freddy, from his conception to how he was burned to death by a mob of parents. Ergo leading him now to attack all the parents' children, the ex-Elm Streeters. One awesome example of a gruesome scene had Freddy controlling one of the kids as a puppet via his ripped out veins.
Maybe using some of its revenue to afford a good cast, young Patricia Arquette is a kick-ass standout! She's vibrant, vivacious, kicking, and has one heck of a piercing scream! It was nice to see Langenkamp return, and the story is helpfully pushed forward with her developments. Other cast members include Priscilla Pointer, Craig Wasson, "Larry" Fishburne, Brooke Bundy, Rodney Easton, Dick Cavett, and John Saxon. Mostly unknowns, but they don't let down. And of course, Robert Englund is as gruesome as possible.Final Verdict: B.
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link directly to this review at http://efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=1150&reviewer=172
originally posted: 09/17/00 06:45:29
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USA
02-Feb-1988 (R)
UK
N/A
Australia
02-Jul-1988 (M)
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