91 mins – United States 1984 – Dir: Wes Craven Starring: Heather Langenkamp, Johnny Depp and Robert Englund
Ten years ago, a child murderer terrorised Elm Street. Eventually cornered in his lair by a group of vigilante parents, he was burned to death... Now, four teenage friends on Elm Street find they share the same recurring dream. A horrible dream about a murderer seeking revenge. But this dream seems almost real. And for the kids of Elm Street it becomes a deadly nightmare. Many sequels as well as a remake and even a television series followed, but it was Wes Craven’s original film that brought the character of Freddy Krueger into the world and went on to become a pop culture icon of the eighties. We present this screening on the eve of its fortieth anniversary. Some vintage trailers for other Wes Craven movies will be screened before the main feature.A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET is part of the BLOOD RELATIONS: THE FILMS OF WES CRAVEN event. See all three films and get 20% off! “A highly imaginative horror film that provides the requisite shocks to keep fans of the genre happy.” Variety
BLOOD RELATIONS - THE FILMS OF WES CRAVENWes Craven (1939-2015) was one of the most influential filmmakers in the horror genre of the late 20th century. Beginning in the early seventies with THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT through to the first four entries of the SCREAM series, Craven directed over twenty features which were wildly inventive and imaginatively layered. At the centre of many of his works is an outside force invading the lives of middle-class suburban families. Whether there is a group of savage cannibals hiding in the desert, a sadistic and disfigured monster appearing in nightmares, or a deranged ‘ghost face’ killer loose in a sleepy small town, Craven’s thoughtful and concise direction presented not only many likeable heroes and fearsome villains, but also offer fascinating depictions of the loss of youthful innocence and an assault on traditional family values. For Halloween night this year, Triskel Arts Centre presents a tribute to Wes Craven by screening three of his most pivotal films: THE HILLS HAVE EYES (1977), A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984) and SCREAM (1996). Each screening will be preceded by vintage trailers for other Wes Craven films. See all three films and get 20% off!
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