"A Nightmare On Elm Street 4: The Dream Master"

[Brock Landers]

The Fourth "Nightmare"…"A Nightmare On Elm Street 4: The Dream Master" A Brock Landers Overview…

"Dream Master" picks up where "Dream Warriors" leaves off. Kristen… now played by Tuesday Knight instead of Patricia Arquette… finds herself back at the Elm Street house experiencing the usual "Nightmare" stuff. She pulls fellow "Dream Warriors" survivors Kincaid and Joey into her dream, but they bluntly explain to her that Freddy's dead… obviously they're wrong, 'cause if they were right I wouldn't have been watching this flick last night and we would refer to it as the "Nightmare" trilogy. So, slowly the "Dream Warriors" are snuffed out, and a new band of Elm Street kids are brought into the mix. The reason Freddy is able to start off fresh, is because Kristen gives her friend Alice her dream power, when she introduces Alice into one of her dreams, just as she's being killed in her dream. It's confusing on paper, but it makes sense in the film, or does it? Now Alice, her friends, and her brother, are being hunted down in their dreams, and only Alice has the power to dive into the looking glass and drink me. Wait. I mean, eat me…

"Now I lay me down to sleep… the master of dreams, my soul I keep… and in the mirror of my mind's eye… evil shall see itself and it will die…" With that in mind, the dialogue, story and characters in "Dream Master" blow. But visually, it's got something no other "Nightmare" film had before or since. It's a huge, sprawling comic book, with visual flair, some really cool deaths and a nice action film feel to it. Renny Harlin makes "Dream Master" a really fun flick…regardless of whether or not we care about who dies, who lives or what smart-ass remark Freddy can pull out from under his dirty fedora. The special effects in this film are pretty much kick-ass…just check out the scene where Freddy attacks Kristen on a beach…or the scene where this chick has the life sucked outta her… or the one where the girl turns into a cockroach. Freddy's make-up also looks better than in any other "Nightmare". It's definitely the most "accessible" film in the series with its Music Television influences. When I say accessible, I mean that you really don't have to know much about the other films as long as you know a little bit about Freddy…Overall a mindless but fun flick…

[teenkiller]

Inventive stalk/death sequences and likeable characters. If only Freddy hadn't turned "pop". Great soundtrack too (except for Sinead O' Connor). Well thats all for now GOoD JOURNEY my fellow schmoes.

[Jewbo]

i watched this lastnite and i think that its my least fave of the series. i loved the way freddy returns tho cool effects. and i loved the cockroach scene. its still a good movie but i prefer the others.

6/10

[James_Sully_Sullivan]

My personal favorite in the series along with Dream Warriors (sorry Jewbo)...
Yes, the dialogue is like a joke but like teenkiller well said, the highpoint and coolpoint in the movie relies on the hyper inventive stalk/kill sequences (Debbie-Debbie-Debbie!!)..I rally love this movie, specially Alice's character and love Brook Theiss...I relly like this one!

[teenkiller]

Right on Sully! Gotta love the Roach Motel. And even though Freddy turned pop he still managed to rip out some decent lines ("You flunked" "Hows this for wet dreams?" ha ha THOSE were funny but they were also very evil if you think about it). I also LOVEEEEEED Lisa Wilcox as Alice. Very pretty AND a great actress. Her development from the shy daydreamer to the strong and willing heroine at the end was both fascinating and convincing. Her brother and her friends definitley weren't the one dimensional, paper thin, sex crazed, moron type teens that we were so used to seeing in the 80's. These were actually characters that I cared for... somewhat. I still wanted MOST of them to die. They also threw me off guard by letting our man FRED off the main characters of The Dream Warriors so quickly, which I thought was a nice twist of events. I also found two very interesting notes that FREDDY struck in this movie that really shows this character is something to fear. In one of Alice's dreams he shows her an older version of herself which looked very depressing. I thought that was very twisted of him considering that earlier in the movie Alice said that her biggest fear was being a waitress forever and then shes looking at an older version of herself which is saying "Hurry up honey... I don't want to be here forever". Secondly at the end battle Freddy sneaks up from behind Alice and says "I've been guarding my gate for a long time BITCH!". I love that line not only because its classic FREDDY but also because it ties things together. Earlier in the movie Alice's teacher (played in a cameo by Nightmare producer Robert Shaye) goes on to talk about dreams and the "positive and negative gates". I think these two points tied together nicely in the film. Not exactly the best Nightmare film in my opinion but still a damn good watch. Well thats all for now GOoD JOURNEY my fellow schmoes.

[teenkiller]

Anybody care to add anymore thoughts on this movie? I'd be glad t hear more on it cause it is one of my favorites. Well thats all for now GOoD JOURNEY my fellow schmoes.

[XCoRyX]

a bit comic-ish at most times,but nonetheless i've watched this one the most out of all the other NOES films...and it seems to entertain me each time,i must have watched it 35 times and still aint bored of it,its easily for me the best sequel in the series and dream warriors is right by its side.

[Cyclonus]

At that point, I started getting tired of the series. Robert Englund seemed to be enjoying himself, but I wasn't, at least not enough for me to recommend it.

[Lady Summerisle]

Replacing Kirten from the Dream Warriors was a bad move, as Tuesday Knight didn't have the chutzpah to match Patty's inspired turn in an equally inspired movie.
Music: Great music, as I hate to confess I'm an 80's buff who listens to end credit songs (FRIGHT NIGHT?)tUESDAY kNIGHT SINGS THE OPENING SONG. Cool factoid, huh.
Renny Harlin is all style and no substance, but this entry is good eye candy, and Freddy's groaners, er, one liners are ignorable.
I would say I'm neutral.

[freddy666]

Im a fan of all the freddy films, Freddy himself, whethers its the one liners or the death and dream sequences are great.

[XCoRyX]

yeah i must also admit im a sucker for the opening credits song,"running from a nightmare" by tuesday knight.

[gorysnoopy]

one word-RICK!!!!
i love this entry in the series!!!
for once i loved all the characters.the roach motel scene,rick's karate,alice dreaming about standing up to her drunk father,then alice finding her strength and kickin freddy's ass.
the soundtrack is awesome too!!!!

sorry that joey and kincaid couldnt stick around tho http://www.joblo.com/ubb/frown.gif

[teenkiller]

gorysnoopy hit the nail right on the head. Well thats all for now GOoD JOURNEY my fellow schmoes.

[Haddonfield]

how can you go wrong with a Freddy Pizza?

[stevereno]

i liked this movie but it lost marks replacing patrica arquette with some bitch who cant act

SHIVER ME TIMBERS!

[Jason Voorhees]

Wow I thought the film was pretty kickass as well. Cool.

[DiaryofNowhere]

I pesonally thought the movie is GREAT!
It is one of the movies that got me started watchin horror.

I give it a 4/5

[Sheepshaver127]

Call me strange, but I liked this one alot more than the 3rd.

[bowieee]

God bless that dramarama song. An 80's cover band I go see about twice a month closes out there show ith that song. Makes me happy.

[This message has been edited by bowieee (edited 04-27-2002).]

[teenkiller]

Bringing this back for further discussion. Well thats all for now GOoD JOURNEY my fellow schmoes.

[teenkiller]

Thanks for that link dude. I can't wait for the site to be more developed though. Well thats all for now GOoD JOURNEY my fellow schmoes.


[This message has been edited by teenkiller (edited 09-09-2002).]

[This message has been edited by Horror_Fanatic (edited 09-09-2002).]

[The Claw]

Good movie. One of the better in teh series, wasnt the best, wasnt the worst, but was good. better then the average(but still entertaining) part 5, and of course better then those pieces of shit 2 and new nightmare, but almost everything is better then them. good movie, as i said before, probably number3 best in the series.

[stevereno]

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 4: THE DREAM MASTER

Although I liked part 3 and 1 better then this, I still think it's an enjoyable flick.

http://www.devildead.com/freddy/elmstreet404.jpg

Its a fun ride, you know Popcorn fun.

SHIVER ME TIMBERS

[ERIN_LoJ]

With the exception of Freddy's dead, I enjoyed all the nightmare films on some level. Unlike the Friday flicks (enjoyed for other reasons) the Nightmare films always had decent acting and interesting character development. More than one theme is incorporated in these flicks; parent of school troubles, life dilemmas...and the deaths are not the same stab and gush every time. Freddy's one-liners certainly took away any fear we ever had of him; he is now more corny and jokish. All the nightmares were filmed beautifully, and every soundtrack and score pretty much kicked our asses all over dreamland.

For this one I enjoyed all characters except perhaps cardboard-like Debbie. Very inventive deaths, non-humurous Freddy dialogue, but overall some great dreamlike sequences, some decent plot and turn of events, and an excellent finale/fight scene. Did anyone else find this one pretty sad? (cough*Rick*cough) Got to me, what can I say...that cemetary scene was pretty emotional.

[mary lou 102]

Thank God that some people like this movie.I thought that I was the only one.The character of Alice really touched me.She is such a fighter.It was great to see her development.When I watch this film I think "Wow!She has come a long way.It seems like this just started!Is this over now?" I will say that the cemetary scene was sad.When Rick re-entered the coffin and said goodbye to Alice, I thought I would cry.

This movie is great.I love every film for what it is.Unless it is pure crap then I will love it.

Why bash New Nightmare?I thought that it was very smart.I wish that this was made in 1996 instead of SCREAM. NEW NIGHTMARE has the same SCREAM feel to it.If it had done well, then we wouldent have crap like Urban Legends:Final Cut (Wich was mildly entertaining, but had only 5 sec of blood).

I love NOES 4!!!I love it.It came on the Superstation in '99.It was on that MOVIES FOR GUYS WHO LIKE MOVIES thang.It was barley edited.It was the night before THE RAGE:CARRIE 2 came out in theatres.I was sooooo excited acout CARRIE 2.The movie had a T.V. spot for it.

[XCoRyX]

2nd best in series,next to part 3,LOVE it.

[MisterTwister]

I love this movie. Its one of my favorite sequels of all time. 8.5/10

[Nightmare_Dreaming]

I think this movie is okay, I'd like it more if the ending wasn't stupid and if Freddy hadn't turned into bozo the clown.

[SixStrangSmoker]

Linnea Quigley was the chick w/ the boobs in freddys "chest of souls"

[deadeye]

I'm not a Freddy fan, but this entry in the series is one of my favorite horror movies. I love the Vinnie Vincent Invasion song "Love Kills" (the video is what made me rent the movie for the first time years ago). There are some compelling characters you want to root for even though you know they are going to be Freddy fodder. Alice's transformation from mouse to kick-ass heroine is great, albeit at a price--having lost friends and family that meant the world to her. I haven't seen it in a long time, and this thread makes me want to go out and rent it again this weekend.

[anybodykilla100]

I just want to know why evil see,s it self and dies what a gay ass way to kill Freddy.It did have a great sound track and at least Freddy didn't ride a broom in this one.lata