A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 5: THE DREAM CHILD (1989)

 

Directed By: Stephen Hopkins  Written By: Leslie Bohem Story By: John Skipp & Craig Spector  Based On Characters Created By: Wes Craven Cinematography: Peter Levy  Editor: Chuck Weiss & Brent A. Schoenfeld

Cast: Robert Englund, Lisa Wilcox, Kelly Jo Minter, Whit Hertford, Danny Hassel, Erika Anderson, Nick Mele, Joe Seely

The pregnant Alice finds Freddy Krueger striking through the sleeping mind of her unborn child, hoping to be reborn into the real world.

Despite as always some impressive special effects and death sequences. The film still feels rushed.there doesn’t seem to be as much thought out into this sequel. So that it comes off as rather bland and almost just another sequel. 

Though it should feel like an important entry into the franchise. It feels like a clear sign of it dying out especially of any fresh ideas or originality. 

The film has a good concept but officially moves into the realm of feeling like just another sequel. As it doesn’t have any particular character of itself. It lacks identity and feels undefined so It feels like more of the same. Almost the continuing adventures of. 

The story feels simple yet overly convoluted for no reason. As it delves a little deeper into the origins of Freddy Kruger and the franchises own mythology. 

It does show the horror Amanda Kruger went through. Fleshing out Freddy's back story offers another plot of how he can get himself into the world. Being reborn in another body that feels a bit CHILD’S PLAY inspired.

At this point from an observation perspective you do have to be amazed that this town still had kids. Not to mention the amount. Do people still hang out with the main character, the final girl of the last film. Though they quickly dispatch the final boy survivor of the last film. Even as his death scene is one of the more impressive special effects wise.

Though this film seems to have less victims. Due to more story, investigation, and plot that come across as filler. That seems to be kind of riding a theme of there being even a young child being involved and being influenced so that there would a new Freddy Kruger. 

The film unfortunately feels like for the most part it is going through the motions and isn’t as creative as it believes itself to be. Though I am thankful that the film does have a person of color who makes it to the end.

The death count also seems smaller than previous films. As again the death seems to want to be more set pieces and intricate themselves. More than just random or throwaway 

GRADE: C