Wes Craven's New Nightmare bears a refined premise that is just so sly and inventive! This is exactly what the Nightmare franchise needed in order to get its claws back on track! What carries this entire movie on a high-level wasn't only just Craven's genius idea to have the actors play themselves in a reality-based environment, but was also Heather Langenkamp, who gives by far the best performance in this entire series. The only major flaws I had with this rendition was the abundance of references to the original which got pushy at times, and the substantial amount of dream sequences which sometimes gave the film too much reliance. Despite this, New Nightmare stands to be my favorite sequel out of this entire franchise and marks one of Craven's greatest achievements! (Verdict: B)

Since creating the renowned and beloved horror franchise "A Nightmare on Elm Street" back in 1984, series creator Wes Craven for the most part took an active step back from the series, feeling he said all he could say. Sure, he had some early story suggestions and did a bit of writing on the actually quite-good third installment "Dream Warriors", but other than that... the franchise grew beyond his original concept, and covered a whole gamut of tonalities and story-lines to which he had no involvement. And after the series finally concluded in the early 90's with the woefully misjudged self-parody "Freddy's Dead", it seemed like we had seen the last of the dream- master Freddy Krueger.But we all know that you can't keep a good slasher down. And Craven was finally able to convince the heads of New Line Cinema to go through with an old idea he'd had for quite some time... a story he had actually pitched seven years prior as an early concept for "Dream Warriors." What if Freddy... the character... the man from the movies... was able to escape the confines of the silver-screen and pick off victims in the "real world"? It's a bold idea. And yet, one that could backfire very easily, and needed great care and thought to work. But as silly as it potentially sounds, I think Craven not only pulled it off... I think "New Nightmare" may very well be his masterpiece.The seemingly idyllic life of actress Heather Langenkamp (portraying herself) has taken a dark turn. Despite an adoring family including husband Chase (David Newsom) and young son Dylan (Miko Hughes), she's being thrown into emotional turmoil by recurring nightmares and the appearance of an unhinged stalker whom obsessively tries to contact her with threats of violence. But things might be looking up, as she is informed that director Wes Craven has began work on a seventh installment in the "Nightmare on Elm Street" franchise, and wants her to return as the star. However, when a personal tragedy rocks her world, she begins to see clues around her that point to an impossible scenario... seeing the tell-tale signs of her former cinematic nemesis Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund)... But how could this be? He's just a movie character! He's not a real person... is he?The great success of "New Nightmare" largely falls onto writer/director Craven's rampant creativity and the gung-ho dedication of his cast. The story finds a shockingly perfect balance in terms of tone and style that allows such a peculiar concept to work beautifully. It's self- aware without becoming farcical. It's deadly serious though it keeps a flowing and entertaining sense of pace. And it manages to deliver some of the most compelling characters of the entire franchise that are based on real people without coming across as silly and contrived. It's a fine balancing act that Craven pulls off with ease. And his visual direction is just magnificent, with the scope of the film feeling massive and earth-shattering, yet still grounded in genuine emotion and character. Here he shows some of the slickest and most wild work of his career, with flowing movement and a great visual contrast between the "real" and "dream" and "movie" worlds that helps usher the audience through the story without confusion. It's a visual powerhouse if ever I've seen one.The cast is just great, and you really get the feeling that everyone is putting their all into the film. Langenkamp is fantastic as our lead, and it's quite interesting to see how she grew as a performer in the ten years that have passed since the original film. Hughes, whom got his start in the Stephen King adaptation "Pet Semetary", is great fun, even if his performance can be shaky at times. And of course, Englund is just outstanding as the man of our dreams. Englund's role as Krueger is a bit different than previous incarnations, but he's clearly having the time of his life with the performance, and I do admire that he and Craven are actively trying to bring him back to his roots... he's a darker, edgier Freddy, and works wonders in establishing and bringing threat to the film.It's really fascinating. In many ways, "New Nightmare" shares parallels to one of Craven's other notable works- the brilliant film "Scream", which followed only two short years after. Both are sort- of deconstructions of the horror genre, yet they approach the material from different perspectives. "Scream" being more a meta- parody with elements of genuine terror... And "New Nightmare" being more an earnest horror film with elements of meta-satire. They compliment and contrast with each other quite well, and I do think the one-two punch of "New Nightmare" and "Scream" signify Craven at the top of his game. While some might argue that "Scream" was his best film, however, I do think that the edge definitely goes to "New Nightmare"- it's a more impactful and a much more personal film, and I very much think it's crowning achievement of Craven's career.Though many condemn "New Nightmare" for failing to adhere to the canon and continuity of the "Nightmare" franchise as a whole, I have to commend it for trying something so radically different. I'll take an ambitious and unique effort over a stale retread any day of the week. And the fact that it might be Craven's best film is just the icing on the cake. I have no other choice- Wes Craven's "New Nightmare" easily earns a perfect 10 out of 10! It's one of the most criminally misunderstood and underrated films of the 90's, and an absolute success in virtually every capacity! Tense, thrilling and terrifying in all the best ways, this is one nightmare you won't want to end...

Don't get me wrong the third one is good but they add scare factors which made me think this is the second best. This is better than 4, 5 and the supposed to be the last one. It's fresh and underrated sequel in the series. The elements of horror works very well. This a deserve a watch from any horror fan.

Much better than 4-6, at a certain point in the movie I said out loud; FINALLY another good one! As I watched it I found many things I liked but that's not to say the ball wasn't dropped every so often plus the ending was kind of weak. It is a good movie; I didn't even mind elements taken from 4-6 in this to help create the new rules. However these new rules do seem fairly loose and there are things in it I just can't explain. Some of those elements might be an allegory but still certain things don't make sense that probably should; especially if this is considered the real world.I think this is the weakest of the good Elm Street films, like 1984's A Nightmare on Elm Street and 1987's Dream Warriors. I also have reservations about Freddy's Revenge (1985) that has grown on me over the years.Considering the last few films I can't be too hard here as there is intelligence put into the script but the reasons for these happenings are close but not well explained or they are but I don't completely buy into it. I like this film well enough I want to love it but it just doesn't do what is necessary all the way though. Next time I watch the films It will be a Quadrilogy of A Nightmare on Elm Street 1984, Freddy's Revenge, Dream Warriors and Wes Craven's New Nightmare.I will use the "A Beautiful Dream" Fan theory that may require the viewer to have seen 1, 3 and NN before. If someone is new to the movies I do recommend the Trilogy(s) or Quadrilogy order if one is to watch more than 1. Trilogy orders A Nightmare on Elm Street, Freddy's Revenge and Dream Warriors: 1, 3 and New Nightmareor my Quadrilogy option. Just "Whatever you do" (if you don't want Freddy watered down) don't, watch, the later sequels.