I’m not even looking forward to writing this one. Style over substance here with the kills being the most important part of the film. – Will
We follow the remaining characters from Part 3 as they must battle against Freddy once more.
Directed by – Renny Harlin
Written by – William Kotzwinkle, Brian Helgeland, Jim Wheat, Ken Wheat
Starring – Lisa Wilcox, Andras Jones, Danny Hassel, Rodney Eastman, Tuesday Knight, Ken Sagoes, Brooke Bundy, Nicholas Mele, Toy Newkirk, Brooke Theiss, Robert Englund, Jacquelyn Masche, Linnea Quigley
If I wasn’t sure that Part 3 was the peak of the Nightmare series then I’m completely convinced after having watched Part 4. Where the previous part balanced creative kills with an interesting story and an as logical as you can get ending in a horror flick, part 4 has much more creative kills, a story that doesn’t fit together very well and the most dumb ending around.
All those great horror series I grew up on probably only had about 3 flicks that I really liked in them. Here it would be part 1, 3 and 7. Of course I haven’t gotten to part 7 yet but I remember enjoying it while everyone else seemed to despise it. Looks like I’ll have to make it through 5 and 6 before I get to have any fun now. Yes, the kills are creative and fun to watch in this one but it seems that all the ideas were pumped into those scenes and the rest of the film was an afterthought. The film starts with Kirsten, Kincaid and Joey from part 3 meeting up in a dream when Kirsten summons them. She’s convinced that Freddy is back, and of course he is, and it doesn’t take long before the remaining Dream Warriors meet their end.
Kirsten has made some new friends as well and when Freddy finally catches her in her dream, he demands that she call some of her other friends because he’s just not happy having killed all the Elm Street kids. Souls to Freddy is like Energizer to the bunny, with them he can keep going and going and going. Kirsten being the dumbass that she is calls her friend Alice into her dream and as Kirsten is being burnt alive she gives Alice her power. Instantly the movie is cheesy. Now Alice is the one getting her friends sucked into dreams and as they die off one by one she seems to gain some of their abilities. That’s enough about the plot because the movie isn’t about that, it’s about the kills.
Here's an idea, instead of passing your power on why not just die with it and spare some new kids the trouble.
Just as I remembered, part 4 sends Freddy into comedy land and I think that every time he speaks it’s a quick one-liner. It’s funny how everyone always comments on the remake as making Freddy more serious and less humourous but it isn’t until halfway through the entire series that he got that way. Some of the kills are really good here. Freddy sucks the life out of a girl with asthma and turns a girl with a fear of bugs into a human/cockroach hybrid before squashing her in a roach motel. While they’re more elaborate this time around, I still prefer some of the kills from the 3rd film. Although the giant cockroach person was pretty cool.
She should have been scared of teddy bears and not roaches, her death would have been fluffy at least.
Eventually Alice pimps herself out in another example of the 80′s movie montage that we all love, covering her body in different items from all her friends who have died. This leads into the big battle between her and Freddy which is pretty corny really. I hope they don’t have any hand to hand combat with Freddy in the remake! Once Freddy has bitch slapped Alice to the ground for the final time she remembers some random thing that someone said earlier in the film that I completely missed. Freddy can be destroyed by looking at his own reflection. What the hell? That doesn’t even make any sense to me at all! Whatever, story was unimportant here. Once Freddy sees his reflection all the souls in his body start breaking free in a pretty cool scene. Little arms shoot out from all over his body and pin him against a wall and the great Linnea Quigley makes a quick cameo as one of the souls trying to burst from his body. Eventually the little arms rip Freddy’s head in half and they all shoot out on their way to heaven, thanking Alice as they pass by. Lame! For those that do enjoy a good movie montage I pulled the clip of Alice getting ready from Youtube. It’s good for a laugh at least!
So far the most boring flick of the series. Great kills but obnoxious story and a stupid ending to wrap it all up. I can remember only basic plot points of part 5 and remember nothing of part 6 so I’m ready to see if they get better or worse than part 4. I’m hoping for something a little better. I think I may just take a break and check out Kick Ass tonight so I don’t overload on strictly Nightmare movies. Of course I don’t think I can call it a day without having watched another installment of the Nightmare series so look for a double dose of posts tomorrow, assuming I can stay awake for all that. Get it, stay awake, watching the Nightmare series…..alright, forget it!
Under the marquee – Will
Buy Now at Amazon.com
I’m loving your marathon here! Though I’m pretty sure I haven’t seen this one. Or if I did it was in the middle of a jello fight or something weird like that.
I usually only remember the films when I think of how the people died in them. Although one girl gets stuffed with something that reminds me of jello in part 5 so maybe you’re getting jello wrestling and Nightmare On Elm Street part 5 mixed up! HAHA!