Number 8: Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy’s Revenge
Many will disagree with me here. The reasons this one ranks eighth on our countdown we’ll get to soon, but let me start by saying there’s plenty to like.
In later sequels, Freddy leans more into comedy than horror. In Part 2, he still has the menace of the first film, and the plot does something genuinely different with him.
This is where the problem lies for me. I’m in agreement with Wes Craven’s take that this film exposes Freddy too much. His menace comes from being able to kill you while you sleep. In dreams, Freddy holds all the power. In this film, he crosses over into the waking world.
Jesse is our main character — one of the only male leads in the Elm Street series, another departure from the usual formula. His girlfriend Lisa has a large role too. The story is essentially a possession film. Much has been said about the subtext, and you can very much class this film as of its time.
It’s a short watch, clocking in at about an hour and twenty minutes. Definitely a part of horror history. And that VHS cover with the school bus was unforgettable.