.Spooky Scary Horrorthons 3 - Film #1

After multiple rewatches Dream Warriors still manages to be my undisputed favorite of the Elm Street franchise. The zany mix of creative dream sequences, sweet special effects, dark humour and Robert Englund's cackling performance as Freddy creates a potent mix that just embodies everything that is great about the slasher horror films of the 80's. Also, the group of heroes are sweet and sympathetic, troubled too, but nonetheless likeable.

While it may be the film that started the more comedy oriented nature of Freddy, there are still some gruesome and diabolic moments to be found in Dream Warriors, most notably the human puppet scene and the story of Freddy's true origin. This film really feels like a passing zone between the two states of The Elm Street franchise, for every sadistic murder there is a sassy one-liner and for every dark and brooding set piece there is a brighter, more fantasy-like sequence. Not quite as dark and creepy as the films that proceeded it but not as campy as the ones that followed it, Dream Warriors is the perfect middleground as far as I am concerned.

And lastly... The theme song by Dokken is amazing, it elevates the film a bit higher.