ANightmare on Elm Street

Mimi Jeffries

What the films about?

• Nancy, Kris, Quentin, Jesse, and Dean all lie on Elm street. At night they are all having the same dream– of the same man, wearing a tattered red and green striped sweater, a beaten fedora half-concealing a disfigured face, and a gardeners glove with knifes for fingers. And they are all hearing the same frightening voice…

HORROR? THRILLER?

• A nightmare on Elm street is classified as a Horror, due to the sequences and actions that are taken place.

• Images of blood, knifes, fire, masks are all related to the theme of horror and create suspense and tensions and an overall shock feeling to the audience.

• The main character “Freddie” is the most frightening character, due to his image, and recognizable voice which haunts the other characters. We know he wears a tattered red and green striped sweater, a beaten fedora half-concealing a disfigured face, and a gardeners glove with knifes for fingers.

Opening credits

Credits are engraved into the pavement, this shows either Freddie has done this with his claws, or children have, due to its lopsided, jagedy edges.

It creates fear and suspense as can be potrayed as signs of horror, there are also shown in quick flashes, which heightens tension and catches the audiences attention.

Music This music back ups the actions and images being shown, it

emphasizes that some event is going to happen, and contributes to the horror significance of the film.

It is deep, mysterious music, sounding magical and is very repetitive highlighting events from the past.

The use of childrens voices laughing and playing adds to the innocence of the children. and acts as a contrast to the actual film.

the beats of the music match the credits coming in, this attracts the audience attention to the credits. Also when the credits are shown a snapshot noise of a picture being taken is played, empahizing that someone is possibly watchign the kids, and taking pictures.

Voilins and musical instruments are included in the music creating an eerie effect.

Photos The first picture shown is of a circle of children

holding hands, that portrays the children throughout the film which are now grown up and how they are all linked in with each other.

The second most significant pictures is of the street sign “Elm Street’’, this street name is included in the title of the film but also where a lot of events and actions take place. All these images are related and linked to parts in the film.

We get introduced to them now showing significance in the film and how they interlink.

Here is a picture of Freddie himself in his famous recognized red and green striped jumper.His shadow that appears in this photo can be menacing and scary.

Here is Frededies face that has been burnt from the fire and also his claw which he uses to defend and kill.

Shadows of children playing games, skipping and doing hopscotch all link in with the theme of childhood and there innocence. Its can be shown as creepy and mysterious as we don’t tend to think of children in horror films. Once again these shots of children playing are quick flashbacks and shots.

The shots are mainly of the children’s feet so we cannot identify the characters, but this adds to the audience to think more and wonder who they are.

Each shot or clip of an action begins and ends with a black out, showing some kind of change in time or end of an event.

An important picture is shown of a class photo, it is an old black and white photo which is firstly shown in good condition then the sound of a knife is played then cut to the picture again but this time has been shown like its not kept in good condition, torn and worn out. Seeming like someone has deliberately attacked and damaged the photo.

A photo also of “Badham preschool, Springwood Ohio’ is shown linking the photo of the children with this school, giving information on the location to the audience , letting them know the significance of the children and there past.

Also the date of the photo has been shown to inform the audience it occurred in the past and a long time ago. (1994-1995).

The words “bad: and “school” are re-shown to emphasize possible actions taken place at this location and also the word ‘bad’ associates with a trauma or a serious event that has taken place.

Children’s building blocks of toys are shown and particular letters as well, which could be portraying letters of some of the children’s first name. again the theme of childhood innocence is portrayed into this. Then this clip is cut to the building blocks being burnt, fire is associated with destroying, killing and danger. Showing that these ‘letters’ representing the children are in danger.

The location of a park is shown, with a rocking horse rapidly rocking, but without a child or any person on it, emphasizing the eerie atmosphere and contributing the the horror and fear theme.

The fact no one is present on the rocking horse makes the audience think a ghost is present or a child was there but left, as in the sense an event happened and made the child leave rapidly.

Broken chalk is shown to show the children’s life’s being broken and torn up.

Clips of children running are also shown as well, telling the audience there either running away from someone, playing or not knowing what's going on. Children at such a young age ate so innocent, naïve and don’t have a sense of danger. But do have a sense of fear and can sense when something's not right.

Children's dolls are shown in this sequence, which again is part of children's life's, there toys are there friends and they play with them all the time. This also reflects the doll which is shown in the attic of one girl, which she discovers when she's older, as well as the classroom photo.

The shadows of the children playing add tension and suspense to the scene. It makes the audience think as you still cant see there faces but there bodies as well.

The fact we cant see the children's faces, meaning there facial expressions are being masks so we cannot see how there feelings or reacting.