Gwinnett Daily Post

EDITOR'S NOTE — Film Fans features local residents reviewing the film of the week: "Nightmare on Elm Street." Want to be a Film Fan? E-mail features@gwinnettdailypost.com.

3 out of 4 stars

"A Nightmare on Elm Street" is a great remake of the '80s classic that was in desperate need of modernization. Effects only imagined when the original was made are now realized.

Although there is nothing new, the movie relies on what makes movies in the slasher genre fun to watch — cheap scares. The update moves along at a pace that never lags.

The frights start from the opening scene. There is insight into Freddy's beginning, but it is not overdone. The movie was perfectly cast and the acting was better than is typical for this sort of movie.

If you are a fan, you will enjoy the 90 minutes of escape and easily spot the references to the original.

— Sean Ahern, Buford

1 out of 4 stars

One, two, new Freddy is here for you. Three, four, bad acting galore. Five, six, just wasted two tix. Seven, eight, it's not worth the wait. Nine, ten, never get back my time again.

Growing up with the original "Nightmare" series and watching Freddy portrayed as a humorous psychopath with bad skin in all 8 movies, I knew that there was easily some room to improve. Unfortunately, this new version did not deliver.

Rather than taking a new creative darker approach, Hollywood decided to just recycle what we've already seen. No new twist, no originality, just plain dumb.

— Kenny Grams, Lawrenceville

1 out of 4 stars

If you've seen the original "Nightmare on Elm Street" save your money. The original was better than this new remake.

This movie had such potential for being better than it was especially with today's technology. I was so disappointed.

The story line was the same as in the original; you fall asleep, Freddy will kill you ... again and again and again. Why the directors decided to create a new Freddy face is beyond me. The original Freddy was far scarier.

Don't mess with something that isn't broken. Sorry Freddy, you just didn't impress me this time around.

— Kimberly Watson, Dacula