Director: Jack Sholder
Writer: David Chaskin (Screenplay) Wes Craven (Characters)
Starring: Robert Englund, Mark Patton, Kim Myers, Robert Rusler, Clu Gulager, Hope Lange
Plot: A teenage boy is haunted in his dreams by Freddy Krueger who is out to possess him to continue his murdering in the real world.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Disappoint Sequel
Story: A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge starts with a school bus journey home that seems to be going smoothly before leaving three teenagers including Jesse Walsh (Patton) trapped on a speeding rampage bus driven by none other than Freddy Krueger (Englund). Of course this is just a nightmare to show us Freddy isn’t dead yet.
The Walsh family has moved into the very house where the events of the first film took place and Jesse seems to be the person Freddy has targeted to help him make his return to the killing game. Jesse has already made new friend at school with Lisa (Myers) as they learn the truth about what happened in the house before the Walsh family moves in. as the time goes on it becomes apparent that Freddy isn’t trying to kill Jesse but encouraging Jesse to do the killing for him.
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge picks up five years after the events of the previous film, Nancy and her family are gone and we have to follow a new family in the same house. The whole incident has almost been forgotten so Freddy needs to find a way to come back. I do like the idea of him trying to make the children believe in him again which we will see used a lot through the later parts of the series. The problem I have is that most of what Jesse learns seems to start from nowhere and there is no explanation to where the first visit has come from. We do learn the slight increase of information about Freddy which will also happen through the series more, but in the end we just don’t get the same scares we did have and everything just comes off very much pushed to try and create a franchise with no real plan on where it was going. (5/10)
Actor Review
Robert Englund: Freddy Krueger is still struggling to regain his powers after the effects of the first film but he has a new target Jesse who he is trying to make kill so the children of Elm Street will believe in him again so he can continue his revenge on the people of Elm Street. Robert does what he does best being creepy and scary in every scene he is in continuing to build the Freddy legacy. (7/10)
Mark Patton: Jesse Walsh is the new kid in town with his family who have moved into Nancy’s house. He starts getting haunted by Freddy who wants him to start killing for him. Mark struggles in this role and it is clear that he wasn’t lead acting material when you look at how much acting he has gone on to do. (4/10)
Kim Myers: Lisa Webber is the local girl who befriends Jesse and helps him uncover the truth about Freddy Krueger and his past crimes. Kim does a solid job as the investigation member of the cast but surely her character would have heard about the murders. (6/10)
Support Cast: A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge has a supporting cast that is generic parents worrying but letting their kids get away with things. We also have the generic teenage friends who are the opposite to our leading pair.
Director Review: Jack Sholder – Jack does a solid job directing but let’s face it he isn’t on the same level as Mr Craven. (6/10)
Horror: A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge does have solid horror moments but most try to be disturbing rather than scary. (6/10)
Settings: A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge keeps the action in and around Elm Street but also gives us an insight into Freddy’s time at the boiler room. (8/10)
Special Effects: A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge still uses good practical effects with the knife glove bursting through Jesse’s hand being the highlight. (8/10)
Suggestion: A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge is one that the franchise fans should watch because it does bring Freddy back and without this one we wouldn’t see where it would all end up going. (Franchise Fans Watch)
Best Part: Freddy exiting the party.
Worst Part: Not enough scares for my liking.
Believability: No (0/10)
Chances of Tears: No (0/10)
Chances of Sequel: 2nd part of the franchise
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Box Office: $30 Million
Budget: $2,2 Million
Runtime: 1 Hour 27 Minutes
Tagline: The Man of Your Dreams Is Back.
Trivia: New Line originally refused to give Robert Englund a pay raise, and an extra was cast as Freddy at the start of production. After two weeks of filming, Robert Shaye realized his error and met Englund’s demands.
Overall: A sequel that tries to bring the killer back but lacks storyline direction that later films do possess.
Rating 
