After a disappointing turn with “The Dream Child”, both creatively and financially, New Line Cinema decided it was time to give Freddy a proper burial. In 1991, saw the release of the supposed last Nightmare….”Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare”. The film had a bright upcoming screenwriter, a fresh new director, and cast of up-and-comers featuring the likes of Breckin Meyer. How could they go wrong?
“Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare” has everyone’s favorite dream maniac Freddy Krueger at a crossroads. He has finally killed all the children of his hometown. He needs to escape the city’s confines to hunt fresh prey. To this end, he recruits the aid of his (previously unmentioned) daughter. However, she discovers the demonic origin of her father’s powers and meets Dad head-on in a final showdown.
Sound stupid? You better believe it is. “Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare” is that rare horror movie in which nothing works. It sure as hell isn’t scary and the cameos by Johnny Depp and Roseanne come across as more desperate than funny. The deaths are awful as well. Killed by a robot hearing aid, killed by Freddy’s “power glove”, fallen from a parachute onto spikes placed by Freddy? Is this a Nightmare movie or a Looney Toons cartoon. Not only this, but Freddy himself doesn’t even get a cool or original death. They take the ending of the original and cheapen it and we are all worse for it. This film is a grim insult to Freddy fans everywhere.
Buy It Here: Freddy’s Dead – The Final Nightmare
I saw all the films at a young age, and I actually find this one underrated. I like how over the top it is. The remake is really the only one I didn’t think was too good.
What a disappointing “finale” all around. Glad that Wes Craven was able to put his own final spin on the series with “New Nightmare.” How did you feel about that one, Justin?
I actually saw this in the theater as a little kid and not only did the movie suck, but the 3D sequence at the end did, too. I’d rate it even lower than you did.