"i'll see you in hell." ⠀"tell 'em freddy sent ya!" much like halloween iii, this was received poorly upon release and is often overlooked and underappreciated due to being "stupid dumb 80's schlock." i'll concede that, yes, this is goofy 80's camp flick, but that doesn't negate that this is still a legitimately great film that deserves the cult following that halloween iii has garnered. freddy's the best he's ever been in this, and i doubt any other elm street entry will beat it. with the help of the writing team, robert englund is able to channel a perfect balance between unnerving and whimsical. every atmospheric horror scene is tense and unsettling, and every punchline never fails to make me laugh. death scenes never need to compromise between quality and quantity. every execution is so well-shot and memorable, without the scarcity that was prevalent in previous entries. so much so, that i'm willing to say this has the best kills in the entire franchise (as of yet). rivals as one of the cheesiest movies i've ever seen, yet still completely self-aware. from the opening title sequence, you have a perfect understanding of the tone this will take, and the dialogue and jokes contribute to the spirit of the film as well. with the combination of the humor and kills, this is genuinely one of the most (intentionally) hilarious films i've ever seen. with leniency given for its time period and intent, every character feels so realistic and likable that i genuinely can't pick a favorite. everyone is given a character aspect that makes them stand out from the crowd, and the direction every storyline goes is immensely satisfying. again, the writing team does a great job with the story. works as a perfect way of passing the baton from dream warriors to the dream master, and never feels regulated or forced. along with having the best kills in the franchise, the dream master is host to the best final fight in the franchise, fully embracing how ridiculous it is and allowing everyone free range to deliver a completely entertaining experience. a nightmare on elm street 4 adds to the ever-growing variety in tone and atmosphere of the franchise, fully embracing what it has evolved into and perfecting it. a truly great horror-comedy.