All posts by Robert Yaniz Jr.

Franchise Detours Episode 76: ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master’ (feat. Kevin the Critic)

Thanks to A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, Freddy Krueger became as popular as ever. The Springwood Slasher was suddenly a household name, leading to an increased focus on his macabre sense of humor. The result is the entry often known as the “MTV Nightmare.”

Kevin the Critic returns to the show to discuss director Renny Harlin’s A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master. We’ll discuss which lessons it learns from its predecessor, how it shifts focus to a new final girl and why one particular sequence is undeniably the Kill of the Week.

Join us as we dissect A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master’s legacy as — for better or worse — a turning point. The highest-grossing entry until Freddy vs Jason, this one isn’t as discussed as others. But let’s tumble into a nightmarish wonderland with our own Alice (Lisa Wilcox).

Franchise Detours Episode 75: ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors’ (feat. podcaster Deanna Chapman)

After the mixed reception to A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge, the franchise turned to series creator Wes Craven and original star Heather Langenkamp. As our eight-part Freddy-led mega-series continues, we arrive at 1987’s fan-favorite A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors.

Podcaster Deanna Chapman joins us to discuss how director Chuck Russell’s installment serves as a pivotal entry in Freddy Krueger’s saga. We’ll discuss why the movie is so beloved by fans, how it soft-resets the series’ focus, and how it uses supernatural threats to tap into real-life psychological horrors.

So join us as we delve into A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. We’ll explore the film’s innovative special effects, its dynamic characters, and how it turned the tables on Freddy, giving the Elm Street children a fighting chance. It’s an episode you won’t want to sleep through.

Franchise Detours Episode 74: ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge’ (feat. Brandon Stanwyck of Fearsome Queer)

How do you follow a classic like A Nightmare on Elm Street? That was the task director Jack Sholder and star Mark Patton faced with A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge. Released less than a year later, the sequel dared to do something darker and very different, with wildly mixed results.

Brandon Stanwyck of Fearsome Queer helps us break down the controversy behind A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge. We’ll reckon with the film’s complicated legacy, acknowledge its ambitious themes and bold creative choices, and attempt to put it into a better context for today’s fans.

The movie’s exploration of identity and fear strikes a different chord than its predecessor, making it a fascinating entry to revisit. So sharpen your claws and prepare to dive into A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge as we unravel the mystery behind Freddy’s second appearance.