Largely forgotten in the tumult of sequels, rip-offs and parodies that followed in its wake is the fact that A Nightmare on Elm Street, Wes Craven’s original 1984 slasher classic, was not just a huge box-office success, but a critical success as well. Film reviewers recognized something fresh in the genre; after Halloween revived the idea of slasher movies and made them personal, and Friday the 13th inverted the expectations of a jaded audience, Nightmare recognized that you could push the boogeyman idea all the way into the surreal and have a whole new canvas to paint on. Freddy is an iconic modern monster with a more developed set of skills than indefatigable Michael Myers or the unkillable Jason. He can enter your dreams, take other shapes, murder you with creativity. Freddy seems to always be performing his acts of violence for a silent, invisible audience; as a movie monster, he’s movie first and monster second. Myers and Jason are actors. Freddy is a director.

This screening is held in the Historic Duncan Auditorium. This space utilizes open seating for this event, seat selection is not required.

VIEW the full 2026 “A Nightmare on Franklin Street” series lineup.