A Nightmare on Elm Street is an American supernatural slasher film written and directed by Wes Craven, released in 1984. It follows Nancy Thompson, a teenage girl who is terrorized by Freddy Krueger, a disfigured killer who attacks his victims in their dreams. The film explores themes of fear, nightmares, and the vulnerability of adolescents, blending supernatural horror with psychological elements. The film spawned a successful franchise, including sequels, a television series, a crossover film, and a remake.
Among its most notable sequels are A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987), directed by Chuck Russell, and Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994), directed by Craven. The franchise also includes the crossover film Freddy vs. Jason (2003) and the 2010 remake directed by Samuel Bayer, starring Jackie Earle Haley as Freddy Krueger.
References to A Nightmare on Elm Street in The Simpsons[edit]
Television episodes[edit]
| Picture
|
Season
|
Episode number
|
Episode name
|
Reference
|
|
5
|
083
|
"Cape Feare"
|
When Ned Flanders jumps out of the bushes and scares Bart, he is wearing a clawed glove which he uses to trim his hedges. The glove is a obvious reference to the A Nightmare on Elm Street films, where Freddy Krueger kills his victims in their dreams with his trademark razor-fitted glove.
|
|
6
|
109
|
"Treehouse of Horror V"
|
In the segment "The Shinning" Freddy Krueger is one of the monsters who drags Homer away from the basement when he refuses to kill his family because he is too busy eating.
|
|
7
|
134
|
"Treehouse of Horror VI"
|
The segment "Nightmare on Evergreen Terrace" parodies the 1984 horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street. Groundskeeper Willie terrorizes Springfield Elementary School students in their dreams, causing their nightmares to result in real injuries and deaths. Willie resembles Freddy Krueger, using similar methods to attack his victims and taunt them. The segment also references the film's premise of a supernatural killer who attacks people while they sleep.
|
|
10
|
207
|
"Treehouse of Horror IX"
|
In the couch gag, Freddy Krueger sat on the Simpson's couch with Jason Voorhees (from Friday The 13th) watching television, waiting for the Simpsons to arrive.
|
|
Plot of segment "The Terror of the Tiny Toon" is based on A Nightmare on Elm Street 6.
|
|
11
|
230
|
"Treehouse of Horror X"
|
Matt Selman's credit "Nightmare on Selman Street" is a reference to A Nightmare on Elm Street.
|
|
13
|
270
|
"Treehouse of Horror XII"
|
The segment "Whiz Kids" parodies A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, the scene where Slithers eats Lord Montymort's body parallels the scene where a girl is almost eaten by a Freddy Krueger snake.
|
|
15
|
327
|
"The Ziff Who Came to Dinner"
|
A film called Freddy vs. Jason vs. Board of Education is seen being played at the Springfield Googolplex Theatres, a reference to Freddy vs. Jason.
|
|
17
|
372
|
"Million-Dollar Abie"
|
A look-a-like of him singing the "Springfield Blows" song.
|
|
25
|
532
|
"Treehouse of Horror XXIV"
|
Danny Elfman's credit "Nightmare on Elfstreet" is a reference to A Nightmare on Elm Street.
|
|
|
27
|
583
|
"Barthood"
|
Chief Wiggum said "Well, looks like we finally put an end to this light-mare on Elm Street," a joke on A Nightmare on Elm Street.
|
|
29
|
622
|
"Treehouse of Horror XXXII"
|
Mike Reiss's credit "A Mikemare on Elm Streiss" is a reference to A Nightmare on Elm Street.
|
|
32
|
688
|
"Treehouse of Horror XXXI"
|
John Frink's credit "Frinky Krueger" is a reference to Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street.
|
|
33
|
709
|
"Treehouse of Horror XXXII"
|
The segment "Nightmare on Elm Tree" parodies the 1984 horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street. In the segment, a tree comes to life after being struck by lightning and begins attacking people in Springfield. The title references the film, while the story reimagines its supernatural horror premise with a vengeful tree instead of Freddy Krueger.
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Common cast and crew[edit]
External links[edit]
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