If you consider yourself a horror fan and you haven't seen this movie, you can't call yourself a horror fan. Instead of just the usual near-impossible-to-kill killer, Freddy Krueger invades your dreams and takes care of business while you're asleep.

The lines between wakefulness and sleep are often blurred, keeping the viewer off-balance. That disorienting quality gets you involved in the proceedings, because you're never quite sure which is which, and whether the rules of the movie (Freddy kills you in your sleep) will continue to apply. That approach continues right through to the end.

While the sequels couldn't replicate the success of the original (cinematic success, not necessarily box office success), you don't need to see any of the sequels if this isn't your cup of tea. But, you absolutely should see the first one. Maybe just not if you're tired and dozing off...