REVIEW: The Nightmares on Elm Street, The Continuing Story Parts 1, 2, 3

Freddy Krueger was born amidst a raging fire in the old insane asylum on Elm Street, the bastard son of a beautiful young schizophrenic who died alone and unattended in the agony of childbirth. 

    Raised from infancy by a succession of ax murderers, rapists, and arsonists, young Freddy was adopted at an early age by a lonely pimp who hoped that the strange-looking boy might make himself someday useful... 

With an upbringing like that, Elm Street stood little chance of evading the permeating nightmare that is Freddy Krueger. Colleting the first three stories, The Nightmares on Elm Street are faithful renditions of the cult films, complete with cheesy one-liners, over-the-top gore, and colorful characters out of their minds on no-doze. 

Nancy Thompson is the tie that binds the stories; from victim in Part 1 to Dream Warrior in Part 3, Nancy's character adds continuity to the random acts of nighttime violence. Freddy for his part, is well written and true to form - morphing from car to bed, to other characters; his comedic chameleon qualities are ever present across all installments.  

Plot-wise there's not much going here; Freddy, horror personified simply attacks teens in their dreams, sometimes he breaks through the veil to spill his terror in the real world, but largely he just wants to hurt somebody. Said teens, however, are a tenacious bunch, who, at least while alive, don't make it easy for Freddy, fighting back by putting on their big person boots and confronting the burnt-headed-fedora-wearing-freak, um, head on... 

The steady evolution from scared teens to kicka$$ superheros is a theme which comes to fruition in Part 3 when the story takes a different turn from the preceding parts. No longer are the Elm Street teens at the mercy of Freddie's finger knives, they're taking the fight direct to him in a bloody and gore-filled battle across multiple dreamscapes. 

Along with the catchy rhyme, these stories are pretty memorable; Freddy snatching a sleeping teen from within the mattress is horror gold and the Dream Warriors banding together x-men style to take down Freddy in the boiler room is great stuff. 

Short, sharp and super fun - The Nightmares on Elm Street, The Continuing Story Parts 1, 2, 3 is a must have in the paperback horror collection.

One, two Freddie's coming for you.

Three, four, better lock your door.

Five, six, grab your crucifix.

Seven, eight, gonna stay up late.

Nine, ten, never sleep again!