After a series of surprisingly strong sequels, the Freddy Krueger series lands on its ass in this purported final entry. Director Rachel Talalay, who worked as a producer on the previous installments of the series, takes the lead here and steers the train head-first into a brick wall: Combining the what-is-real atmosphere of “Twin Peaks” along with the zaniness of an episode of “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” the movie has little to offer longtime Krueger fans, and plays out instead like a live-action episode of “Tom and Jerry” to the enjoyment of no one. By the time the rushed, clumsy climax finally arrives, it’s hard to stay engaged because everything that’s come before has been downright silly and groan-inducing. A credits sequence with key scenes from the series set to Iggy Pop’s “Why Was I Born” is the lone highlight of this dreadful sequel.
Rating: ★★ (out of 5)
