A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)
- Starring:
- Heather Langenkamp, Patricia Arquette, (more)
- Director(s):
- Chuck Russell
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
- Category:
- Horror
My RatingTheatrical Release Information | See Details About All Versions
The best of the Elm Street sequels, this creepy, surreal fantasy features terrific effects, a fine young cast, and an air of grim fatalism that sets it apart from its giggly successors. Patricia Arquette stars as Kristen, whose nightmare leads to a slashed wrist which looks suspiciously like a suicide attempt. She is placed in a hospital psychiatric ward with a group of six other troubled teens who all dream about the same horribly burned man (Robert Englund) trying to kill them. Perhaps the most unusual thing about this picture, however, is the unexpected depth of sadness running through it. There are some achingly sweet moments in this otherwise frightening film which, though not disruptive, are impossible to analyze. The first and most bizarre of these is Heather Langenkamp's entrance, which inexplicably causes most viewers to get misty-eyed, and there are several similar scenes throughout the film. One answer can be found in the sensitive direction of Chuck Russell, who emphasizes the tragedy and utter hopelessness in these kids' lives and manages to wring some unexpectedly perceptive turns from his cast. This is a film in which a great deal of care was obviously lavished on individual scenes (the sets are outstanding) and performances. The results are well worth repeated viewings, and prove that sequels don't necessarily have to be inferior films. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 96 mins
Complete Cast:
- Heather Langenkamp - Nancy Thompson
- Laurence Fishburne - Max
- Craig Wasson - Dr. Neil Goldman
- Brooke Bundy - Elaine Parker
- Bradley Gregg - Phillip
- Ken Sagoes - Kincaid
- Jennifer Rubin - Taryn
- Clayton Landey - Lorenzo, Orderly
- Stacey Alden - Marcie
- Sally Piper - Nurse
- Dick Cavett - Himself
- Jack Shea - Priest in Cemetery
- Melanie Doctors - Girl in Cemetery
- Paul Kent - Dr. Carver
- Patricia Arquette - Kristen Parker
- Priscilla Pointer - Dr. Elizabeth Simms
- Robert Englund - Freddy Krueger
- Rodney Eastman - Joey
- Ira Heiden - Will
- Penelope Sudrow - Jennifer
- John Saxon - Lt. John Thompson
- Nan Martin - Nun
- Kristin Clayton - Little Girl
- Rozlyn Sorrell - Nurse
- Zsa Zsa Gabor - Herself
- Michael Rougas - Priest in Church
- James Carroll - Neurosurgeon
- Director(s):
- Chuck Russell
- Writer(s):
- Chuck Russell, Wes Craven, Bruce Wagner
- Producer(s):
- Rachel Talalay, Sara Risher, Wes Craven
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Adult Language, Gore, Nudity, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Brief Nudity)
- Categories:
- Horror
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions







