One of the films that absolutely define my childhood, but nostalgia is not the only reason I love it. It's a genuinely excellent film in so many ways, it's the best NIGHTMARE film, and it's easily one of the greatest horror films of the '80s.

A major key to the film's success is the fact that it's set in an adolescent psychiatric hospital, and it takes that seriously. The characters in DREAM WARRIORS are not interchangeable, bubblebrained camp counselors, they are damaged kids with traumatic histories, and the outsider bond they have with one another feels totally genuine. On top of that, they're played by uncommonly good actors, which makes for an unusually emotionally involving film.

Heather Langenkamp and John Saxon are back (in a plausible way), the special effects and sets are phenomenally imaginative and accomplished (especially for their pre-CGI time), and Freddy Krueger is still scary. He's doing the one-liners here, but they're actually witty and used sparingly.

AND: The Dokken theme song! Patricia Arquette! Laurence Fishburne (billed as "Larry Fishburne!") A really good origin story for Freddy! The Zsa Zsa Gabor/Dick Cavett cameo! Taryn, Joey and Kincaid! So much to love in this movie.