Robert Englund finally gets some good actors around him and a script that gives victims something to do. Craven sets up the rules and allows the 'warriors' to have a game plan instead of being helplessly terrorized. The fleshed out Freddy origin story and its grisly details does a lot of heavy lifting to add to the context of the murders he carries out, which really elevates the horror. It's less scary than it is unnerving, but it still makes for a thrilling ride where you can really root for our protagonists.