History Film / ANightmareOnElmStreet4TheDreamMaster

''A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master'' is the fourth ''[[Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet Nightmare on Elm Street]]'' film, released in the year 1988.

* LighterAndSofter: Compared to the previous three ''Nightmare on Elm Street'' movies, this film is a lot more light. This is also the point where Freddy really starts to become more comical and silly as opposed to the scary menacing killer he used to be.

-->'''Rick:''' ''(tries to comfort Alice)''

-->'''Freddy:''' I believe in you. ''(breaks her arms)''

** When Freddy resurrects, and shown in shadowed silhouette:

* BadassBoast: After Freddy heals a nasty hole through his chest:

* DeadStarWalking: Despite Tuesday Knight getting second billing after Robert Englund, [[spoiler:Kristen dies about twenty minutes into the movie]].

* AllYourPowersCombined: Alice can absorb the abilities of her fallen friends, leading to her becoming something of a martial arts-wielding GadgeteerGenius. This also means she [[MySignificanceSenseIsTingling instantly knows when someone's died]]. These abilities are absent in the next sequel. [[spoiler: Maybe because Jacob was being used as a buffer.]]

* LighterAndSofter: Compared to the previous three elm street movies, this film is a lot more light. This is also the point where Freddy really starts to become more comical and silly as opposed to the scary menacing killer he used to be.

''A Nightmare On Elm Street 4: The Dream Master'' is the fourth ''[[Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet Nightmare On Elm Street]]'' film, released in the year 1988.

* ItsAllMyFault: Alice has this moment after [[spoiler: Shelia dies, and realizes Freddy used her to pull Shelia into her dream just like Kristen did with Alice.]]

Critical reception to the film was mixed, but it did so well on the box office it became the most successful SlasherMovie of the 80s. It was the most financially successful movie in the ''Nightmare'' series until ''Film/FreddyVsJason'' came out.

* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: [[spoiler:Elaine Parker, Kristen's mother. Not only was she responsible for the death of her own daughter, but thanks to that happening, it gave Freddy the opportunity he needed to successfully establish a link to the rest of Springwood's teen populace. So basically every death from this movie onward is because of her. [[SarcasmMode Nice job, Elaine.]]]]

* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: [[spoiler: Elaine Parker not only was responsible for Kristen's death, but thanks to that happening it gave Freddy the opportunity he needed to successfully establish a link to the rest of Springwood's teen populace. So basically every death from this movie onward is because of her.[[SarcasmMode Nice job, Elaine.]]]]

* GhostReunionEnding: Subverted. After apparently defeating Freddy, the ghost of [[spoiler:Nancy's father]] appears to her. It's really Freddy in disguise, using it to give her a DeadlyHug.

* BigNo: Alice lets out a heart-wrenching one that ''somehow'' shatters the windows of her classroom after [[spoiler: her brother Rick is killed by Freddy]].

* FinalGirl: Alice Johnson.

* DangerouslyGenreSavvy: After coming back, Freddy [[spoiler:kills Kincaid and Joey before taking on Kristen]].

* FutureMeScaresMe: More like Future Me Depresses Me, when an aging Alice who's worked in a diner her whole life appears in Alice's dream.

* ShackleSeaatTrap: Alice's and Shiela's school desks sprout extra metal bars that trap them in their seats when Freddy attacks them during the physics test.

-->-- The Dream Master rhyme

* BlackAndNerdy: Sheila, who is a very meek straight-A student. According to her actress, Toy Newkirk, director Renny Harlin thought she didn't sound "black" enough and told her to re-do her lines, which she refused.

** Director Renny Harlin appears sitting in a classroom.