The Nightmare on Elm Street series is distinct in the slasher genre for its surrealism. Because the kills happen in dreams, the filmmakers could utilize low-budget special effects and practical magic to create impossible scenarios (such as a teen turning into a cockroach or being killed by a video game).
The series evolved from pure supernatural horror into a pop-culture phenomenon characterized by its iconic villain, Freddy Krueger. Speller - Supernatural Studies nightmare on elm street series