Wes Craven's New Nightmare (known simply as New Nightmare) is a 1994 American meta slasher film written and directed by Wes Craven, the original creator of A Nightmare on Elm Street. Although it is the seventh installment in the franchise, it is not part of the series continuity, instead portraying Freddy Krueger as a fictional movie villain who invades the real world, and haunts the cast and crew responsible for his films. In the film, Freddy is depicted as closer to what Craven originally intended, being much more menacing and much less comical, with an updated attire and appearance.