Freddy Krueger's Tales Of Terror: Blind Date - Book Review

Freddy Krueger's Tales Of Terror: Blind Date (1994)

By Bruce Richards

TOR Books

I've been revisiting these books, and thought I would do a short review / write up of volume number 1.

Freddy Krueger's Tales Of Terror: Blind Date is the first novel in Tor Books six volume young adult horror series.  This one was unleashed in book stores in late 1994, shortly after the October 14, 1994 theatrical release of the seventh Nightmare On Elm Street film, Wes Craven's New Nightmare.

Evan Walker the outcast of Springwood high school, is bullied by football player Scott Martin and his friends.  Popular Alicia Norris is dating Scott, but disapproves of the way he and her friends treat Evan.  She feels sorry for the mistreated young man, and defends him.  After a mysterious car accident that leaves Scott disfigured and Alicia blind, Evan steps in to take care of her. Strange and deadly occurrences begin to befall some of her friends and acquaintances.  The question becomes, is Evan behind it all, or someone more sinister?   

Freddy Krueger's Tales Of Terror: Blind Date is, in my opinion, a very good first entry in the series, and is reminiscent of an episode of the Freddy's Nightmare television series, albeit the sex and violence is toned down a bit.  Having said that, there are several great gore scenes, which include ripped out eye sockets, a body crushed by a car, and a switchblade stabbed into the head of a character.

Some reviews online have said it takes too long to get the plot going, but I respectfully disagree.  I thought it allowed the reader to get a better sense of the characters, and the dynamics with one another, especially the relationship that develops between Alicia and Evan.  As the story progresses, we see how the two are brought together by their feelings of alienation.  There are also some atmospheric sequences, some of which involve a mysterious house, in particular it's basement.  I don't want to give anything away, so I'll just leave it at that.  In addition to this, I also enjoyed the book's sense of mystery involving the identity of the individual causing all the havoc.

This book was a breezy read at 156 pages, and is recommended for those who enjoyed the novels of Christopher Pike ( Monster, The Witch, Remember Me ), Lois Duncan (  Stranger With My Face, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Summer Of Fear ), or R. L. Stine ( Fear Street series, The Babysitter ).  Also fans of Nightmare On Elm Street films, but especially the Freddy Nightmares television series may find it of interest. That's just my opinion. Your's may differ.