The film centers on Westin Hospital’s patients, including a career debut from Patricia Arquette, and an early career appearance from Laurence Fishburne, back when he still billed as Larry. The most welcome sight for fans of the Nightmare series, though, is the return of Nancy Thompson, played by Heather Langenkamp.

Nancy, along with her father (John Saxon), who drank himself out of his police position over the events of the first film, represent the only real connection to the original, outside of some references to the fact that all the teenage patients at Westin Hospital are from the same titular street in Springwood, OH. The patients come to bond over the same horrible dreams and suicidal tendencies from which they suffer, and which only Nancy truly understands. With her help, the teenagers gain the confidence to confront their common boogeyman, while he snarks and slashes his way through their exhausted and terrified bodies.