Here's a breakdown of how it works:
* The Source of His Power: Freddy gained his powers through the collective fear of the parents in the town of Springwood. They, having blamed Freddy for the deaths of their children, took matters into their own hands and burned him alive. This act fueled his rage and gave him the ability to manifest in the dreams of their children.
* The Dream World: In the *Nightmare on Elm Street* universe, the dream world is a realm of limitless possibilities, bound only by the imagination of the dreamer. This allows Freddy to manipulate the laws of physics and reality, becoming capable of incredibly gruesome and bizarre acts that would be impossible in the real world.
* Freddy's Control: Freddy can manipulate the dreams of the teenagers by entering their minds while they sleep. He can control the environments and scenarios within their dreams, creating terrifying landscapes and manipulating their deepest fears.
* The Connection to Reality: While a victim is in the dream world, Freddy can inflict physical damage that will manifest in the real world. If a victim dies in their dream, their death becomes a reality, leading to their physical demise.
* The Power of Belief: The more a victim believes in Freddy, the more powerful he becomes. Fear is Freddy's fuel. The more fear a victim experiences, the easier it is for Freddy to manipulate them and inflict real-world harm.
In essence, Freddy Krueger is a manifestation of the fear itself. He thrives on the nightmares and anxieties of the teenagers in Springwood, using their own vulnerabilities against them to prey on their subconscious minds.