Nightmare on Elm Street

Anyone know why there were so many references to Nightmare on Elm Street? There was that huge painting in the background of his friend's room as well as a poster in another room, and there was that kid at the skate park who was dressed up like Freddy Kreuger. I don't know that much about the history behind Freddy Kreuger. Does his story involve alienation? Or do you think it was something that wasn't thought about that much by the filmmakers?