Talalay has worked in a number of different capacities in filmmaking before making her directorial debut with the film "" (1991). Talalay also worked on the first four "A Nightmare on Elm Street" films. Her work with the earlier "Nightmare" films utilized her computer skills and finding ways to create better special effects while still keeping costs low. Despite her familiarity with the Freddy movies, when she directed "Freddy's Dead", she was given internal memos telling her not to be "too girly" or "too sensitive."