I don’t consider the ‘80s to be the “golden age” of horror, as many middle-aged fanboys love to gush. Sure, there were some great ones - as there are from every decade - but most of what was spoonfed to indiscriminate teenagers consisted of assembly line slashers cut from the same cloth as Halloween and Friday the 13th.
Of those that became beloved franchises, the Nightmare on Elm Street films were arguably the most creative, both aesthetically and in the various means of murdering kids (which didn’t always involve gore). Though certainly products of their time, they were always more visually interesting than most of their ilk and Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) had the most amusing personality of all the other horror icons of the era (sometimes to the franchise’s detriment).
Last year, Warner Brothers released a 4K restoration of the first film, which featured a good video upgrade, though the biggest improvement was the Dolby Atmos audio mix. Now all seven films are being given the same treatment with this boxed set (also available on Amazon as a more elaborate SteelBook). The restorations for the sequels are just as good, and again, they feature outstanding Dolby Atmos audio tracks.
As for the movies themselves, A Nightmare on Elm Street remains the best one, largely because it was unique at the time and possibly the first supernatural slasher film (but don’t quote me on that). The intelligent story (for the genre), imaginative set-pieces and an overall serious tone are still engaging all these years later. It also presents Freddy Krueger as mysterious, malevolent and menacing…before he became horror’s Henny Youngman. Maybe not Wes Craven’s best film, it’s easily his most culturally significant. The National Film Registry thought so, too.
Though somewhat underwhelming when first released, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge at least deserves props for trying something a little different with the concept, though it’s mostly remembered today for its unintentional homoerotic undertones. While A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors remains a fan favorite, this is where the horror began to take a backseat to special effects and Freddy’s quotable one-liners. Still, it’s visually engaging, with some elaborate death scenes.
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Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare is the series’ nadir and a desperate attempt to squeeze blood from a turnip. Gratuitous stunt casting and 3-D (for the final ten minutes) don’t mask what is essentially a cash grab. Not even those involved in making it liked this one. And yes, the 3-D version is included in this set, with glasses. Then just when we thought the franchise was dead, along came Wes Craven’s New Nightmare. As the title indicates, the guy who created Freddy in the first place returns to conclude the series on a high note. A clever, self-aware meta movie, it can be seen as the precursor to Craven’s Scream franchise. Most importantly, it made Freddy scary again.
Keep in mind that none of the sequels are available separately. That means Freddy fans who purchased A Nightmare on Elm Street last year are gonna have to do it again, and those who prefer to pick and choose are still gonna be stuck with Freddy’s Dead. Additionally, only Wes Craven’s New Nightmare includes new bonus features. The rest feature supplemental material that’s been around for awhile (the first film having the most). Still, the technical aspects might be worth the upgrade those longtime fans of the franchise.
EXTRA KIBBLES
DIGITAL COPIES OF ALL 7 FILMS
A Nightmare on Elm Street:
THEATRICAL & UNCUT VERSIONS
FEATURETTES - The House That Freddy Built is a look at New Line Cinema’s horror history, primarily its ‘08s output and largely focused on the Elm Street Series; Never Sleep Again: The Making of A Nightmare on Elm Street is an excellent 50-minute retrospective documentary; Night Terrors: The Origins of Wes Craven’s Nightmare features the late director discussing the real life inspiration for the film.
2 AUDIO COMMENTARIES - 1) By writer-director Wes Craven, actors Heather Langenkamp & John Saxon, cinematographer Jacques Haitki. 2) By several members of the cast & crew, as well as historian David Del Valle.
FOCUS POINTS - Various behind-the-scenes segments and alternate takes of scenes.
3 ALTERNATE ENDINGS
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge:
FEATURETTES - Freddy on 8th Street; Heroes and Villains; The Male Witch; Psychosexual Circus (where we learn all the gay subtext was unintentional).
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors:
BEHIND THE STORY - A multi-part look at the making of the film.
MUSIC VIDEO - “Dream Warriors,” by Dokken. About as ‘80s as videos get.
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master:
FEATURETTES - The Finnish Line; Krueger, Freddy Krueger; Hopeless Ghost; Let’s Makeup.
A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child:
THEATRICAL & UNCUT VERSIONS
BEHIND THE STORY - A five-part look at the making of the film.
Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare:
3-D GLASSES - For the 3-D segments, which are the best part of the movie.
FEATURETTES - 86’D; Hellraiser; Rachel’s Dream; 3D Demise. Some of those interviewed are surprisingly candid about this one’s shortcomings.
Wes Craven’s New Nightmare:
NEW FEATURETTES - Boiler Room Confessional features several people discussing the series’ longevity; Freddy’s Footnotes features more of the same people discussing classic Freddy moments; Becoming a Filmmaker is technically new, since it features the late Wes Craven discussing his humble beginnings, but it’s new to home video.
FEATURETTES - Filmmaker; An Insane Troupe; The Problem with Sequels; Two Worlds.
AUDIO COMMENTARY - By writer-director Wes Craven.
WELCOME TO PRIME TIME - Running about 50 minutes, this multipart features of short pieces about several aspects of the entire series.
CONCLUSION - Similar to the feature above, this one focuses more on the series’ aesthetic and cultural impact..png)
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