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So arranging to slap them all in a pretty DVD box-set together
has been quite the task, and at the end of the day, such a
collection didn’t happen – at least not one that
featured all the titles, as the Zone 1 release did.
Obviously someone out there wasn’t willing to let go
of some of Freddy’s later efforts – but what’s
on offer is still better than no 'Elm Street' offerings on
disc at all, right? Which, considering their success, makes
about as much sense as having Paris Hilton present at next
year’s Oscars.
The three films in the collection are A Nightmare On Elm
Street, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2, and A Nightmare
on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. Two of those titles are
great; one of those titles sucks more than the woman featured
in the final line of the last paragraph.
Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street is one
of the finest horror movies of our time. Genuinely scary,
highly imaginative and featuring a villain that’s gone
down in history as one of the most unforgettable – that’d
be Freddy Krueger, or ‘Fred’ Krueger as he’s
named here in the first film, a badly burnt man whose killing
the kids of Springwood in their sleep – it was a world-wide
success, spawning endless sequels, a short-lived TV series,
and a surprisingly successful toy line.
Unfortunately, the sequel was about as lifeless as Rory Cochrane
at the end of the first season of 'CSI Miami'. Yep, that comatose.
Not surprisingly, Wes Craven had nothing to do with this ‘by
the numbers’ follow-up.
A Nightmare On Elm Street 3, on the other hand, now
that was good. Surprisingly so.
Craven came up with its template, Chuck Russell directed
and the result was one hot horror sequel. Heather Langenkamp,
the heroine of the first film, reprised her role, playing
a shrink to a bunch of kids (including a young Patricia Arquette)
who suddenly start getting unannounced visits from the Bastard
Son of a 100 Maniacs.
This has got to be one of the best sequels ever made.
DVD Extras
Sound and vision on all discs is so good you’ll be wriggling
about in your seat like a baby with a surprise in his nappy.
There's also a few extras thrown in there:
Featurette: Freddy On 8th Street
Featurette: Heroes And Villains
Featurette: Making The Glove
Featurette: Psycho Sexual Circus
Featurette: The Male Witch
Featurette: The Revolving Room
Featurette: Welcome To Prime Time
Theatrical Trailer
Audio Commentary: Cast and Crew
Conclusion: Movie 85% Extras: 65%
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