A Nightmare on Elm Street 4K review by Bobby Blakey
In the world of horror there is a select group of famed killers that are considered the OGs of them all with one of them being Freddy Kreuger. His Elm Street franchise has spawned six films in the main series, two non-canon films, a TV series and a remake, not to mention the comics, merchandise and everything in between. While it’s a massive brand now, it all started in 1984 in Wes Craven’s classic A Nightmare on Elm Street. To celebrate the film’s 40th anniversary the original feature is getting the 4K treatment for the first time ever.
A Nightmare on Elm Street follows a hideously scarred man who was murdered by a lynch mob returns years later in the terrifying nightmares of his killer’s teenage children… and the dreaming teenagers are starting to die in their sleep.
This film has been reviewed a billion times at this point and those that are fans know it inside and out. Those that haven’t experienced it yet either have no interest, aren’t old enough or have no plans to, but they all know about Freddy. Robert Englund’s iconic performance of the character through every version of the character that has existed apart from the remake starring Jackie Earl Haley taking on the role, is insanely entertaining even in the weaker entries in the series. We have come to know his quick with and sinister humor between he kills, but he wasn’t always that way.
In this first outing while he did make some clever quips, there was a darker tone to the character and one that was clearly destined for horror icon status. He spends more time in the shadows and creeping than in the foreground like in the later films and works so much better to bring the terror. As someone who has always loved Freddy and never gets enough of him, I appreciate the less is more tone in the
original. Sure, there are some dated and silly moments like the extended arms gag, but it is such a great visual you can still appreciate it even now.
The film is still so good, but it is one that feels dated at times and cannot help but scream the 80s. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, just makes it cheesy at times, but the tone and execution keep it on track to the horror classic it is. There are so many iconic moments throughout the film and impressive effects that hold up great except for a couple of digital ones and the always silly final scene of Nancy’s mother pulled through the door window.
I never get tired of watching this flick and seeing Freddy torment unsuspecting teenagers. He embodies the genre in a way few others do and reason alone to watch any chapter in the franchise good or bad. Nothing will ever top this first flick, and this release is exciting for that alone. Not sure if this 4K does all that much for it visually, but it still looks great and if nothing else gives both old and new fans a reason to check it out all over again.
This release not only includes the classic original film, but legacy bonus content including commentaries, alternate endings, alternate takes, featurettes and both the theatrical and uncut versions of the film.
Grab your copy of A Nightmare on Elm Street on 4K for the first time ever available now on digital and then 4K UHD Disc on October 15th from Warner Bros Discovery Home Entertainment.