A Nightmare on Elm Street Review

A Nightmare on Elm Street – 41 years young and still scaring audiences around the globe

In 2024 we celebrated 40 years of Wes Craven’s 1984 horror classic, ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’. The story of A Nightmare on Elm Street’s monumental success, that saw seven sequels spawned, a versus movie with Jason Vorhees in 2003 and a remake in 2010, is really the success story of New Line Cinema, one of Hollywood’s premier studios. New Line Cinema is responsible for big franchises like ‘The Conjuring’ universe, ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘Lord of the Rings’ franchises, along with many comedies, horror films and other genre classics over the years. The film series was also responsible for launching the careers of many talented creative people, many of whom are considered now as Hollywood royalty, including, Peter Jackson (Lord of The Rings and the Hobbit trilogies), who wrote a treatment of the Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare Screenplay, Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2, The Strangers trilogy), who directed A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Master and of course the master of suspense himself, Wes Craven (Scream 1 – 4, The People Under The Stairs, Shocker, Deadly Blessing), who helmed the first Nightmare on Elm Street film in 1984 and his meta flick, ‘Wes Craven’s New Nightmare’ in 1993.

The new 4K Ultra HD collection of A Nightmare on Elm Street is a must-have for horror fans and collectors alike. Released by Roadshow this October, this seven-film box set includes all the original Freddy Krueger movies from 1984 to 1994. The set includes:

•            A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

•            Freddy’s Revenge (1985)

•            The Dream Warriors (1986)

•            The Dream Master (1987)

•            The Dream Child (1988)

•            Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1989)

•            Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1993)

The character of Freddy Krueger has also become one of the most iconic horror characters of all time. His popularity through the 1980s and into the 1990s, is unfathomable to understand in today’s climate. Whilst horror icons have come and gone in the pop culture zeitgeist, Freddy has stood the test of time, remaining one of the most prominent figures, made synonymous with the horror genre. Robert Englund’s iconic turn as the character, is unmatched, with Jackie Earle-Hayley donning the infamous look in the 2010, Samuel Bayer directed, Michael Bay produced remake, but unable to capture the charisma and terrifying nature of Freddy. Englund was clearly having an amazing time whilst playing Freddy, he relishes every kill, every one-liner, every second of screentime. He’s really fantastic and this is easily one of the best horror performances of all time.

As the Nightmare on Elm Street sequels progress, Freddy Krueger's journey transforms from pure nightmare fuel into something far more theatrical, surreal and outright ridiculous. In the original 1984 film, Freddy is a shadowy, terrifying figure, his presence is minimal but deeply unsettling. However, as the series continues, his methods of stalking and killing victims become increasingly elaborate, campy, and even humorous. The franchise leans into the weird and mystical, with dream logic allowing for bizarre set pieces, outlandish kills, and a growing sense of fantasy. The increasing silliness and camp factor don’t detract from the horror; they redefine it. The franchise becomes less about raw fear and more about the spectacle of Freddy's imagination. Whether he’s turning a victim into a cockroach or manipulating a comic book world, each kill is a showcase of creativity and dark humour. This evolution mirrors the audience’s growing familiarity with Freddy, he’s no longer just a nightmare, but a character we’ve come to expect and enjoy. In short, the Nightmare series thrives because it embraces Freddy's theatricality. The sillier it gets, the more it celebrates what makes Freddy unique: his personality, his inventiveness, and his ability to dominate the screen. He’s not just the villain of the story; he is the story!

This new 4K set is absolutely amazing. I am so happy with the clear care that was taken bringing each of these films into the modern age. Remastered in 4K from original camera negatives, the first five films boast rich colours, sharp details, and impressive black levels. Dolby Atmos audio enhances the experience with immersive soundscapes, crisp dialogue, and layered music tracks. Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare shows slightly less visual sharpness, but Wes Craven’s New Nightmare holds up well in comparison.

The film franchise is one of my all-time favourites, with Freddy ranking as my favourite horror villain of all time. This 4K collection is a highly recommended upgrade for fans of the franchise. Whether you're revisiting Freddy's dream-stalking terror or discovering it for the first time, the remastered visuals and audio breathe new life into these horror classics. It’s a nostalgic and technically satisfying release that celebrates one of horror's most enduring icons. Be sure to pick-up your copy from Sanity today, you really won’t want to miss it!

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Christopher Pattison from Oz-Movie Geek wrote this blog post for Sanity. See more from Chris here