Nightmare On Elm Street

"Nightmare On Elm Street" is the horror film classic that launched a movie franchise. A hideously scarred man, Freddie Krueger (Robert Englund) 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. (Gary Reber)

Both the theatrical version (01:31:10) and an uncut version (01:31:19) are available. Special features include commentary with Writer/Director Wes Craven, Stars Robert Englund, Heather Langenkamp, Ronnie Blakely, Robert Shaye, and Sara Risher; commentary with Craven, Heather Langenkamp, John Saxon, and Jacques Haitkin; alternate endings (HD 04:58); four featurettes: "Ready Freddy Focus Points" (SD 18:13), "The House That Freddy Built: The Legacy of New Line Horror" (SD 21:52), "Never Sleep Again: A Nightmare On Elm Street" (SD 49:54) and "Night Terrors: The Origins Of Wes Craven’s Nightmares" (HD 15:33); and a Movies Anywhere digital copy.

The 1.85:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD Dolby Vision/HDR10 picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was photographed on 35 mm film stock using the Arriflex 35 BL2 and Arriflex 35 III camera systems and sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate format, The restored picture looks terrific with the virtual elimination of film grain. The picture is constantly sharp and clear. Colors are perfectly natural with subtle nuanced hue shadings. Color fidelity exhibits strong saturated hues that are rich and warm in tone as well as vivid. Primaries are strong with hues that pop such as reds. Flesh tones appear perfectly realistic. HDR contrast is wide with natural black levels, revealing shadows and well-balanced white levels. There's a good sense of depth across the board whether in the picture's many darker scenes or the bright exterior or well-lit interiors. In such instances, resolution is excellent with fine detail exhibited throughout, both during near backgrounds and closeups. Facial features reveal skin pores, lines makeup (Freddy Krueger's), burned skin, and hair. This is a terrific looking, clean picture that will thrill fans of this horror classic. (Gary Reber)

The repurposed Dolby Atmos/DolbyTrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack was originally produced in monaural. The last Blu-ray Disc featured an updated repurposed DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1-channel soundtrack derived from the original sound elements, This Dolby Atmos edition uses that same 7.1 mix as the foundation with an extension of sound elements to the height layer. Surrounds are aggressively active with both discrete sound effects and atmospherics from blowing steam, screams and Freddy scraping his sharp finger blades against a surface to more subtle effects such as heavy breathing or buzzing insects heard during a nighttime scene. A major element is the synthesizer-heavy orchestral score, which is nicely recorded with excellent fidelity. The music spans the soundstage and aggressively extends to the four channels. While only occasionally is there any discrete localization or panning of atmospherics and sound effects elements, the monaural soundfield envelopment is very effective in creating dimensionality. Dialogue is intelligible throughout with generally good spatial integration.

The Immersive Sound element is wonderfully dimensional with the extension of the music, atmospherics and sound effects. Its presence is always there, at times subtle but most often energized. The effect enhances the spherical effect and draws the viewer more into the film. If only every soundtrack would follow suit.

This is a well-crated holosonic® spherical surround soundtrack which is creatively derived from its monaural elements to deliver an unpleasant nightmarish experience. The post-production people should be applauded for their accomplishment. (Gary Reber)