- Format: Box set, PAL
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 5
- Classification: 18
- Studio: Eiv
- DVD Release Date: 25 Jun 2001
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00004XQTS
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
36,834 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
- #88 in Film & TV > Horror > Slasher Movies
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Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
The flagship horror film series of the second half of the 1980s was the Elm Street cycle, inaugurated in 1984 by Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street. A low-budget, high-imagination effort, the film revived the moribund teenage slasher genre by adding a fantastical premise (just as Craven's Scream would do 10 years later) playing post-modern games. A ghost story about a murdered murderer who can haunt the night terrors of the children of the mob who burned him to death, A Nightmare on Elm Street is the ultimate instance of horror taking its tone from a bad dream. The fact that the monster's powers are irrational is the film's greatest strength rather than a script weakness. Freddy Krueger, who was just plain Fred to start with, is the 80s monster par excellence, a razor-fingered, scarfaced pervert in a hideous jumper and battered hat, lurking in the shadows of the unconscious from which he emerged rather too often in the follow-ups. Craven made him scary, but the directors who followed treated him as the star and he gradually became a ridiculous, comic creation, more tiresome than terrifying. The sequels are what they are: none aspire to the status of the original, though A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors is a rip-roaring fantasy adventure that always pleases, and even the weakest entries (2 and 5) have their moments. From 3 onwards, the dreams become showpieces for the effects men, which makes for sequences at once startling and silly, but sadly bereft of the power to chill. As the 80s recede into the stuff of nostalgia television, other aspects of the series seem more prominent: like a parade of the ghastliest haircuts ever worn by human teenagers (Johnny Depp's cockatoo pompadour or the roach-girl's fluffy perm in 4 as the worst offenders) and several soundtrack album's worth of bland MTV tie-in pop music that never manages to be as memorable as the simple, nursery rhyme theme carried over movies.-- Kim Newman
DVD extras. The most desirable add-on feature is a lively, informative commentary track on the original film, with contributions from Wes Craven Heather Langenkamp, John Saxon and cinematographer Jacques Haitkin; this was recorded for a US laserdisc release, and it's a shame that we don't get the outtakes and deleted scenes present on that version. Otherwise, it's the usual trailers, animated menus (all very imaginative) and cast and crew bios (with odd omissions - Nick Corri rates a write-up, but not Johnny Depp), and music videos keyed into sequels three to five, with clips from the films inter-cut with lousy rock and/or rap. A nice gimmick on all the discs is a "jump straight to a nightmare" feature, allowing instant access to the gruesome effects set-piece of your choice. All the discs are good-looking widescreen transfers, with rich sound and optional English sub-titles. Among the most notably absent extras, of course, are the sixth and seventh films, Rachel Talalay's Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare and, most importantly, Wes Craven's New Nightmare. -- Kim Newman
DVD Description
This five disc boxset contains the first five films in the series; "Nightmare on Elm Street", "Freddie's Revenge", "Dream Warriors", "The Dream Master", and "The Dream Child".
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The films themselves are amazing, i was quite happy with my purchase until i realised that the Americian release of the elm street collection was a million times better...The americian release contains all 7 movies and a whole disc full of extras, including alternative endings and documentries. The extras on this (the uk) version are rubbish, a couple of dodgy music videos and the old actor filmography.
find the US version instead!!!
find the US version instead!!!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Warning. this is not "the "complete" collection" because there are only 5 discs in this collection but there are 7 films.
dont be fooled by this like i was. the picture on the box is identical to that of the 8 disc american version.
this is the good ole british attempt and the good ole british result at screwing up a release of a box set of a classic horror series.
dont be fooled by this like i was. the picture on the box is identical to that of the 8 disc american version.
this is the good ole british attempt and the good ole british result at screwing up a release of a box set of a classic horror series.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Although missing the final 2 parts in the series, this box set provides a well presented, value for money collection of the first 5 films in the Nightmare on Elm Street series.
The first - and arguably the best - episode sees Wes Craven's creation Fred Krueger terrorise teens in their dreams. Genuinely scary and suspensful, it differs from its descendents which focussed on a more humourous, visually imaginative bogeyman. However, Craven shows his forte lies in creating surreal images and set pieces, rather than the comedic postmodern horror of Scream. Released at the time when teenage slasher flicks were feeding off of the success of Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm St. should not be remembered along with the formulaic Friday the 13th sequels and exploitative video nasties. A truly original and thoughtfully constructed story (though inevitably flawed in places) ANOES strayed from the escaped lunatic theme that Halloween made standard. Although the acting and script are often a bit shaky, the film is exciting and original and puts to good use the techniques used by a director short on funds and support.
The best DVD of the lot in terms of extras, this includes a commentary from Wes Craven and stars of the film Heather Langenkamp and John Saxon. Although an exciting prospect, the trio appear to have little to say other than how effective they think the story is. The DVD also includes cast and crew bios (which are interesting on this disc - however returning cast and crew are replicted on the others) as well as the usual scene access etc.
The first - and arguably the best - episode sees Wes Craven's creation Fred Krueger terrorise teens in their dreams. Genuinely scary and suspensful, it differs from its descendents which focussed on a more humourous, visually imaginative bogeyman. However, Craven shows his forte lies in creating surreal images and set pieces, rather than the comedic postmodern horror of Scream. Released at the time when teenage slasher flicks were feeding off of the success of Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm St. should not be remembered along with the formulaic Friday the 13th sequels and exploitative video nasties. A truly original and thoughtfully constructed story (though inevitably flawed in places) ANOES strayed from the escaped lunatic theme that Halloween made standard. Although the acting and script are often a bit shaky, the film is exciting and original and puts to good use the techniques used by a director short on funds and support.
The best DVD of the lot in terms of extras, this includes a commentary from Wes Craven and stars of the film Heather Langenkamp and John Saxon. Although an exciting prospect, the trio appear to have little to say other than how effective they think the story is. The DVD also includes cast and crew bios (which are interesting on this disc - however returning cast and crew are replicted on the others) as well as the usual scene access etc.
The 2nd film proved to be a disappointing sequel, though not without merit. The plot focusses on Freddy's possession of a teen boy, and despite some rather overt homoerotic/phobic (it can't really decide) themes, the film has little else to offer. An interesting opening scene involving a school bus however does show the broadening of the series scope and reliance of imaginative set pieces. Like the film, the DVD has little to offer than biographies of a number of unrecognisable cast and crew members.
Part 3, co-written by Wes Craven is a vast improvement from the last outing. It is the presence of Craven which provide the stylistic consistencies with the first film. By now, the death scenes have become far fetched and contrived enough to the point where ex-heroin addicts are given forced overdoses and sleep walkers are manoevered like marionettes with veins instead of strings. However, the returning presence of Langenkamp as well as soon to be discovered stars Patricia Arquette and Laurence Fishburne, manage to keep it afloat. Freddy still manages to evoke a sense of fear, and the climax evokes the same sense of tension that the first did. Only a small step down from the original. Again, the DVD has little to offer, but a bizarre music video and the usual extras.
Director of part 4 - Renny Harlin - manages to sever the umbilical chord linking the entries from this point on, with all previous. Any sense of horror has vanished, with Freddy now taking star billing and often being portrayed as the protagonist in many scenes. Conventions of horror films such as a creepy, haunting score and darkly lit environments, have been replaced with soft rock tracks and fair-ground style sets. However, not taken as a horror film (a strange frame of mind to take, I know) this entry still proves entertaining on a humourous level. The script also manages to squeeze symbolism into the character of Alice's blank canvas 'painted' with the characteristics of her murdered friends. Again, some music vids on the DVD and little else.
Part 5 is perhaps the 2nd weakest in the set, however still serves as a visually interesting fairytale. As Alice from part 4 now becomes pregnant, Freddy invades the dreames of her unborn foetus. There is little in the sense of horror, with only 3 rather incomprehensible death scenes occurring throughout the film -each one played for laughs. Fans of the series will however enjoy the films exploration of Freddy's birth and his mother's character. This time, you get 2 daft music videos.
For die hard fans, the box set is perfect, as it doesn't look like a complete set, including parts 6 and 7, is coming to the shops any time soon. However, for those who are easily baffled or only searching for a genuine horror film, just seek out the original and the best.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
nikky
Sent out to me that day,got it the next day.brilliant service and DVDs are fantastic classic horror these films beat the remakes any day,I would recommend to any horror lover.
Published 9 months ago by nikky
freddy forever
this is still one of the best horror box sets you can buy highly recommended to all horror fans a must to watch
Published 9 months ago by deb1
Greatest horror series!
This is one of the greats of horror movies there have ever been. With one of the most infamous killers ever. Freddy Kruegar. These films represent his story... Read more
Published on 30 July 2004 by P. Woods
A must for all fans of the Elm Street movies
This is a fantastic DVD collection that features one of the most memorablepop culture icons in horror-Freddy Kruger. Read more
Published on 24 April 2004
Great movie series.
This is a must for everyone's collection. 'The Nightmare On Elm Street' movie series is second only to the 'Hellraiser' series, just as Freddy Krueger is second only to Pinhead as... Read more
Published on 7 Mar 2004 by Russell Tit Davies
Nightmare on Elm street collection
My God, this is just a must!
The first film is a classic that is scary and very good with no overboard on the kills which makes them effective. Read more
Published on 15 Nov 2003 by Oliver Scott
The Best Horror Series Ever !
This Collection is simply great. I really think it's not so bad and sad, that the sixth and seventh movie isn't included. Read more
Published on 21 Nov 2002
THE MINI COLLECTION
This contains 5 movies. I think there are 7 nightmare on elm street movies. In U.S.A there is a box set with 8 discs. Read more
Published on 17 Nov 2002 by V. K. Manglaveras
freddorific
wot can i say, its a nightmare on elm street and freddy kruger a gripping series of wonderful horror movies. Read more
Published on 20 May 2002 by Mr. Craig James
a brilliant collection
The 5 dvd box set is brilliant.the improved Sound works well,even more scary.the Picture is really sharp,you can see more than the old videos. Read more
Published on 20 Mar 2002 by agentsteel38761@aol.com
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