When putting together a list of iconic horror movies (and iconic movies in general) Wes Craven’s 1984’s A Nightmare on Elm Street has to go on that list doesn’t it?  If i were making the list then it would definitely go on. It’s a film I saw on its VHS release in the mid 80s as I was too young to see it at the movies. I did however see Part 3 (Dream Warriors) and Part 4 (The Dream Master) at the movies when they arrived on the big screen and so its safe to say that I am most definitely a fan not just of Wes Craven’s original film, but also the franchise in general (I even saw and owned the VHS tapes of the TV show Freddy’s Nightmares) Growing up in the 80s (I was born in 1971) was an amazing time to be a film fan and I was lucky enough to see so many films on their release that are still talked about to this day with such love and affection. Of course it does make me feel old when I think about the fact that A Nightmare on Elm Street is celebrating its 40th anniversary. 

The iconic film which pretty much built New Line Cinema (and helped launch the career of Johnny Depp) is headed back to the big screen in select cinemas from 25 October with a great new 4K restoration and is also available digitally in 4K Ultra HD. The film was also released on 4K UHD Blu-ray Disc on October 14 filled with lovely extra features. Its also worth noting that the 4K UHD remaster of A Nightmare on Elm Street includes both the 1984 theatrical version of the film and an uncut version of the film that includes 8 seconds of additional unrated footage. At the bottom of this article is a video I shot of that 4K bluray talking through some of the features. 

What extra features do we get on the disc? Well lets check out the list and it looks like a great list.  We get:

Ready Freddy Focus Points. This is an option where you can see alternate takes and learn filmmaking secrets behind the nightmare by jumping to video highlights while watching the movie.

Audio Commentary with Wes Craven, Robert Englund, Heather Langenkamp, Ronnie Blakely, Robert Shaye, and Sara Risher.

Audio Commentary with Wes Craven, Heather Langenkamp, John Saxon, and Jacques Haitkin.

Alternate endings

The House that Freddy Built: The Legacy of New Line Horror. This is a 22 minute documentary from 2006 which goes into the history of the film and New Line Cinema. I haven’t seen this for years and am very much looking forward to revisiting.

Never Sleep Again: A Nightmare on Elm Street. The full version of Never Sleep Again is an amazing 4 hour documentary out there about Elm Street and all its sequels (and the TV show too) What we get on this disc though (and its still great) is the segment of that documentary which focuses on the first Elm Street film. 

Night Terrors: The Origins of Wes Craven’s Nightmares is a 16 minute featurette from 2006 which features some of those involved with the Freddy universe and whilst its short, its still a great little doc and well worth checking out.

I don’t know how many times I’ve seen A Nightmare on Elm Street over the years. I do know that I rented the film a bunch of times from the local video store, owned the sell through VHS edition, upgraded to a box set of the Elm Street films on VHS, then upgraded again on DVD. Now its time to get the ultimate version of the film on a 4K bluray. I’ve easily seen the film 20 or 30 times over the years and it never tires.  I am very excited to revisit one of the classic modern horror films ever! A Nightmare on Elm Street. 

Are there horror film fans out there who haven’t seen A Nightmare on Elm Street? That is a good question. Id hazard a guess at the answer being ‘no’ but just in case there are some of you who haven’t seen the film. You have to see this film! Its not only part of modern horror history, its not only made by one of the Masters of Horror Mr Wes Craven (Scream, The Hills Have Eyes, The Last House On The Left), but its also one of the best horror films out there and its so much fun as well as being terrifying in places! Try it. Experience A Nightmare on Elm Street.

Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Castilian Spanish, German, Italian, Latin Spanish, Parisian French

Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, German SDH, Italian SDH, Castilian Spanish, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Latin Spanish, Norwegian, Parisian French, Swedish                 

Theatrical and Uncut Version Run Time: 91 minutes

Digital Street Date: September 31, 2024

Physical Street Date: October 14, 2024