A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		0.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Warner Brothers has released the 1987 franchise film 'A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors' to the UHD format. New specifications include 2160p/HDR video and Dolby Atmos audio. At time of writing, this release is exclusive to a franchise UHD boxed set; there is no standalone release. See below for reviews of the new video and audio presentations and a listing of included supplemental materials.

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc.

Warner Brothers' 2160p/HDR UHD release of A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors delivers a very pleasing image that easily bests the old Blu-ray and stands as a fine example of a midrange catalogue title from the 80s done right on the format. Grain is retained in a consistent and light level. It's flattering and captures the essence of the original film elements quite nicely. Details are excellent, plainly superior to the previous Blu-ray. Clarity to faces and clothes are solid for this format, even in slightly lower light; some of the Westin Hills interiors are a great example where even in less than ideal conditions, the UHD format brings out the best of the natural film elements. No matter the place, time, light, or content, the image really shines and delights. Outside of a few really low light shots that look a little flat, I couldn't find much of anything here to complain about.

The HDR color grading is also terrific. The film opens with some impressive white text on black background during the opening title sequence, also including the red and green film title proper, which really leaps off the screen for brilliance and accuracy. This sort of color excellence follows throughout. In good light, the image is fantastic. Colors are alive and lifelike with nary a hue that is less than full and perfectly appealing. Clothes, painted walls, natural exteriors, in good or low light, whatever the case may be, the palette is impressively rich and full. But it's not absolutely perfect. As with the previous film, black levels look a little raised and skin tones look ever so slightly pasty. The former is more the norm, but the latter is often more an exception than the rule.

Again, as with Freddy's Revenge, I couldn't find any print blemishes or encode problems to report. Fans are going to be absolutely delighted with how good this one looks.

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Warner Brothers' new Dolby Atmos soundtrack presentation for A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors is right on the money. Score is full bodied and precisely detailed. It's primarily a product of the front speakers, but the overall stage fill is impressive, especially with the subtly engaging support surround back and Atmos speakers in play. Though these new channels don't carry discrete elements, the additional stage fill, with these speakers carrying just enough of the workload to make a tangible difference, certainly creates a bigger, better sound field that brings every component — music, atmosphere, and action — to newly revealing life. Piercing screams, clanking action details, smashing windows, and all of the other rollicking sound cues scattered throughout the film deliver potent yet balanced and perfectly tuned details that bring all of the rough-and-tumble action to life like never before. Dialogue is clear, centered, and well prioritized, whether whispered conversations, therapy group sessions, or guttural screams. Like the video, this a big upgrade for the film. Fans are going to love it.

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This UHD release A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors contains the same extras that accompanied the original 2011 Blu-ray, minus the Theatrical Trailer. Please click here for coverage of these bonus features:

• Behind the Story
• Dokken Dream Warriors Music Video

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors may not be the best film in the franchise (that honor goes to the original), and it might not even be the best sequel (that honor arguably falls to A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master), but this UHD presentation might just be the best of the franchise, at least in terms of the audio and video presentations. While the supplements are pretty thin, there is no mistaking the excellence of the new 2160p/HDR video and the Dolby Atmos audio. I can't imagine a fan not being thrilled and being transported back to 1987. Recommended!