A Nightmare on Elm Street 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		0.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

A Nightmare on Elm Street 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

One glove, no love.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III October 10, 2024

Available alongside the wide-release 4K edition, Warner Bros. also offers a 4K Steelbook edition of Wes Craven's iconic horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street just in time for it's 40th birthday. This variant offers nice packaging elements at a comparable price but all on-disc content is the same, and neither edition has a Blu-ray copy of the film.

Ayy, whaddaya gonna do?

I'd imagine that most horror fans should be familiar with A Nightmare on Elm Street's plot and legacy, whether they saw it during its original run, caught it on VHS or TV, or started with one of its many sequels and worked backwards. If not, please see Martin Liebman's review of Warner Bros.' 2010 Blu-ray edition for a synopsis and appreciation.

A Nightmare on Elm Street 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For an overview of this 4K disc's new 2160p/HDR10 transfer, please see my recent review of the standard 4K edition.

A Nightmare on Elm Street 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Likewise, more information about the audio options -- which include both a new Dolby Atmos mix and the "original theatrical audio" (DTS-HD 2.0 MA mono), both with reinstated music and effects missing from most previous home video versions -- please see the above-linked 4K review.

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

This one-disc release ships in matte-finish Steelbook packaging that immediately stands out for its retro aesthetic, mimicking the look of an old VHS "clamshell" package bearing a vintage studio banner and other such design elements, including a more recognizable version of the franchise logo and even a "Horror" sticker. A near-monochromatic image of Freddy's glove -- which yes, is on the wrong hand -- is front and center, and he peeks out from the back cover as well. Faux claw marks are even a part of the design, although a bit of debossing would have gone a long way here. Inside is a threatening splash image of our villain stalking the boiler room. Overall, this is an interesting throwback design that's executed pretty nicely and, in my opinion, easily the more desirable of the two 4K options.

As mentioned before, all on-disc bonus features are identical to the standard 4K edition.

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

Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street began one of the most iconic and enduring horror franchise of its era, with multiple sequels that unsurprisingly ran the gamut from "respectable" to "ridiculous". This 1984 original still holds up 40 years later and stands tall as a minor miracle of low-budget filmmaking... so whether or not you're a die-hard fan or a newcomer curious to see the first film appearances of Freddy Krueger and Johnny Depp, Warner Bros.' long-awaited UHD edition should hit the spot. Featuring a largely satisfying new 4K transfer, an outstanding pair of new and original audio options, and plenty of legacy bonus features, A Nightmare on Elm Street is well worth a purchase whether you opt for the wide-release 4K edition or this comparatively priced Steelbook. Highly Recommended for sure.