 [Larger view] | A Nightmare on Elm Street 3 - Dream Warriors
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| A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (Four Stars) | |
| This review refers to the edition found in New Line Cinema's "The Nightmare on Elm Street Collection" boxed set.
THE WHO'S WHO: Starring Heather Langenkamp, Patricia Arquette, Larry Fishburne, Priscilla Pointer, Craig Wasson, Brooke Bundy, Bradley Gregg, Rodney Eastman, Ira Heiden, Nan Martin, Jennifer Rubin, Ken Sagoes, Penelope Sudrow, John Saxon, Dick Cavett, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Robert Englund. Krueger Makeup and Effects By Kevin Yagher. Story Co-Written, Screenplay Co-Written and Co-Executive Produced By Wes Craven. Score Composed By Angelo Badalamenti. Line Produced By Rachel Talalay. Screenplay Co-Written By Frank Darabont. Produced By Robert Shaye. Screenplay Co-Written and Directed By Chuck Russell. (R) For Violence, Mild Gore, Profanity, Drug Content, Brief Nudity and Very Mild Sexual Content; 96m.; 1987. WHAT'S GOING ON IN HERE?: "Nightmare" creator Wes Craven returned for this third Freddy feature and brought with him an intelligent, enjoyable story. Springwood teenagers are now being institutionalized because of their bad dreams, yet the scientists meant to protect them are only doing them more harm by not realizing the cause of their problem. But when new assistant Nancy Thompson (Heather Langenkamp, another returnee from the original film) enters their lives, she begins to help them make sense of their monster. In turn, each of the teenagers uncovers their own unique "dream power" to aid in combating Freddy. Taryn (Jennifer Rubin) is a recovering junkie who becomes a beautiful and bad switchblade punk. Will (Ira Heiden) is a soft-spoken paraplegic who becomes the Wizard Master. Kincaid (Ken Sagoes) is a loud-mouthed, hot-tempered teen who becomes a super strong bastion for the group. Joey (Rodney Eastman) is a sweet mute who uncovers a hidden vocal talent. Kristen Parker (Patricia Arquette) is the innocent newcomer to the group who displays extraordinary acrobatic skills and also possesses the ability to bring other people into her dreams. Together, alongside scientist Neil Gordon (Craig Wasson) they try to end the killing spree of the maniacal Freddy Krueger once and for all. They are also aided in their efforts by the mysterious Sister Mary Helena (Nan Martin) who helps push Neil in the right direction to save his suffering patients and Nancy's father Donald (John Saxon, demoted from police lieutenant to some form of local security guard) who sheds some light on Krueger's mortal past. This was also the film that introduced dream suppressant Hypnocil...remember that name, as seventeen years later it would be used again in the "Freddy vs. Jason" spin-off. This was also the first film to establish the fact that the souls of Freddy's victims gave him more power in his quest to invade teenagers' nightmares. Director Chuck Russell keeps the suspense at a decorous pace for this film while new score composer Angelo Badalamenti brings new depth to the musical background. Unlike Christopher Young ("Nightmare 2"), Badalamenti remained faithful to his source material and even included touches of Charles Bernstein's haunting original score in this presentation. Death scenes have become more over the top than they were in previous "Nightmare" entries and the cast itself has become a more cohesive unit. Only Patricia Arquette seems unsure of her acting abilities, coming off as awkward and stiff when she interacts with her fellow cast mates. Robert Englund, on the other hand, has grown in his portrayal of Freddy Krueger. Unlike "Nightmare 2" where he basically sleepwalked through his performance, he sinks his teeth into the role and thoroughly enjoys himself. Trivia buffs take note of two occurrences in this film. First, the priest (Jack Shea) who presides over the funeral in this film is the same one who did the honors for Tina Gray's funeral in the original "Nightmare". Secondly, the streak of white hair on Nancy's head has miraculously moved. When she received the silver streak in the first movie, it was on the left side of her head. In this film, it has magically transported itself over to the right side of her head. Overall, this is a winning horror film that delivers the chills, thrills and spectacle terror fans crave. THEY SAY THEY'RE SPECIAL BUT...: There is a 1.85:1 widescreen presentation of this film which is relatively clean and free of grain. The appearance is properly dark and subdued and there's more precision and lucidity than there was in "Nightmare 2". Even the stop motion skeleton looks less fraudulent than it did on any existing video print of the film. The 5.1 surround sound is also a drastic step up from its predecessor. Back are the freak out, fairly multi-directional effects and intense resonance of the first entry in the series, although back speakers are not utilized to their fullest extent until the finale of the film. This disc also includes the original mono audio track for the film and easy to read English subtitles which are placed within the frame of the film. This disc arrives in another paper case from New Line and it features a miniaturized version of the original theatrical poster on its cover. The rest of the case is devoid of any artwork, however the inside spotlights the list of special features and the thirty-one chapter stops that make up this hour and a half long movie. The DVD itself has been painted with a photograph of Freddy Krueger extending his razor-gloved hand in the hallway where the "wheelchair from hell" sequence would take place. Special features on this disc include the now obligatory "Jump to a Nightmare" option. The extensive cast and crew information section was taken from the original theatrical press kit for the movie and is a remarkable improvement over the section featured on the "Nightmare 2" DVD. DVD-ROM users also have access to an interactive screenplay for the film, the third "Dream World" trivia game and up-to-the-minute weblinks. THE YOLK'S ON YOU: New Line Cinema has packed their boxed set so well that they don't need to place hidden easter eggs on the separate discs. You're more likely to find a way out of the locked "quiet room" than you are of finding easter eggs on this one. THE LEWD AND NUDE ALERT: Joey (Rodney Eastman) is seduced by sexy nurse Marcie (Stacey Alden) who bares her breasts and wears a pair of slinky white thong panties. That's the only moment of sexuality in the entire production. THE GORE REPORT: Early on in the film, Freddy turns luckless Phillip (Bradley Gregg) into a bloody walking puppet using Phillip's own tendons as marionette strings. Later, Kristen Parker's mother Elaine (Brooke Bundy) has her head chopped off by Freddy in one of Kristen's dream sequences. SAY AGAIN: "In the name of Lowrek, Prince of Elves, demon begone!" - Will (Ira Heiden). "Sorry, kid. I don't believe in fairy tales." - Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund). THE FINAL SAY: Yes, I recommend buying this DVD. Even without being a part of the "Nightmare on Elm Street Collection" boxed set, this is still an essential entry into horror history. After the failure of the first sequel, this is a refreshing reversion back to the psychological terror and revisionist humor that made the original film so popular. PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM: "Dream Warrior" Performed By Dokken. "Into the Fire" Performed By Dokken. Soundtrack Available on Varese Sarabande Compact Discs and Records. | |
 The Best Nightmare Sequel | |
| This sequel is the best in so many ways, great special effects, very good, creative storyline, and interesting characters. The film is much better than the disappointing first sequel, Freddy's Revenge. Although the dark, terrifying Freddy from the first two gone, he makes up for it with very creative deaths, and one-liners before every kill. Also this film is quite fast paced and has stop motion photography; Freddy does not stop all is this one. This film has many cool, yet horrific scenes in it, including the claymation Freddy scene. The deaths in this film are so cool, and very creative. The scene where this girl is watching television, and gets her head eventually smashed into to the tv by Freddy, is an very terrifying, and well as creative death scene in the movie. Also the scene where Phillips is turn into a puppet using strings made out of his blood and arteries, was the best death scene in the movie.
This film is different from the first two Elm Street in the fact, that it is not a personal story, but rather about several different teens, with different personalites and characteristics, who are all being tormented in their dream by the infamous Freddy Kreuger, all of the teens are helpless against the demonic dream stalker, until the heroine and main character of the first NOES film Nancy Thompson comes by to visit. Nancy Thompson is now a dream researcher, as come to help the struggling teens, who are threatened by Mr. Kreuger in their dreams. She tells the teens to be Dream Warriors, and fight back against Krueger or ingage in dream combat. Although the teens do fight back, they don't work as team, and are slaughtered one by one by Freddy Krueger, in very evil and imaginative ways. The teens learn they all have different powers in the dream world, and they use it to fight Krueger. Although the film does have incredible special effects, and awesome death sequences, the film was made with still quite a small budget ,only an estimated 4 million dollars. Even Nancy Thompson herself is killed in this film, by Freddy pretending to be her father. This film is an 80's classic, and definitely the best sequel of the nightmare films, it has most of the darkness and eerieness of the first film, and comical elements that made the sequels after it after it great, including the one-liners, and the imaginative dream death sequences. This film racked almost or nearly close to 50 million dollars, and is the most successful elm street sequel. Freddy gained permanent cinema icon status after this film, and gained millions of new fans around the world. Buy this film on DVD or VHS if you like, it's definitely the best elm street film, and it has quite a bit more special features than other two Elm Street films. The picture of this film was excellent, and actually really that grainy, and you have a choice between Dolby 3.1 or Surround Sound, and one thing makes this film so much more excellent, is that finally get to learn a lot more about Freddy's origins, like the fact he was the Bastard son of hundred maniacs, and that his mother got accidently raped in an asylum and so much more. Dream Warriors revived the Nightmare after the somewhat pathetic Freddy's Revenge. This film is spectacular on DVD, and is definitely must a see, go buy or rent this film now, or DVD or VHS, it's an 80's classic, and the best Freddy film ever, you will enjoy it. | |
| Fantastic sequel, kicks Freddy's Revenge's butt | |
| Dream Warriors has all the elements of a horror film and an action/comedy in one handy little package. Not to mention the return of Nancy and her father. The special effects improve over the first two films, with some of the best stop-motion this side of Ray Harryhausen. Death scenes are also an improvement, with probably the most famous Freddy one-liner ever: "Welcome to prime time, b*tch!"
The digital transfer is quite good, with a solid 5.1 track. But things really start to heat up when we reach the Dream Master. A great sequel in a good DVD. 4 stars for the movie and DVD. |
