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- DVD: Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy
- Rating: Unrated
- Starring: Heather Langenkamp, Wes Craven, Robert Shaye, John Saxon
- Written By: Thommy Hutson
- Directed By: Daniel Farrands, Andrew Kasch
- Distributor: CAV Distribution
- Original Year of Release: 2010
- Extras: See Below
- Series:
Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy DVD Review
Settle in for an Entire Evening with Freddy Krueger By
Tim Janson
May 18, 2010
Never Sleep Again the Elm Street Legacy
© CAV Distribution
Never Sleep Again is an extensive, exhaustive, and epic documentary on the Nightmare on Elm Street film series. A documentary epic? Yes! Coming in at just under four hours, its more than enough to sate the thirst of any Freddy Krueger fan. Hosted by Elm Street star Heather Langenkamp, Never Sleep Again features interviews with every one of the Directors and nearly every cast member from the series, with a few notable exceptions.
The documentary begins with creator Wes Craven and New Line Cinema founder and former head Bob Shaye discussing the evolution of the first film. Charlie Sheen was originally considered for the role that went to Johnny Depp and David Warner was the original choice to play Freddy…How bizarre would that have been! It’s well documented throughout the four hours at just how much Craven and Shaye were at odds with each other. Craven particularly did not want the shock ending that Shaye insisted upon. This would begin a feud between the two that would last for years.
Much of the discussion of Nightmare on Elm Street part 2 centers on the homoerotic subtext of the film and especially of lead character Jesse Walsh. Most of the cast and crew claim they had no idea about the allusions the film was sending. One note of interest, again in the casting, is that both Brad Pitt and Christian Slater were considered for the role of Jesse.
The segment on Nightmare Part 3 includes interviews with all of the actors who played the kids in the hospital (except for Patricia Arquette). Most of the budget went towards special effects and included one of the series most memorable kills as a TV sprouts arms and slams one of the patient’s heads through the television screen. But we also learn that Nightmare 3 was a very tense shoot and behind schedule the entire way. A big tip of the hat for the producers for including an interview with metal band Dokken who provided one of the most memorable film songs of the 1980s with “Dream Warriors”.
The film goes on to cover every succeeding film in the series including Craven’s return for Wes Craven’s New Nightmare, after patching things up with Shaye, Freddy Vs. Jason. And even the short-lived Freddy’s Nightmares TV series. While there’s unfortunately no Johnny Depp or Patricia Arquette, the rest of the cast, including John Saxon, all look back fondly on their roles. For New Line, the series was a cash cow and put them on the map. The interviews are all conducted individually which gives them a personal feel. Most of these actors have not gone on to become major stars…some haven’t even acted since their Nightmare on Elm Street days and so they are not the least bit pretentious in their recollections.
Never Sleep Again is an incredible, masterful documentary. There’s some great stories of near set disasters such as the giant Freddy torso built that fell over, spilling crew members, and of the explosion in Freddy Vs. Jason that was too close for comfort to actress Monica Keena. It’s an all Freddy, all the time extravaganza and one of the best documentaries in a long time.
DVD Extras
Now, if four hours on Elm Street wasn’t enough for you then pop in the bonus disc for another four hours of extras. The Extended Interviews provide another 100 minutes of interviews on the series including the new 2010 remake. Almost unanimously, all of those interviewed about the remake are unhappy about it. Frankly it comes off as a bit of sour grapes since Craven and Shaye had no say on the project but Nightmare is no more a classic than Halloween or Friday the 13th and both of those have been remade…for better or worse. The segment on Freddy Vs. Jason is one of the best in the extended interviews because you get to hear some of the story pitches from other writers who wrote drafts for the film and they are really quite fascinating. It’s also interesting to note that the film almost didn’t happen because Jason X did so poorly at the box office.
Other extras include segments on the creation of Freddy’s infamous glove; Nightmare on Elm Street in novels and comic books; the poster art of the films; a look at Freddy Fans known as “Fred Heads”; and a return to the original Nightmare on Elm Street home. And look hard enough and you will find an Easter Egg.
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Sounds interesting.