I'll get right down to it. I LOVE Special Features on a DVD/Blu-Ray released film. Some releases come PACKED with them, some will come with NOTHING when there should be loads of them (The "Dexter" season sets, for example). Or some will be released with one or two features, then be released in a "Ultimate Edition" ("Sin City, and the original "Dawn Of The Dead" fit this bill). Now...when you have a iconic horror franchise in "A Nightmare On Elm Street", that has see countless DVD releases, and a couple Blu-Ray releases with no features at all. A box set of all seven films was released, with a bonus disc, that contained a game where you unlock..well...not so good features. Thousands of ANOES fans felt, like I did, ripped off. We wanted to see commentaries, behind the scenes footage, and whatever other features could have been done to represent this series. Luckily, someone heard us. That someone was Heather Langenkamp (Nancy Thompson from Nightmares 1, 3, and New Nightmare), so she paired up with 1428 pictures to make a documematry where it would be a make up for all the lacking Special Features on the films. This result is called "Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy", and it's a amazing two disc set.
Disc one is over a whopping FOUR hours, and devotes a insane amount of time to each film, along with the "Freddy's Nightmares" TV Show, and of course "Freddy Vs Jason". Langenkamp narrarates the entire documentary herself, as well as provides her insights, stories, and secrets. But she's not alone. Where some documentaries go the route of historians, and fans, we hear it from the people who were involved first hand. Wes Craven. Robert Englund. Amanda Wyss, John Saxon, Lisa Wilcox, Alice Cooper, and many more including all directors of the films, the entire group of Elm Street Kids, or Victims (whatever you wanna call them) Special effects people, Bob Shaye, Lin Shaye, and the other New Line Cinema higher ups. Also..tons of unseen photos, storyboards, make up tests, behind the scenes stuff, effects tricks, deleted footage, and so much more. Plus you get the dish on a lot of secrets. Who was originally cast to play Freddy Kruger? Who was originally cast as Glen? How many times was part 5 cut to get a "R" Rating? What three "Elm Street Kids" went on to become co stars on a sitco? What "Unknown" actors that are famous today got their start on episodes of "Freddy's Nightmares?" all those and more are answered.
Disc 2 contains a additional FOUR plus hours with tons of good stuff. Extended/Deleted interviews from the first disc, A segment with "The Angry Video Game Nerd" reviewing the ANOES video game on the NES (I had that game), A "Horror's Hallowed Ground" segment with Horrorhound write Sean Clark revisting places where the original was shot (With some special guests), Freddy's impact in comics and novels, A visit with a collector of Freddy memorabilia, who may have a item that dissappeared from the set of Part 2 (You will see the story on the intro to this segment), a first look at Heather Langekamp's documentary "I Am Nancy", and my personal favorite "Nightmare In 10 minutes", along with plenty more goodies.
"Never Sleep Again" is complete perfection. A well covered look into all things Elm Street. A must own for any fan of the franchise, or for just someome that wants a deeper look into it. You will have to watch it more than once to make sure you caught everything. I can't say anything more, except...GET THIS! Unfortunatly, it's only available through Amazon (http://www.amazon.com) or at the official site of the doc (http://www.elmstreetlegacy.com). It will run you about $25, but it will be worth it. Welcome To Prime Time, Bitch! ('laughs like Freddy)
