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| Roadshow (Australia). Region 4, PAL. 1.85:1 (16:9 enhanced). English DD 5.1, English DD 2.0. English Subtitles. 82 minutes |
| The Movie |
| Cover Art |
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| Credits |
Director: Jack Sholder
Starring: Mark Patton,
Kim Myers, Robert Englund, Robert Rusler Clu Gulager,
Hope Lange, Marshall Bell
Screenplay: David Chaskin
Country: USA |
The one thing that defines horror in the eighties
is sequels. The very second more than five people
saw a film, the production company would jump on
the property and punch out a by-the-numbers sequel
to keep the money flowing. Freddy was one of those
characters that were easily marketable as he not
only had a definitive look, his personality and
sense of sarcasm was both amusing and terrifying.
This killer was more fearful that the other members
of the big three (which includes Jason Vorhees and
Michael Myers), as he seemed not so much a force
of nature, but someone who enjoys his work as well.
When the marketers at New Line realized they were
on a winner they jumped on Freddy's back and
rode him all the way to the winning post.
Freddy's Revenge tells the story of Jesse
Walsh (Mark Patton), who since moving into a particular
house on Elm Street has had a few more nightmares
than what he used to, and after his new potential
girlfriend Lisa (Kim Myers) finds the diary of
the girl who used to live there, Nancy, things
start to change for him. His dreams become more
intense, and he is tortured in them by a strange
man, who has knives for fingers, wears a dirty
red and green jumper and a fedora hat, and has
horrible, horrible burnt skin. The man's
name is Freddy (Robert Englund), and he wants
Jesse's body, so he can continue his terrible
murderous work…
Continuing the tale of Freddy Krueger and the
children of Elm Street, Freddy's Revenge
always seemed to suffer from something that made
it probably one of the lesser parts of this series.
Coming before any real Lore had been created for
the character, Freddy's Revenge seems to
not quite have any real footing, his powers seem
vague at best and he seems more like a demon needing
a body to possess rather than any real threat.
Freddy's Revenge is one of the few slasher
flicks with a male protagonist, which is both
refreshing and unusual. Also for some reason this
part of the series has always stood out as being
the one that has dated the most, probably because
of the atrocious eighties fashions that adorn
the screen, and the dreadful eighties soundtrack
that completely abandoned Charles Bernstein's
original film score. Special mention also goes
to Clu galager (Return of the Living Dead),
Hope Lang (Death Wish) and Marshall
Bell (Total Recall), three actors
who are really great to watch no matter what they
are in. |
| Video |
| The 1.85:1 transfer is excellent, clear throughout
the entire movie. |
| Audio |
| A Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack that sounds great
and there is also a option of having Dolby Stereo
2.0. |
| Extra Features |
| This disc has a couple of extras, even though
the case only claims an original trailer (1 minute
20 seconds), which is here, but there are also
a few documentary vignettes, featuring director
Jack Sholder, Freddy himself Robert Englund, Wes
Craven and Rachael Talalay, amongst others:
Heroes and Villains (6 minutes 25 seconds) is
about how the monster of Freddy evolved into the
'hero' Freddy. It discusses how a
Hollywood movie monster goes from being the antagonist
to the idol of fans.
The Male Witch ( 2 minute 45 second) is about
Special Make up artist Kevin Yagher's take
of Freddy's visage.
Freddy on 8th Street ( 5 minutes 30 seconds )
discusses the marketing of Freddy and how New
Line were not necessarily hip with Freddy's
popularity, until they started seeing the amount
of fans of the character. This is really a sister
piece to 'Heroes and Villains".
Psycho Sexual Circus (3 minutes 26 seconds) discusses
how the classic horror female lead was exchanged
for a semi-homosexually under toned male lead. |
| The Verdict |
Probably the worst of the Freddy movies, Nightmare
on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge still stands head and shoulders above a lot of crappy
eighties slasher flicks.
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