- Database
- Fanedit Listings
- FanFix
- Dream Master [raymix], The
Dream Master [raymix], The
Updated
Faneditor Name:
Original Movie Title:
Genre:
Franchise:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1988
Original Running Time:
93
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
77
Time Cut:
17
Time Added:
1
Subtitles Available?
Available in HD?
Additional Links:
Brief Synopsis:
My goal here was, as always, to tighten the editing & remove filler- but I've also put more emphasis on the "Face Your Fears & Believe In Yourself" theme, which heavily alters the ending.
Intention:
This is the fourth film in a project that aims to bring stronger continuity, tighter editing & improved pacing to 6 of the films in the Nightmare on Elm Street movie series.
Other Sources:
Video-
-A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (Warner Bros. Bluray, 2012))
Additional Audio-
-A Nightmare on Elm Street Score (Varèse Sarabande Records Remaster, 2015)
-A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors Score (Varèse Sarabande Records Remaster, 2015)
-A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master Score (Varèse Sarabande Records Remaster, 2015)
-A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child Score (Varèse Sarabande Records Remaster, 2015)
-A Nightmare on Elm Street Remake Score (Sony Classical Records, 2010)
-I Know Better Now by the Ramones (from the album Halfway to Sanity, 1987)
-4th of July by U2 (from the album The Unforgettable Fire, 1987)
-Wake Me Up by Foals (from the album Life is Yours, 2022)
-Sound Effects (freesound.org & youtube.com)
-A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (Warner Bros. Bluray, 2012))
Additional Audio-
-A Nightmare on Elm Street Score (Varèse Sarabande Records Remaster, 2015)
-A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors Score (Varèse Sarabande Records Remaster, 2015)
-A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master Score (Varèse Sarabande Records Remaster, 2015)
-A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child Score (Varèse Sarabande Records Remaster, 2015)
-A Nightmare on Elm Street Remake Score (Sony Classical Records, 2010)
-I Know Better Now by the Ramones (from the album Halfway to Sanity, 1987)
-4th of July by U2 (from the album The Unforgettable Fire, 1987)
-Wake Me Up by Foals (from the album Life is Yours, 2022)
-Sound Effects (freesound.org & youtube.com)
Release Information:
Digital
Editing Details:
I tried to stay true to Michael N. Knue, Jack Tucker & Chuck Weiss' editing style from the original film.
Tough my editing is extensive, I didn't want anything to seem changed or altered at all.
Tough my editing is extensive, I didn't want anything to seem changed or altered at all.
Cuts and Additions:
CHANGES:
PRODUCTION CREDITS-
-added the Fanedit.org logo.
-added my fanedit production logo.
-scored the New Line production logo & director credit with Prologue. (N1)
-new "A Renny Harlin Film" credit.
-recreated the Bible verse in the font used for the rest of the [raymix] text.
TITLE CARD-
-new title logo.
-added sound effects to new title sequence.
-new music during the title sequence. (Bring Me a Dream [raymix] )
-added a white-flash transition from the title sequence into Kristen's dream.
KRISTEN'S DREAM-
-augmented the music during the sidewalk scene with the track Prologue.
-removed all opening credits by cutting, cropping & panning shots.
-swapped shots of the branch resembling Freddy's glove & Kristen reacting.
-added an additional shot of the shadow of the tree branch on the wall.
-augmented the music cue as Kristen wakes up with the track Prologue.
KRISTEN DRIVES TO ALICE & RICK'S HOUSE-
-changed the music coming from Kristen's car stereo. (I Know Better Now by the Ramones)
-Added "Wednesday, August 23rd 1989" text to the shot panning to Kristen in her car.
-replaced all sound effects during Kristen's drive. (engine, bumps in the road, traffic)
-added key jingling sounds after Kristen stops her car.
-added key jingling sounds as Kristen gets out of her car.
AT ALICE & RICK'S HOUSE-
-cut Alice's dad asking "You going out dressed like that?"
AT SCHOOL-
-shortened a shot of Alice.
-cut Alice imagining herself talking to Dan.
-added a music cue as Alice stares at Dan. (Alice at the Mirror)
-switched two shots of Dan.
-cut Rick waving his hand in Alice's face.
-Rick's "Earth to Alice..." is heard over a shot of Dan.
-smoothed an audio edit when cutting from the school parking lot to the hallways.
-cut Rick saying "No one died."
-cut the shot the slashed & glowing lockers.
AT HOME-
-cut Alice imagining herself standing up to her dad.
KINKAID'S DEMISE-
-removed Kinkaid's dog from his dream.
-moved a shot so Kinkaid reacts to the fire faster.
-removed Freddy's dialog after he's resurrected.
-Kinkaid only yells "Freddy's Back!" once.
-re-scored Kinkaid's death with the track Freddy's Back.
KRISTEN IN HER ROOM-
-replaced the music Kristen's listening to in her room with 4th of July by U2.
-replaced all sound effects during Kristen's room scene. (wind chime, can, drawer, match)
RICK TEACHES ALICE HOW TO KICK-
-added a sting after Alice says she doesn't want to see herself in the mirror.
-cut Rick demonstrating how to kick a second time.
-cut Alice's first attempt at kicking.
-cut Rick saying "killed a fish."
AT SCHOOL-
-cut Kristen & Alice's conversation about the Dream Master rhyme.
KRISTEN'S NURSE DREAM-
-added the sound of Freddy's knives as he reveals himself.
-cut Freddy saying "I wanna draw some blood."
-added rumble as Freddy holds the needle toward Kristen.
AT THE DINER-
-cut Kristen & Sheila's conversation.
AT THE ELM STREET HOUSE-
-Dan's "Why the haunted house?" is heard over the establishing shot of the house.
-shortened the shot of everybody getting out of the car.
-cut Kristen's "It's his home. He's waiting in there for me to dream."
-cut Alice remembering & reciting part of the Dream Master rhyme.
KRISTEN AT HOME, DRUGGED & DREAMING-
-cut Kristen's mom being so rude to her at dinner.
-cut Kristen repeating "Dream some place fun" as she falls asleep.
-the camera zooms in closer on Kristen's eyes as she falls asleep to avoid seeing her speaking.
-augmented the music as Kristen falls asleep with the track Drugged to Death.
-cut the 'Kristen on the beach' dream scene.
-cut Freddy revealing his "Chest of Souls" to Alice.
-when Kristen throws her power to Alice, it doesn't go through Freddy's body.
ALICE AT HOME-
-cut Alice finding a picture on her mirror of Freddy holding Kristen.
-cut Rick walking in on Alice watching home videos & asking "What are you doing?"
-cut Alice starting to light a cigarette & realizing she doesn't smoke.
SHEILA'S DEMISE-
-cut the robot hand coming out of Shelia's test paper.
ALICE AT HOME-
-longer shot of Alice looking into the mirror after removing Shelia's picture.
-added a sting as Alice sees herself in the mirror.
RICK'S DEMISE-
-changed the color timing when Freddy attacks Rick so the lighting turns red.
-augmented the music during Rick's fight with Freddy with the track Kinkaid in the Junkyard.
-cut the windows exploding in the classroom after Rick is killed.
-slight slo-mo as Alice screams.
-added an echo to Alice's scream.
-added rumble as Alice screams.
-added a cue from the track Lockers.
-added a white-out transition from Alice in class to Rick's funeral.
RICK'S FUNERAL-
-cut Alice imagining taking to Rick during his funeral.
-cut Debbie saying "I don't workout everyday to get killed by some night stalker."
-cut Alice telling Debbie "You just don't get it" ect.
-cut Alice saying "This is it. Mind. Over. Matter."
-cut Debbie & Dan's conversation after Alice leaves the funeral.
ALICE AT HOME-
-added a music cue as Alice removes Ricks photos from the mirror. (Alice at the Mirror)
-added a sting as we see Alice through the mirror.
-extended the shot of Alice through the mirror.
-cut Alice using Rick's nunchucks.
DEBBIE IN THE GARAGE-
-cut Debbie working out. (she should already be asleep)
ALICE'S DINER DREAM-
-extended a shot of Alice watching the waitress.
-cut the conversation with Old Alice.
-cut the 'Pizza of Souls'.
DEBBIE'S DEMISE-
-cut Alice being in a repeating dream.
-Debbie's workout/cockroach dream plays through uninterrupted by Alice's dream.
CAR CRASH-
-cut Alice saying "I've collected her. Like the others."
-cut Alice driving into Freddy. (she's not asleep)
-added a car horn sound for the oncoming car.
-shortened the shot panning down from the tree to the truck.
-cut Alice telling Dan "I'm sorry."
-the paramedic's "alright, get him in there" begins over a shot of Alice.
-shortened the shot of the paramedics loading Dan into the ambulance.
AT THE HOSPITAL-
-cut two shots of Dan being pushed through the halls on a stretcher.
-augmented the music as Alice leaves & Dan gets anesthesia with the track Sleep Clinic.
ALICE GEARS UP-
-cut & shuffled many shots during the gearing up scene.
-replaced the music with the track Basement Chase.
-replaced all sound effects.(pictures, knot tie, slap, drawer, bracelet snap)
-the shot of Alice facing herself in the mirror is longer.
-cut Alice saying "Fuckin' A."
-added a sting as we go from Alice at the mirror into Dan's dream.
DAN DREAMING-
-added a sting as we go from Dan's dream to Alice at her mirror.
-cut Alice saying "You son of a bitch" as she jumps through the mirror.
-added a sting as Alice goes through the mirror.
-new music continues into Dan's dream up until Alice finds him.
-cut Alice watching calmly as Dan disappears from the dream.
-reversed a shot of Dan on the operating table.
FINAL SHOWDOWN-
-cut Alice making a kung-fu movie sound after she knocks Freddy down.
-added rumble when Freddy grabs Alice from behind.
-cut the children appearing & reciting the final verse of the Dream Master rhyme.
-re-scored Freddy taunting Alice with the tracks Freddy Reflection & Bring Me a Dream.
-added Alice saying "You son of a bitch" as she hits Freddy with his reflection.
-replaced sound effects during the reflection. (shining, Alice yelling, Freddy screaming)
-cut some shots as the souls tear Freddy apart, making it faster & more intense.
-cut Alice watching the souls fly away.
-added a fade-to-white as Alice leaves the chapel.
AT THE FOUNTAIN-
-added rumble when Alice sees Freddy's reflection in the water.
-new music ends the scene & begins the credits. (Wake Me Up by Foals)
-cut the cast credits over the shot of fountain.
END CREDITS-
-added the title card before the credits roll.
-new music over the end credits. (Wake Me Up by Foals & Time Circles)
-added the cast credits.
-added credits for the added songs.
POST-CREDITS-
-added a shot of slashed & glowing lockers to post-credits.
-added the "Freddy's Coming for You" rhyme to the shot of the lockers.
-added my production logo to the end.
-added a cue from the track Prologue. (N1)
PRODUCTION CREDITS-
-added the Fanedit.org logo.
-added my fanedit production logo.
-scored the New Line production logo & director credit with Prologue. (N1)
-new "A Renny Harlin Film" credit.
-recreated the Bible verse in the font used for the rest of the [raymix] text.
TITLE CARD-
-new title logo.
-added sound effects to new title sequence.
-new music during the title sequence. (Bring Me a Dream [raymix] )
-added a white-flash transition from the title sequence into Kristen's dream.
KRISTEN'S DREAM-
-augmented the music during the sidewalk scene with the track Prologue.
-removed all opening credits by cutting, cropping & panning shots.
-swapped shots of the branch resembling Freddy's glove & Kristen reacting.
-added an additional shot of the shadow of the tree branch on the wall.
-augmented the music cue as Kristen wakes up with the track Prologue.
KRISTEN DRIVES TO ALICE & RICK'S HOUSE-
-changed the music coming from Kristen's car stereo. (I Know Better Now by the Ramones)
-Added "Wednesday, August 23rd 1989" text to the shot panning to Kristen in her car.
-replaced all sound effects during Kristen's drive. (engine, bumps in the road, traffic)
-added key jingling sounds after Kristen stops her car.
-added key jingling sounds as Kristen gets out of her car.
AT ALICE & RICK'S HOUSE-
-cut Alice's dad asking "You going out dressed like that?"
AT SCHOOL-
-shortened a shot of Alice.
-cut Alice imagining herself talking to Dan.
-added a music cue as Alice stares at Dan. (Alice at the Mirror)
-switched two shots of Dan.
-cut Rick waving his hand in Alice's face.
-Rick's "Earth to Alice..." is heard over a shot of Dan.
-smoothed an audio edit when cutting from the school parking lot to the hallways.
-cut Rick saying "No one died."
-cut the shot the slashed & glowing lockers.
AT HOME-
-cut Alice imagining herself standing up to her dad.
KINKAID'S DEMISE-
-removed Kinkaid's dog from his dream.
-moved a shot so Kinkaid reacts to the fire faster.
-removed Freddy's dialog after he's resurrected.
-Kinkaid only yells "Freddy's Back!" once.
-re-scored Kinkaid's death with the track Freddy's Back.
KRISTEN IN HER ROOM-
-replaced the music Kristen's listening to in her room with 4th of July by U2.
-replaced all sound effects during Kristen's room scene. (wind chime, can, drawer, match)
RICK TEACHES ALICE HOW TO KICK-
-added a sting after Alice says she doesn't want to see herself in the mirror.
-cut Rick demonstrating how to kick a second time.
-cut Alice's first attempt at kicking.
-cut Rick saying "killed a fish."
AT SCHOOL-
-cut Kristen & Alice's conversation about the Dream Master rhyme.
KRISTEN'S NURSE DREAM-
-added the sound of Freddy's knives as he reveals himself.
-cut Freddy saying "I wanna draw some blood."
-added rumble as Freddy holds the needle toward Kristen.
AT THE DINER-
-cut Kristen & Sheila's conversation.
AT THE ELM STREET HOUSE-
-Dan's "Why the haunted house?" is heard over the establishing shot of the house.
-shortened the shot of everybody getting out of the car.
-cut Kristen's "It's his home. He's waiting in there for me to dream."
-cut Alice remembering & reciting part of the Dream Master rhyme.
KRISTEN AT HOME, DRUGGED & DREAMING-
-cut Kristen's mom being so rude to her at dinner.
-cut Kristen repeating "Dream some place fun" as she falls asleep.
-the camera zooms in closer on Kristen's eyes as she falls asleep to avoid seeing her speaking.
-augmented the music as Kristen falls asleep with the track Drugged to Death.
-cut the 'Kristen on the beach' dream scene.
-cut Freddy revealing his "Chest of Souls" to Alice.
-when Kristen throws her power to Alice, it doesn't go through Freddy's body.
ALICE AT HOME-
-cut Alice finding a picture on her mirror of Freddy holding Kristen.
-cut Rick walking in on Alice watching home videos & asking "What are you doing?"
-cut Alice starting to light a cigarette & realizing she doesn't smoke.
SHEILA'S DEMISE-
-cut the robot hand coming out of Shelia's test paper.
ALICE AT HOME-
-longer shot of Alice looking into the mirror after removing Shelia's picture.
-added a sting as Alice sees herself in the mirror.
RICK'S DEMISE-
-changed the color timing when Freddy attacks Rick so the lighting turns red.
-augmented the music during Rick's fight with Freddy with the track Kinkaid in the Junkyard.
-cut the windows exploding in the classroom after Rick is killed.
-slight slo-mo as Alice screams.
-added an echo to Alice's scream.
-added rumble as Alice screams.
-added a cue from the track Lockers.
-added a white-out transition from Alice in class to Rick's funeral.
RICK'S FUNERAL-
-cut Alice imagining taking to Rick during his funeral.
-cut Debbie saying "I don't workout everyday to get killed by some night stalker."
-cut Alice telling Debbie "You just don't get it" ect.
-cut Alice saying "This is it. Mind. Over. Matter."
-cut Debbie & Dan's conversation after Alice leaves the funeral.
ALICE AT HOME-
-added a music cue as Alice removes Ricks photos from the mirror. (Alice at the Mirror)
-added a sting as we see Alice through the mirror.
-extended the shot of Alice through the mirror.
-cut Alice using Rick's nunchucks.
DEBBIE IN THE GARAGE-
-cut Debbie working out. (she should already be asleep)
ALICE'S DINER DREAM-
-extended a shot of Alice watching the waitress.
-cut the conversation with Old Alice.
-cut the 'Pizza of Souls'.
DEBBIE'S DEMISE-
-cut Alice being in a repeating dream.
-Debbie's workout/cockroach dream plays through uninterrupted by Alice's dream.
CAR CRASH-
-cut Alice saying "I've collected her. Like the others."
-cut Alice driving into Freddy. (she's not asleep)
-added a car horn sound for the oncoming car.
-shortened the shot panning down from the tree to the truck.
-cut Alice telling Dan "I'm sorry."
-the paramedic's "alright, get him in there" begins over a shot of Alice.
-shortened the shot of the paramedics loading Dan into the ambulance.
AT THE HOSPITAL-
-cut two shots of Dan being pushed through the halls on a stretcher.
-augmented the music as Alice leaves & Dan gets anesthesia with the track Sleep Clinic.
ALICE GEARS UP-
-cut & shuffled many shots during the gearing up scene.
-replaced the music with the track Basement Chase.
-replaced all sound effects.(pictures, knot tie, slap, drawer, bracelet snap)
-the shot of Alice facing herself in the mirror is longer.
-cut Alice saying "Fuckin' A."
-added a sting as we go from Alice at the mirror into Dan's dream.
DAN DREAMING-
-added a sting as we go from Dan's dream to Alice at her mirror.
-cut Alice saying "You son of a bitch" as she jumps through the mirror.
-added a sting as Alice goes through the mirror.
-new music continues into Dan's dream up until Alice finds him.
-cut Alice watching calmly as Dan disappears from the dream.
-reversed a shot of Dan on the operating table.
FINAL SHOWDOWN-
-cut Alice making a kung-fu movie sound after she knocks Freddy down.
-added rumble when Freddy grabs Alice from behind.
-cut the children appearing & reciting the final verse of the Dream Master rhyme.
-re-scored Freddy taunting Alice with the tracks Freddy Reflection & Bring Me a Dream.
-added Alice saying "You son of a bitch" as she hits Freddy with his reflection.
-replaced sound effects during the reflection. (shining, Alice yelling, Freddy screaming)
-cut some shots as the souls tear Freddy apart, making it faster & more intense.
-cut Alice watching the souls fly away.
-added a fade-to-white as Alice leaves the chapel.
AT THE FOUNTAIN-
-added rumble when Alice sees Freddy's reflection in the water.
-new music ends the scene & begins the credits. (Wake Me Up by Foals)
-cut the cast credits over the shot of fountain.
END CREDITS-
-added the title card before the credits roll.
-new music over the end credits. (Wake Me Up by Foals & Time Circles)
-added the cast credits.
-added credits for the added songs.
POST-CREDITS-
-added a shot of slashed & glowing lockers to post-credits.
-added the "Freddy's Coming for You" rhyme to the shot of the lockers.
-added my production logo to the end.
-added a cue from the track Prologue. (N1)
User reviews
2 reviews
Overall rating
9.1
Audio/Video Quality
9.5(2)
Audio Editing
9.5(2)
Visual Editing
9.5(2)
Narrative
9.0(2)
Enjoyment
8.0(2)
Overall rating
9.6
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
10.0
Enjoyment
8.0
I'll keep these reviews brief as I'm reviewing Ray Danger's Nightmare on Elm Street series as a whole.
These edits are love letters to the original series, working to bring more cohesion across numerous avenues. Visual quality is dark, clean, and consistent. All changes to the score are period and mood appropriate. Narratively, this edit specifically offers an experience that tightens the original theatrical cut of Dream Master, but I was never overly fond of that film in any case. Losing Patricia Arquette, unceremoniously killing off the final Elm Street Children, and the less compelling cast brought on to replace them all fail to engage in the same way as the three previous films. I found no flaw to RayDanger's technical edit, but I can not rave on the film itself with as much gusto.
These edits are love letters to the original series, working to bring more cohesion across numerous avenues. Visual quality is dark, clean, and consistent. All changes to the score are period and mood appropriate. Narratively, this edit specifically offers an experience that tightens the original theatrical cut of Dream Master, but I was never overly fond of that film in any case. Losing Patricia Arquette, unceremoniously killing off the final Elm Street Children, and the less compelling cast brought on to replace them all fail to engage in the same way as the three previous films. I found no flaw to RayDanger's technical edit, but I can not rave on the film itself with as much gusto.
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
B
(Updated: January 16, 2023)
Overall rating
8.6
Audio/Video Quality
9.0
Audio Editing
9.0
Visual Editing
9.0
Narrative
8.0
Enjoyment
8.0
Ray Danger has made a very admirable effort to fix up what is typically considered to be a pretty mediocre sequel. The use of quick cuts and music changes is largely effective and makes for an enjoyable watch.
QUALITY
While not on par with the blu-ray, the visual and audio quality is nonetheless very high across the board. There was a single shot right at the start that seemed unusually low res, but it is brief. I assumed it was due to cropping out the opening credits.
I'm a big advocator for subtitles and I also would have preferred to have had the surround track included, but I understand that this was a very personal edit and that Ray has a strong preference for the original stereo.
VISUAL
Ray has attempted to bring more consistency across the franchise by creating his own newly branded title cards for each entry. What I saw here is arguably a bit too slick and digital considering the age of the film, but it is nonetheless well executed and cleanly presented.
There were a few things I picked up when watching:
- I wasn't a fan of the font used for the Job verse quote. Gives off a bit of a word processor/powerpoint vibe.
- 2:36 - is there an event pan here? The camera seems to randomly dart across the image. It looks like a digital glitch rather than a shaky cam.
- The on-screen date is brief, small and at the bottom of the screen. I didn't feel like I had time to notice it and read it, so would personally have made it a bit larger and more central. I'm nitpicking though.
- 11:57 - The dad's dialogue appears to be out of sync here. It's possible this is in the original, but I don't remember noticing it. It is also pretty subtle as the character is in the background and not in focus.
- 12:13 - the sound of the dart impact comes before the dart hits the board
- The karate dream sequence is effective with the newly applied red colour toning. The added slo-mo and whiteout when Alice wakes up is a nice touch, but feels a tad rushed. If the whiteout went on for a little longer before transitioning to the next scene I think that would flow a little better
- 1:02:43 - this shot seems to be held on for an unnatural amount of time. It also seems to be static, but occasionally twitches with a subtle frame blend. Was this slowed right down and then looped?
AUDIO
Rescoring and foley replacement generally comes across very well, especially considering the stereo track was the source, but there were some moments that took me out of the edit:
- from 1:40 there is a jarring clash of two different parts of the score
- 56:59 - sounds like a jump in the audio
- 1:02:22 - there is a noticeable jump in the score
- 1:08:33 - Alice says something as she holds the mirror up but it is obscured and cut off. A bit odd
- 1:11:51 - the music seems to come in at a reasonable volume, but the last line of dialogue is barely audible as a result. It might work better for it to kick in after the line.
NARRATIVE
The film is significantly better paced than the original and I have a suspicion that Ray may have made more cuts than is indicated on the cutlist. Mainly in terms of little trims here and there to shots, which I think was very effective (or if I'm imagining things, maybe the other general cuts just had a great impact than I expected). The intent was to bring more focus to the theme of identity and I think this was nicely achieved. I do feel that there are some unnecessary scenes of exposition at the start, but I also know that trimming this down further would put the film in danger of no longer being feature-length! Overall, this is an improvement on the original. A few more thoughts below:
- I understand the reasoning between cutting the time loop dream sequence, and therefore needing to get rid of Freddy in the road, however, the crash now seems a bit out of the blue. If there was a shot of some oncoming traffic then it might sell it better.
- I appreciate Ray's feelings around the deus ex machina at the end, but without it Freddy's defeat has no explanation at all. Throughout the film, the mirror seems to symbolise Mary's own battle with confidence and identity, so why would we have any reason to believe that showing Krueger his own face would defeat him? At a push I could maybe believe that showing the mirror gives something back to the captured souls and so they choose to fight back? But there isn't a lot for the audience to go off of. While we have seen the souls on Freddy's body in the previous film, the cutting of a similar scene at the beginning of this film and also the soul pizza basically means we have no foreshadowing for them consuming him at the end. Keeping the original context of Freddy's defeat would have been preferable IMO. A bad explanation is better than no explanation.
- The credits display info for the songs used in the film, but these don't reflect Ray's new music choices. It would be nice if these could be updated to reflect the editor's changes
- Adding Freddy's locker claw mark to the end of the credits is a nice touch :)
ENJOYMENT
Subjectively, there are still some moments that I would have cut. Odd lines, mainly. The biggest is probably the Krueger nurse scene, which isn't particularly effective nor does it add anything vital to the narrative. I would put it on par with soul meatballs and the beach scene as being a step too far into silly territory.
Ultimately, there is only so much you can do with the material you have to work with; but thanks to Ray, the film now comes across a lot tighter, and several scenes that previously felt awkward now flow in a more natural way. Scenes like Freddy's death are considerably more effective. The music changes are all made in good taste, being old enough to not feel out of place but also give a less cheesy vibe that gives the impression of a film that's aged a lot better. The final Foals track is a modern inclusion but still feels in keeping with the general sonic vibe.
Nice work, Ray :) Thanks for sharing.
QUALITY
While not on par with the blu-ray, the visual and audio quality is nonetheless very high across the board. There was a single shot right at the start that seemed unusually low res, but it is brief. I assumed it was due to cropping out the opening credits.
I'm a big advocator for subtitles and I also would have preferred to have had the surround track included, but I understand that this was a very personal edit and that Ray has a strong preference for the original stereo.
VISUAL
Ray has attempted to bring more consistency across the franchise by creating his own newly branded title cards for each entry. What I saw here is arguably a bit too slick and digital considering the age of the film, but it is nonetheless well executed and cleanly presented.
There were a few things I picked up when watching:
- I wasn't a fan of the font used for the Job verse quote. Gives off a bit of a word processor/powerpoint vibe.
- 2:36 - is there an event pan here? The camera seems to randomly dart across the image. It looks like a digital glitch rather than a shaky cam.
- The on-screen date is brief, small and at the bottom of the screen. I didn't feel like I had time to notice it and read it, so would personally have made it a bit larger and more central. I'm nitpicking though.
- 11:57 - The dad's dialogue appears to be out of sync here. It's possible this is in the original, but I don't remember noticing it. It is also pretty subtle as the character is in the background and not in focus.
- 12:13 - the sound of the dart impact comes before the dart hits the board
- The karate dream sequence is effective with the newly applied red colour toning. The added slo-mo and whiteout when Alice wakes up is a nice touch, but feels a tad rushed. If the whiteout went on for a little longer before transitioning to the next scene I think that would flow a little better
- 1:02:43 - this shot seems to be held on for an unnatural amount of time. It also seems to be static, but occasionally twitches with a subtle frame blend. Was this slowed right down and then looped?
AUDIO
Rescoring and foley replacement generally comes across very well, especially considering the stereo track was the source, but there were some moments that took me out of the edit:
- from 1:40 there is a jarring clash of two different parts of the score
- 56:59 - sounds like a jump in the audio
- 1:02:22 - there is a noticeable jump in the score
- 1:08:33 - Alice says something as she holds the mirror up but it is obscured and cut off. A bit odd
- 1:11:51 - the music seems to come in at a reasonable volume, but the last line of dialogue is barely audible as a result. It might work better for it to kick in after the line.
NARRATIVE
The film is significantly better paced than the original and I have a suspicion that Ray may have made more cuts than is indicated on the cutlist. Mainly in terms of little trims here and there to shots, which I think was very effective (or if I'm imagining things, maybe the other general cuts just had a great impact than I expected). The intent was to bring more focus to the theme of identity and I think this was nicely achieved. I do feel that there are some unnecessary scenes of exposition at the start, but I also know that trimming this down further would put the film in danger of no longer being feature-length! Overall, this is an improvement on the original. A few more thoughts below:
- I understand the reasoning between cutting the time loop dream sequence, and therefore needing to get rid of Freddy in the road, however, the crash now seems a bit out of the blue. If there was a shot of some oncoming traffic then it might sell it better.
- I appreciate Ray's feelings around the deus ex machina at the end, but without it Freddy's defeat has no explanation at all. Throughout the film, the mirror seems to symbolise Mary's own battle with confidence and identity, so why would we have any reason to believe that showing Krueger his own face would defeat him? At a push I could maybe believe that showing the mirror gives something back to the captured souls and so they choose to fight back? But there isn't a lot for the audience to go off of. While we have seen the souls on Freddy's body in the previous film, the cutting of a similar scene at the beginning of this film and also the soul pizza basically means we have no foreshadowing for them consuming him at the end. Keeping the original context of Freddy's defeat would have been preferable IMO. A bad explanation is better than no explanation.
- The credits display info for the songs used in the film, but these don't reflect Ray's new music choices. It would be nice if these could be updated to reflect the editor's changes
- Adding Freddy's locker claw mark to the end of the credits is a nice touch :)
ENJOYMENT
Subjectively, there are still some moments that I would have cut. Odd lines, mainly. The biggest is probably the Krueger nurse scene, which isn't particularly effective nor does it add anything vital to the narrative. I would put it on par with soul meatballs and the beach scene as being a step too far into silly territory.
Ultimately, there is only so much you can do with the material you have to work with; but thanks to Ray, the film now comes across a lot tighter, and several scenes that previously felt awkward now flow in a more natural way. Scenes like Freddy's death are considerably more effective. The music changes are all made in good taste, being old enough to not feel out of place but also give a less cheesy vibe that gives the impression of a film that's aged a lot better. The final Foals track is a modern inclusion but still feels in keeping with the general sonic vibe.
Nice work, Ray :) Thanks for sharing.
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
T