The Top 5 "Nightmare On Elm Street" Sequels

WildCinema Presents

 The Top 5 "Nightmare On Elm Street" Sequels

Generally considered one of the best horror films ever made and making millions at the box office,

it was inevitable that a sequel to A Nightmare On Elm Street would be made. Spawning a total of six sequels, a television series, and a remake, the nightmare franchise has established itself as a titan in the horror genre. But which sequels are worthy of your time? Well fear not, Wild Cinema is here to count down the top five sequels to A Nightmare On Elm Street. Which sequel will reign supreme? Read our list to find out.......

5. A Nightmare On Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989)

Many people may disagree with this entry making the list but to hell with those people. A Nightmare On Elm Street 5 is a dark, Gothic, fun little 80s flick. Sure the premise of using Alice's unborn baby's dreams is a bit far fetched, but so is the concept of having a murderer kill you in your sleep. Ive always enjoyed this one and I'm sure somewhere some fan out there shares my perspective. The visuals are top notch, and it plays as sort of an origin story for Freddy at times. Not the best sequel, but a whole lot better than 2010s remake that's for sure

Buy Nightmare On Elm Street 5 from Amazon here: [DVD]

4. A Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge : (1985)

After the success of the Original, New Line Cinema, wasted no time in continuing the on-screen adventures of everyone's favorite dream stalker, released just a year after its predecessor Part 2 was another huge success for New Line. Part haunted house tale, part body possession story, Nightmare 2 takes a very different turn than that of the original. Infamous for its Homo erotic subtext its is perhaps one of the most interesting movies in the franchise and provides a lot of replay value on that basis alone. Also worthy of noting is how cool Freddy's make up is this time around, its dark, ugly and possibly the scariest hes ever looked on film. This one certainly stands out, if not for all the wrong reasons.  Great viewing either way.

Buy Nightmare On Elm Street 2 here: [DVD] 

3. A Nightmare On Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)

A Nightmare On Elm Street 4 was the highest grossing movie in the franchise until 2003 when Freddy Vs Jason knocked it off its throne. Its easy to see why. Its a lighthearted affair as Kruger is portrayed more as prankster and clown than any actual threat. It has a high camp value, some very creative deaths, most notable being a teenager being transformed very slowly and painfully into a bug and squashed, which is more than likely a nod to Cronnenbergs "The Fly", and a martial arts showdown between Freddy and a Karateka teen, the movie really goes all out in its creativeness. If all the Hi-jinks sound obsurd, thats because they are, but the movie is a blast from start to finish as I'm sure most fans would agree. And i can guarantee you will be quoting "hows this for a wet dream?" to Friends and Family for months after viewing this.

Buy A Nightmare On Elm Street 4 Here : [DVD] 

2. Wes Cravens New Nightmare: (1994)

By the time the 1990s rolled around Freddy Kruger had become a Caricature of his former self. With each new entry into the franchise growing more cartoon-ish as time went by, the series was in dire need of an overhaul. Fans prayers were answered and then some, as Wes Craven was announced to be directing the then titled A Nightmare on Elm Street 7: The Ascension. Wes was no longer content with what Kruger had become and set out to make him darker and scarier than ever. The idea of having this film be "real life" and all previous nightmare movies be just that, - movies, is nothing short of genius and elevates this above and beyond many of the mediocre entries into the franchise. Freddy was finally scary again and ready to terrify a whole new generation. New Nightmare definitely deserves its place at number 2 on our list and is perhaps the most original film since the very first.

Buy Wes Cravens New Nightmare Here : [DVD] 

1. A Nightmare On Elm Street 3 : Dream Warriors (1987)

 

After going in a different direction In ANOES 2 producers decided it was time to tread a more familiar path for the third outing. Featuring the return of Nancy Thompson this is the sequel fans had wanted the first time around, all the familiar elements are there, Freddy once again kills you in your dreams, there are fine performances from a terrific young cast and just enough humor to set Kruger apart from his other silver screen rivals Micheal and Jason. The story centers around a group of teens in a psychiatric ward all being terrorized by our favorite dream stalker, eventually they all learn how to harness  power in their dreams and set out stop Kruger once and for all. I have to hand it to the film makers this is a really well produced film it grips you from start to finish and had the original films been a trilogy, this would have been the perfect ending, a perfect mix of horror and comedy but still scary enough to provide the thrills. A nightmare On Elm Street 3 tops our list and comes highly recommended.  "Welcome to prime time bitch"

Buy A Nightmare On Elm Street 3 Here : [DVD]

Well that's our Top 5 Nightmare On Elm Street Movies over. What are your favorites? Let us know in the comment section below!!

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Halloween Sequels : The Top 5

Halloween Sequels : The Top 5

 With John Carpenters immortal classic Halloween celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, we thought what better way to celebrate than to check out the other, often over looked films in the long running franchise and bring you our definitive list on the top 5 best. Lets get started!

5. H2: Halloween 2 (2009)

Featuring a maskless Micheal Myers and David Lynch-esque visuals, Rob Zombies Halloween 2 is a very different beast from its predecessors. Essentially a story about Laurie Strode's descent into madness after encountering Myers one year prior, the artsy visuals and graphic violence make this entry into the franchise stand out for better or for worse, you decide which.

Buy Halloween 2 at Amazon here : Halloween 2 [DVD]

4. Halloween H20 (1998)

Twenty years after the original Halloween, Jamie Lee Curtis had the idea of getting together the original cast and crew for a new Halloween film. Director John Carpenter was on board until his hefty fee of 10 million dollars to direct was rejected leaving Friday the 13th II and III director Steve Miner to take over directorial duties. Ignoring Halloween's 4 to 6, H20 picks up after the events of 1981's Halloween II introducing us to Laurie Strode who is now the mother of a 17 year old boy John, and a cast of whole new fresh faces ready to be picked off by the boogeyman one by one.

H20 is an effective enough sequel and serves well when viewed back to back with the original two,

my only complaints are the four different mask's used during the production vary greatly in quality and accuracy and also the original musical score was altered and substituted with music from Scream. A bad choice, if you ask me as the music is an important key factor in creating the atmosphere for a Halloween flick. Nonetheless this is a fine sequel and certainly one of the less confusing ones.

Buy Halloween H20 from Amazon here : Halloween H20 [DVD]

3. Halloween 4 (1988) 

After mixed reactions to the Myer-less Halloween III, Moustapha Akkad decided it was time to take the franchise back to its basic elements, that being babysitters, mayhem and the indestructible Micheal Myers himself. With Jamie Lee Curtis not reprising her role as Laurie Strode and John Carpenter yet again not directing, the writers took this one in a new direction. Featuring Danielle Harris as Micheal's niece and Donald Pleasence as Dr Loomis, Moustapha Akkad paid close attention to the elements that went into this one and it shows. Generally considered a fan favorite Halloween 4 is essentially Halloween brought into the eighties decade, featuring more gore, a super strong Myers and terrific atmosphere throughout, its easy to see why this one ranks so high on many fans lists. Danielle Harris is terrific, as is her Jamie Lloyd character, its just a shame how things ended for her in Halloween : The Curse Of Micheal Myers. This one comes highly recommended.

Buy Halloween 4 at Amazon here: Halloween 4 [DVD] 

2. Halloween III: Season of the witch (1982)

Undoubtedly some readers will disagree with this one taking the number two spot on our list, but quite frankly i dont give a damn. Producers John Carpenter and Debra Hill wanted to take Halloween in a different direction after Halloween II and start making stand alone movies set on or related to halloween using the Halloween moniker. This is the first and only movie we got using that concept. Rejected by fans at the time who wanted to see more Myers, Halloween III tells the story of a Halloween mask company and its intent to kill innocent children using Halloween masks. The movie has terrific atmosphere much like the first two installments in the franchise and John Carpenter and Alan Howarth's score is equally as atmospheric. For people not afraid of change Halloween III is a strong sequel and will perhaps one day gain the love it so rightfully deserves.

Buy Halloween III at Amazon here : Halloween III [DVD]

1. Halloween II (1981)

The tagline "More of the night he came home" sums up Halloween II in a nutshell. A direct continuation of the original Halloween, Halloween II picks up immediately after its predecessor with Dr Loomis still hot on Micheal Myers trail and Laurie Strode being transported to Haddonfield Memorial Hospital for treatment on her injuries sustained in the first film. Halloween II is effective at continuing the storyline as well as keeping with the tone and aesthetics of the original. The Hospital setting works in the films favor and it is at times genuinely creepy, dark hallways and sparse staff make Haddonfield Memorial a very effective setting. This film also ups the ante on gore as Friday the 13th had just taken off and a little more of the red stuff was deemed necessary in order to appease audiences growing blood lust. Halloween II is essential viewing for fans of the original as it perfectly recaptures the atmosphere of the original and succesfully continues the story adding new twist and turns to the Halloween Mythos along the way. It also makes for great back to back viewing with the original, so have yourself a double feature this Halloween night!!

Buy Halloween II at Amazon here : Halloween II [DVD] 

There you have it, the Top 5 Halloween sequels. What are your favourite Halloween Sequels? Let us know in the comment section below, and be sure to have a Halloween marathon this fall to celebrate John Carpenters classic turning 35 years old!

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VHS Nostalgia #1 - VHS Hunting

WildCinema Presents

VHS Nostalgia #1 - VHS Hunting

Ahhhhhh!!

 I'm the kind of person who likes to reflect on the past. Quite often i find myself in my own head pondering over days gone by and how quick life seems to pass us by. One fond memory i always seem to come back to time and time again is an era long since past, the era of the VHS. Now don't get me wrong the technological era we live in now is great, id never be without the internet, my Blu Ray player or HDTV now, but part of me still longs for a simpler more exciting time. Maybes its all rose tinted spectacles and nostalgia, but part of me still longs for a time when everything wasn't so readily available, a time when you actually had to leave the comfort of your own home to purchase your favorite movies - i know!! Shocking right? There was nothing quite like the feeling of browsing around an old jumble sale or a video store and not knowing what B movie classic you were going to unearth next. I myself discovered some of my most beloved films that way, i remember it well.

I was ten years old and my mom and aunt had dragged me to a huge jumble sale, i was pretty bummed out having found nothing all day, we only had a little stretch of stalls left, then i saw it,

the coolest thing id ever seen. What id found was the Friday the 13th VHS and me and my cousins had a blast that afternoon watching it. I remember feeling a sense of accomplishment after scouring this huge jumble sale and coming away with a film that turned out to be awesome, and in some ways has changed my life for the better.

I just dont get the same satisfaction with ordering a film off the internet or streaming it on Netflix, there was something about the journey, the smells in the air, the browsing of random VHS artwork in the video store, the hunting through Mom and Pops for rare B movie classics when more often than not, the covers themselves would be more entertaining than the actual film.

Don't get me wrong i also love the instant gratification era we live in, one click and a movie turns up at your doorstep or on your screen from the comfort of your home, but part of me wants to feel that journey one more time, to stare in awe at the wonderful VHS artwork, it truly was a honor to have experienced this magical era.

Who's that ugly guy..oh wait, its me!!

 So guys that the first part of my VHS Nostalgia series of articles over and done with, i hope you had as much fun reading it as i did writing it. Id love to hear from you guys about your VHS memories! Are they good or bad? Do you sometimes miss VHS like me or did you never like it at all? Let me know it the comments section below, id love to hear from you guys. Well goodbye till next time!

                   

Movie Review: Hatchet III (2013)

WildCinema Presents

Movie Review: Hatchet III (2013)

                              

                             
                                 Director: BJ McDonnell

                                 Starring:  Danielle Harris,  Kane Hodder, Zach Galligan

                                 Hatchet III IMDB Page :  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1870419/

      The Lowdown :

What some might consider Straight to DVD schlock-fest we at wild cinema consider highly anticipated sequel. 2010's slasher throwback Hatchet II left us all wanting more. Was Victor Crowley dead? Would Danielle Harris ever show us what we all really want to see...her sweet little naked body? Thankfully Hatchet III answers those questions and more.Literally following on from the last frame of its predecessor Hatchet III wastes no time in spilling the red stuff, in the first 5 minutes horror veteran Danielle Harris is covered head to toe in the blood of Victor Crowley who is dispatched via chainsaw to the groin which then rips him in half - ouch! Our heroine then walks into a police station to confess to killing Crowley and in the process is thrown in jail, stripped naked, and showered down Rambo style. 

The plot is pretty much the same as the previous two movies, a group heads into the swamp only to be dispatched one by one in inventive and often downright comical ways by Hulking maniac Crowley. Can they stop him for good this time? The movie flies by at a breakneck pace and theres rarely a dull moment, featuring lots of inventive gore and humor, long time fans should pretty much know what they're in for.

 Surprisingly however this time around for better or worse there is a distinct lack of nudity. Whats a slasher throwback without a few perfectly perk bussoms? Sigh. Perhaps to make up for the lack of boob there are quite a few familiar faces in this one, Zach Galligan of Gremlins fame plays the sheriff, Caroline Williams of Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 fame plays his estranged wife, we even have Roach from Wes Craven's People Under The Stairs in this, its like a horror fans wet dream - well not quite, but almost.

Hatchet III for the most part is a step up from Part 2 and should satisfy fans blood lust until the inevitable Hatchet IV. You heard it here first kids, Hatchet IV: Marybeth Strikes Back.

Final Verdict:

Slightly darker in tone than its predecessors Hatchet III delivers scares, gore, familiar faces, and a pretty nice side view of Danielle Harris's tooshie. Horror fans should be pretty pleased with this one.

Rating:

Pretty much how horror sequels should be done. 3 stars out of 5 for this.

Hatchet III will be available from all online retailers soon. In the meantime why not catch up with its predecessors in these great deals from amazon.

 Hatchet: Hatchet [DVD]

And Hatchet II: Hatchet 2 [DVD] 

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Tags: hatchet 3, review, danielle, harris , horror, movie, blog, wild cinema, kane hodder, slasher, 2013