Nightmare Next Door

Released By: Discovery/Gaiam
Released On: 09/06/2011





The Film:

I have to admit, I am a serious sucker for true crime television shows, almost without exception. The exception is that it's got to be done right. Too many times have I been suckered into watching a show promising to explore the mysteries of some intensely deviant criminal activity, only to bear witness to the most horrifically inept re-enactments, courtesy of lousy actors and Amiga-style video effects. With so many of these drama class productions, it becomes very difficult to separate the good from the bad.

Thankfully, with a name like Investigation Discovery (Discovery Channel) behind it, Nightmare Next Door had to be good…right? Of course it is! Pulling together five stories of true-crime drama together, this DVD collection predominantly presents just the facts; though that's not to say that you won't stumble across the occasional piece of contrived video footage with “creepy” effects that emphasize terror and foreboding. Instead, the majority of footage here features interviews with the participants including the victim's family members, law enforcement officials, witnesses, and other essential players, as well as a splattery smattering of crime scene footage and photographs, leaving the shoddy acting and other low-brow recreations to the amateurs.

What separates Nightmare Next Door from the other true crime collections is the theme of murders in small towns with close-knit communities, where the victim is most certainly somebody known to everyone, and the murderer most likely the same. From Robert's Court in Portsmouth, Virginia, to the multiple homicide on Truett Street in McKinney, Texas, all five of the stories deal with a…well, a Nightmare Next Door, and the impact on an otherwise peaceful existence.

The only downside to this collection is that anyone looking for the complete seasons of the show will be disappointed. With only five episodes of the series presented, it is questionable whether or not full season sets can be much further behind. Regardless, if you're looking to get your true crime vibe on, this is a pretty cost-effective way to go.

Video/Audio/Extras:

Discovery and Gaiam bring Nightmare Next Door to DVD in an anamorphic 1.78:1 presentation which is more than acceptable. Despite being shot for television, the black levels and colours are solid, with no compression or other artifacting apparent. The Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtrack is also adequate, as the majority of the sound is dialogue, which is front and centre for the most part. The occasional stinger and other sound effects aren't overwhelming, and the track is free of hiss and other abnormalities.

Each segment runs approximately 42 minutes (for a 1-hour time slot) and has chapters and English subtitles for the hard of hearing.

Aside from that, this disc features no extra features whatsoever.

The Final Word:

For a quick and easy true crime fix with no frills, you can't go wrong with Nightmare Next Door.