So Many Remakes…
Ok, I think I’ve had about enough. At first I was ok with it… I mean, it was interesting to see how they would re-create something as classic as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, even though I wasn’t a huge fan of the remake. Then they started going through all the early 80′s slashers I hold so dear to my heart. And then Halloween? Ok, wait a second…that’s sacred. But hey, I like Rob Zombie and applauded his take, even though it couldn’t hold a candle to what made the original so good. And then Friday the 13th? It was a fun romp and Derek Mears was a great Jason, but why did it need to be made? And now A Nightmare on Elm Street. Although my interest for that one is piqued as well, I cannot help but ask: when will this madness end?
Let me say this, I don’t necessarily mind remakes, re-envisionings, etc. It’s been done to other classic movies to much success (The Thing, anyone?). I guess part of the reason they put a bad taste is that I’m now old enough to see the films from my childhood being remade. Sheesh, I’m not that old, am I? (since when is 32 old?).
But really, I think it’s due to the lack of creativity on the part of Hollywood. Why can’t they think up something original for once? Where are the new franchise characters to rival Michael, Jason, and Freddy? Where are the interesting new ghost stories and monster flicks? Sure, there have been a few over the past few years (indie films seem to keep originality alive), but mostly we’re stuck watching films based on something that came 20+ years before.
Hopefully it’s just a phase. Maybe in the coming decade we’ll see a shift in what is popular from remakes to more original films. But until then, I guess we’ll see the continual mining of our childhoods for more material.
So what’s your take? Do remakes suck, or do they have a place in horror history? Vote below and then post your thoughts!
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Its hard to say. While some hold so much more potential than they’re permitted to realize, I think that Hollywood is overly dependent on remakes. This may work for newer generations of viewers but to those of us who have seen the originals it quickly becomes too much. The Willies said it best, Hollywood’s got “the urge to regurge!”
There have been some that I enjoyed thoroughly while others were abysmal. What bothers me is that these remakes typically come in two flavors, watered-down and ultra-gory. On one side you have these PG-13 MTV friendly remakes of slasher films that could just as easily be The OC’s Halloween special. Then you have the other side that takes a cult classic and red-washes it, ditching the sex-charged scare factor and cranking the gore factor up to eleven. It’s like film makers have forgotten what made the originals so great—Sex, Suspense, Splashes of Blood.
My favorite remakes so far have been The Amityville Horror, and Halloween—both of which are also my favorite classic series. What I liked about the remakes is that they re-imagined or expanded upon the stories while retaining the essence of the originals. Granted Halloween 2 and 3(D) are a bit overkill.
I actually dig some of the remakes. I have absolutely no problem with Rob Zombie’s take on Halloween or the remake of TCM, etc. I think they are great films in their own right. We have to accept that ” Hollyweird ” is out of ideas and all they can do is remake what worked in the past and try and make it better. In many aspects..these films are actually better than the original. Think about it, take what Rob Zombie added to Michael Myer’s past and film it back in the 70s with Carpenter directing and you would call it original and love it. But someone else does it..and its considered regurgitation. I have no problem with re-imagining….but that should be considered different than an actual…remake. As far as I’m concerned horror doesn’t get enough credit as it is….so by all means flood the studios with horror, new, independent, remake…re-imagining..whatever…bring it on people…IT IS STILL HORROR! AND WE NEED MORE OF IT!
I dont really care. Any horror remake i’ve seen in the past few years has been absolutely terrible, so I avoid them. No harm done.
Most remakes are garbage, and why bother to remake a flick if you’re just going to copy what someone else has done, I’d rather see someone try something new then just do the same thing over. Though some remakes fair well, my favorite being “The Fly” which is an awesome movie.
I can go either way really. I mean, I found The Hills Have Eyes redo to be much better than the original.
And don’t forget, the remakes help a new generation get introduced to the old classics. In some cases, without the remake some people would have never heard of them (this applies to me with Pelham 123, Assault on Precinct 13, and 3:10 to Yuma).
As a HUGE Friday fan, I did enjoy the redo very much. I think a writer on Collider said it best: “Not necessarily a masterpiece, but it had hot, naked women being killed by a hulking mute in a nondescript mask. And, frankly, if you walk into a “Friday the 13th” flick expecting anything other than that…I don’t know what to tell ya.” Without a doubt, better and more creative kills would have been a plus. Maybe Jason in the Snow will help with that.
As far as Rob Zombie goes, I’ve been a fan of his music for ages. I didn’t hate Halloween and have not yet seen H2, but I think he really needs to stick with originals because House of 1000 Corpses and The Devil’s Rejects were received much better (or is it just because he dared tamper with the classic Halloween?)
Hollywood is becoming more and more financially careful about backing new ideas and concepts. They would rather endorse something that is already “tried and true” or at least has a fan base. This falls in line with their “money machine” mentality. It is really challenging to get support for original ideas these days. Everyone seems to be risk adverse.
Given this, I don’t mind some of the remakes. I actually like the TCM remake. The problem I have with some remakes is that they seem to feel they need to backfill the story of how the villain came to be.
This is true of many remakes, but most obvious in Zombie’s Halloween remake. This isn’t even a remake, it really is a re-imagining. Consider this: is it scarier in Carpenter’s original where he leaves out all backstory and makes Michael appear to be the normal kid who could live next door to you with normal folks who one day for some reason just snaps? Or is scarier in Zombie’s version where it is clear that Michael is more a product of nuture coming from an abusive home, etc.. Zombie robbed (no pun intedned) us of the fear that any kid you know could snap in this manner.
Anyway, I could go on about the ones I like and those I abhor for days. Remakes exist across all genres and are nothing new, with the exception of the quantity, to our era. But, if you’re going to remake, or re-imagine, or whatever you want to call it, a “classic” horror film, please find originality in more ways than new special effects and filling the backstory.
hollywood of late is worthless. so many remakes/sequels for the obvious reason of milking the cash cow. pathetic. so many of the awesome must see films that are coming out are indie flicks and then don’t get the distribution they should. which is a shame. to name a few movies i would have gladly seen on the big screen that got baller are as follows: pontypool, i sell the dead and black dynamite. instead we get regurgi-crap. f! hollywood, f! ‘m in their flippin faces!
cheers to indie and
ifc films
movie lover
originality
rando
From what I hear Rob Z is fixing to remake “the blob”, which has already had its share of remakes. What happend to “the creeper” that would have been a new horror icon for this generation, I heard rumors of a new one, but who knows…add me on myspace horror enthusiasts… myspace.com/horror138
i’ve never liked the thought of them remaking classics. It’s such a shame they can’t think of their own awesome horror movies anymore. SUCH a shame!!
I almost had a fit when I found out Rob Zombie was remaking Halloween, my favorite horror movie, a very personal classic to me. However, I enjoy then Rob Zombie vision as mentioned by most and I respect his tribute to the original by adding little things such as dont fear the reaper every time someone gets killed, something I think only dedicated fans of the movie catch, thats a substantial remake to me, a movie remade by someone who obviously cares so much for the original film, as John Carpenter did for The Thing, I mean he has the original The Thing playing in Halloween, so obviously he loved it. My point is this Michael Bay-horror-movie-remake-for-a-quick-buck shit is just wrong. I’ve reached my limit with this new nightmare on elm st. Seriously whats next are they going to remake the remake of Halloween? Its just a way to milk the younger generations for their money because they missed the classics the first time around. It’s pissing me off.
I absolutely loath remakes. I find it very time consuming, along with a waste of film to produce such re-envisoned classics to a new genereation when all they really have to do is just find the original to watch. It’s just the characteristic of being sloth(lazy), why think up something original when we can “plagerise” something legally and get away with it. Yet have thousands of pissed of fans. Ok here is a list of remakes that I can greenlight myself for they are actually better: John Carpenter’s The Thing, The 1980′s remake of The Blob, Hills Have Eyes remake, Dawn of the Dead remake, It’s Alive remake(just recently came out), Omen remake(eh to me it’s 50 – 50), the Last house on the Left remake(better atmosphere, and etc. but it doesn’t compare to the original Wes Craven’s Last house on the Left for in the original there was quite a bit of actual realism
, and the fly remake) . Quite a few, yet trust me out of the whole lot of remakes that would seem like a slim amount. As for the House on Haunted Hill remake from the Vincent Price Original..I’m not really sure. I have both in my horror collection yet I haven’t had time to watch the original..but knowing Vincent Price is in it makes it 100x better. As for the crappy remakes (Zombie’s Halloween(eh 50 – 50), F13(it sucked, but it was fun watching the new improved Jason), A Nightmare on Elm Street(saw the trailer…wow it def is going to suck big time), TCM remake, the recent Stepfather remake(it was pretty descent but it fails to the original). Oh but we’re not done with the line up yet fright fiends. They are planning on remaking one of the best werewolf films in ages(aside from Lon Chaney’s the Wolf Man..which they are remaking, but Anthony Hopkins is in it and it looks awesome), An American Werewolf in London..yeah I know I’m pissed too. But they are trying to remake Attack of the Killer Tomatoes(so hopefully that will be better XD which I’m sure it will be), also they are going to remake Child’s Play(poor chucky) what a waste.
part 2 to submitting message: More line up of remakes coming out: Buffy the vampire Slayer(weird), another Children of the Corn remake(hopefully better than the scy-fy version which on my previous one forgot to put in the crappy remakes), Don’t be afraid of the dark, Don’t look up, omg..it hurts to even say this will be remade and in 3D
…Fright Night (yeah I know, I’m heartbroken too), Hell Night, Oh no..another one hard to say…Hellraiser 
one of my favorite series ( so heartbroken), oh no another jab to the heart…IT (yeah I know…), Monster Squad ( what a pain in the ass), Motel Hell (eh I liked the original, but they can make it better..I think), Mother’s Day, and the real piece to resistance to my heart being broken.. Near Dark ( break my heart somemore you bastards..but it’s on hold so hopefully you guys…hopefully), and they did break it more..Night of the Demons, Phone, Piranha 3D, POLTERGEIST (just kick me right in the balls hollyweird), ROSEMARY’S BABY 
, Scanners 
, SUSPIRIA ( DAMN IT ALL TO HELL!), The Birds, Rob Zombie’s The Blob ( What a pile of shit), The Crazies, EVIL DEAD(THAT’S RIGHT THEY ARE TRYING TO REMAKE EVIL DEAD!!!!!!!!! KILL THEM ALL!!!) I know Evil Dead 2 is really what us horror fans consider the true evil dead beginning, yet they can’t fucking do that to us! On with the list: The Fly!(they are trying to remake, the remake of The Fly), The Gate ( damn it all to hell) , The Orphanage (which isn’t even that old to begin with), The Subsitute( which I believe isn’t that old either), The witches, The Wolfman ( Anthony Hopkins one that is soon coming out), THEY LIVE!!! (WHY!?!?!?!?!?) , and Versus 
. Do you see the damage they are doing, do you!?!?!?! DO YOU!!!!????!!!???? Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh…that’s not even the worse of it…they are trying to remake..THE CROW! THE…CROW…>_<!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just look it up on google, trust me they are trying -_-!
Oh and last thing I believe all you guys should know. They are also trying to do a Resident Evil trilogy in 3D different from the one that was already made. And we aren’t slipping into an original age, we are tracing are steps back and going through a worse era. The 3D era, trust me on this one I have been researching. 85% 90% of horror movies are going to be in 3D!!!! WHAT A PIECE OF SHIT!
Most of them DO suck. For every awesome one like Dawn of the Dead you get at least three to four bad ones like, April Fools Day, The Fog, The Wicker Man and Halloween.
Same goes for Japanese horror remakes, The Ring was outstanding, but what the fuck is the deal with, Pulse, The Grudge, One Missed Call, etc.?
There IS a lack of creativity in Hollywood, but there’s also a lack of visionaries behind the projects. All the best remakes had true visionaries to develop them. They had the idea first and then Hollywood produced it, but most of them today are projects created by Hollywood and they later assign second rate director to complete it.
The other problem is..there’s just too fucking many of them. So far this year we’ve seen ..My Bloody Valentine, F13, The Last House on the Left, Sorority Row, Children of the Corn, It’s Alive and I’m sure I’ve missed a few. That’s absurd.
Can you blame them though? We DO pay money to see them, however we also pay to see new projects like Drag Me to Hell, Zombieland and Paranormal Activity.
So it all comes down to the quick buck, it’s easier to produce something that’s already been done than it is something that’s fresh. I honestly wish these production companies would inspire each other with fresh innovative takes on the genre than inspiring one anthoer with cheap ways to make profits.
I voted Remakes Suck: those who share my opinion, I feel your pain.
Lets face it, Only Tom Savinis Night of the living Dead was the best remake by far….Even though I went to his school and found him to be a total Duschbag. I still praise his Version. Now fast foward to the rest, DAWN OF THE DEAD, TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, HALLOWEEN. My 3 Favorite Horrors of all time, They Suck…These Directors (pretty Much saying, I would of done it like this) No…You just Butchered These classics. Zombies being less animated makes them Scarier, Leatherface never showing his face and yelling when about to take in another victim made him scary, Michael Myers Being an unknown driven force is what made him scary…
Hollywood has too much money to spend in my opinion. And these Studios invest in the stupidest ideas, Wrong Turn is one of the best modern day Horror movie and I hope Fright Rags Does a shirt for this movie. Friday the 13th (2009) Doesn’t Count..
It was Great, But you can’t call it a remake Because
Jason Wasn’t the Killer in the original first one . If Rob Zombie Decides to Do another halloween, Well, Anything after the orignal first and second except H20 (*which is the real #3)sucked anyway…so your just adding Gravy to SH*T. which hence you know the rest.
Even the Resident Evil Movies Sucked and I loved all the Video Games (except the ones that didn’t follow the series) So video game to movies don’t work either.
My advise to all Directors looking to remake Another horror Classic, PLEASE DON’T, They are classics for a reason…They can’t be touched or made again.
One final thought: I read that Someone had a Bright Idea to remake Escape From NEW YORK, Kurt Russell
Actually Stepped in and Had it stopped, You are the Real Hero Kurt Russell a 1,000 praises to you !!!!!!
Hopefully most of these remakes with sink to oblivion and no one will mention them again when looking back in twenty years from now. I will nopt fund them, that’s why whenever I check them out I do so via bootleg copies! I have never seen a remake {with the possible exception of “The Fly”} that was better than the original. And when people start thinking they can remake films that are considered classics, it’s time to avoid them like the plague. The only way studios will stop making them is if they go through a string of big flops. Only then will we be back to normality again.
Ben, the problem is not that there’s a lack of good scripts in Hollywood, but no one is buying them. The problem is at the moment it’s all too easy for studios to say “Let’s remake Halloween, The Amityville Horror, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, etc. Those films have already got a built in fan base, who will go to see them”. Another problem is that many people that bash the remakes will pay to view them. I wish the would realize that they’re adding to the problems by doing that!!!
I agree with the lack of imagination part, it would be nice to discover new charismatic characters instead of the ones we already know and actually love the way they are
BUT to my opinion, when its well done ( because most of the old remakes sucked ) its a good occasion to update the character and go further in the Horror…
What I mean is today the movies go deeper in the Horror visuals and intensity so if you watch again Texas chainsaw massacre Jason Freddy etc… you can feel that for a horror movie, well, its really light… you can see more gruesome and gory scenes in CSI
lol its like to compare the Metal From the 70 and todays Deathcore… lol no seriously… I loved the movies at the time, but I am bored now watching them so if it wasn’t for the cult and Nostalgic part I would not rematch the movies… Sad but true,
The quality of the film is grainy, the fxs are old makeups and effects too visible, the camera possibilities limited and the horror is not that Horrible anymore… Theses Great Characters deserve to be honored by Todays movie quality. So they can Haunt and continue to terrify the new generations of Horror fans and the Fans from the beginning like me who enjoy technical and Fx quality in movies.
The only hard thing is to please the Fans but do an original Movie, find good writers, realization and team to re create all the unexpressed HORROR that these Characters have yet to show…
when i hear the name Anthony Hopkins, i always tought of the movie Meet Joe Black.`;:
sooner or later, anthony hopkins will have a lifetime achievement award. this guy is great”*~