Horror has to be the most ‘re-imagined’ genre of the lot, and predictably there are some hits and several more misses. Here are five that manage to live up to their source material.
(I’ve omitted the inarguably excellent likes of The Thing and The Fly because they're remakes of '50s films, and as such are too drastically different to legitimately be compared.)
1. The Last House on the Left
The original (1972)
The debut of terrormeister Wes Craven, Last House was an amateurish, stark, brutal revenge flick whose raw horror stayed with you long after. Great tagline too: ‘Keep telling yourself: “It’s only a movie, it’s only a movie…”’
The remake (2009)
Nails its forbearer’s gruelling sense of impending dread to a tee. Garret Dillahunt goes straight from dopey deputy in No Country For Old Men to one of the most effective amoral sickos in recent memory. Does lose points for omitting the tasteful scene where one of the girls is forced to wet herself at gunpoint.
2. The Hills Have Eyes
The original (1977)
Second out of the traps from Craven was this classic of the middle class terrorised by savages sub-genre. Mutant rape and cannibalism-motivated baby-snatching are par of the course.
The remake (2006)
Sticks very close to the original but loses none of its power, delivering one of the goriest horrors of the decade. Adds its own warped third act for good measure as we are introduced to a radiation-borne freak town that might not be as abandoned as it first seems…
3. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
The original (1974)
Truth be told, I’ve never really been that fussed by Tobe Hooper’s original. Despite being suitably bleak and ominous and making equally good use of its sparse landscape and cramped interiors, it really should have delivered better on its title's promise.
The remake (2003)
The first product from big bang buccaneer Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes horror remake factory holds its own as a severely intense celluloid experience. Jessica Biel running around in a vest top helps, as does utilising R. Lee Ermey’ Full Metal Jacket persona to better effect than the Toy Story franchise ever managed.
4. Dawn of the Dead
The original (1978)
Another classic I never really warmed to: good, but not great. Over-long, tonally all over the place… although it did feature one of the best horror lines ever: ‘When there’s no room left in hell, the dead will walk the earth.’
The remake (2004)
The best example on this list. Takes the potential of its predecessor and gives it a millennial lick of paint, keeping the scenario but adding more characters (fronted by a great cast, including Ving Rhames, Sarah Polley and Jake Weber), a faster pace and a lot more bloody violence. In fact, it's my favourite zombie movie of them all.
5. The Amityville Horror
The original (1979)
James Brolin’s beard, the original Lois Lane and a lot of hi-jinks in a haunted house movie that revitalised a sub-genre that was starting to smell of dry rot.
The remake (2005)
Ryan Reynolds’ abs, new millennium scream queen Melissa George (30 Days of Night, Triangle) and another less than homely dwelling in the woods that sees him go loopy and her give the old lungs a good workout. An indirect apology for the woeful House on Haunted Hill and The Haunting remakes.
Good picks! The only thing I disliked in all of these was that ridiculous microwave scene in Last House remake >_<
ReplyDeleteAgreed!
ReplyDeleteThe original Dawn of the Dead I like better because of the 70's setting -- I was a teen then and I just like the characters better than the remake. I have seen both.
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