Horror Remakes That Got It Right
Do you ever have a moment where you think something will go horribly wrong, but in the end turns out to be pretty good? Granted, I have yet to come up with something that hasn't ended up going horribly wrong for me, but I am sure regular folks out there can relate in some way. So, I deviled back into my horror movie infected brain and it got me thinking about when horror remakes go right and I was actually able to think of a few! Go me! Looks like the meds are kicking in to help with clearer thoughts!
Evil Dead - The original Evil Dead has such a huge following that it nearly made it an impossible movie to remake and get it right. So, when the buzz began that this film was getting run through the remake machine there was a huge outcry. But, when Sam Raimi said he would be involved and Bruce Campbell would be one of the producers there was a glimmer of hope that this could be something good and to a lot of people's surprise (mine included) it really was a great remake film. Taking the basic formula of the original Evil Dead and giving it some changes, but still paying homage to the original classic made the right combination for this film to break the remake curse. I think it also helped that the director Fede Alvarez was a huge Evil Dead fan to begin with so, there was already a built in respect for the film, which I think this is where a lot of remakes fail. (Buy/Watch Evil Dead)
Piranha 3D - I remember watching the original about a million times when I was a kid and really loving it. When I heard they were going to remake it I wasn't to nervous since Piranha I always thought could use an update if done in the right way and thankfully it was. Much in the vein of the original Roger Corman classic this film didn't take itself to serious, which made this remake a fun and all be it naked bloody good time. If you like copious amounts of carnage, boobs (and penis) with great kills that keep coming and coming and an opening scene that pays homage to Jaws then take the bait for Piranha. (Buy Piranha)
My Bloody Valentine - Much like Piranha My Bloody Valentine is a classic horror film that could have used an upgrade. Thankfully much like the Evil Dead remake the gore was turned up several notches, but still paid homage to the original. This remake also went through the 3D treatment, which it did benefit from when it came to having a pick axe thrown at your face. The combination of blood, gore, nudity and Tom Atkins makes My Bloody Valentine a great remake for the holiday season. (Watch/Buy MBV)
The Thing - What can you say about John Carpenter's The Thing that hasn't already been said! I could ramble on about the intensity of the story and the beyond amazing special effects that still haven't been topped. But, it's all been said before so I will leave it at this..... this is one of the best remade horror movies of all time. (Buy The Thing)
Dawn of the Dead - Now I know everyone lost their shit when Zac Synder made zombies run, but at least he kept them zombies unlike Brad Pitt's sad and pitiful attempt at a zombie movie...that wasn't a zombie movie. Even though they weren't Romero zombies, he still paid homage to Romero's classic film with those great elements incorporated into this film. I can look past the speed of a zombie if what you are really showing me is a zombie movie and this was a real zombie movie. (Buy Dawn of the Dead)
Horror Remakes That Got It Right!
