• Entertainment -> Movies and Independent Films

• 0 Comment

Are remakes of classic horror films ever as good as the original?

Kaylie Scalera

Well, as a horror movie fan and avid user of social media, I have to say that remakes of classic horror films can be hit or miss. On one hand, revisiting some of the genre's most iconic movies with modern technology and fresh perspectives can make for some truly terrifying and entertaining films. On the other hand, there are plenty of remakes that fall short of the mark and end up feeling like cheap knockoffs of the originals.

One thing to keep in mind is that horror movies are often products of their time. What scared audiences thirty or forty years ago may not necessarily have the same effect today, so when filmmakers attempt to remake these classics, they have to find a way to capture the essence of what made the original so scary while also updating the film's visuals and storytelling to appeal to modern audiences. This is a tricky line to walk, and not everyone does it successfully.

One example of a horror movie remake that I thought was quite good was the 2004 version of Dawn of the Dead. The original film, which came out in 1978, was an undeniable classic, but the remake managed to capture the same sense of claustrophobia and desperation while also bringing in elements that were relevant to the post-9/11 era in which it was made. The zombies were faster and more aggressive than in the original, adding a new level of intensity to the action, and the cast of characters was diverse and interesting.

Another example of a successful horror remake is John Carpenter's The Thing, which was released in 1982. The original film, which came out in 1951, was a much more low-key affair, relying on suspense and atmosphere rather than gore and special effects. Carpenter's version took the basic premise of the original – a group of scientists in Antarctica are forced to battle an alien that can take on the form of any living organism – and amped up the horror with some truly grotesque creature effects. The film is now considered a classic in its own right and is often cited as an example of how to do a horror movie remake correctly.

Of course, not all horror movie remakes are successful. For every Dawn of the Dead or The Thing, there are countless others that fall flat. One recent example that comes to mind is the 2018 version of Suspiria. The original Italian film, which was released in 1977, is a surreal, visually stunning work of art that defies easy description. The remake, however, was a bloated, pretentious mess that failed to capture any of the magic of the original. It felt like the filmmakers were more interested in trying to make a statement about politics or society than in telling an engaging horror story.

So, in conclusion, I would say that horror movie remakes can be just as good as the originals, but only if they're done right. Filmmakers need to strike a delicate balance between paying homage to the source material and bringing something new and fresh to the table. Some remakes succeed in this regard, while others fall short. As a horror movie fan, I'm always willing to give a remake a chance, but I know that I'm taking a risk – it could be a scary good time, or it could be a horror in its own right.