Top 10 Best Horror Remakes
The horror remake trend was quite big in the first decade of the new millennium that saw pretty much all the greats of the genre being modernized for savvy audiences. Despite a plethora of mediocrities and cinematic atrocities that disrespected the source material, there were a handful that got it either just about right (or more) by incorporating newer and realistic elements, backstories and places emphasizes on strong acting and innovative sequences that brought the material to new heights. Film Mining 101 presents the best horror remakes of all time.
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Best moment: Leatherface appears.
10. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
Director: Marcus Nispel
Starring: Jessica Biel, Jonathan Tucker, Erica Leerhsen, Mike Vogel
Genre: Slasher
When the remake was announced after almost 30 years, fans were reluctant to revisit Leatherface considering his iconic status. While the lens of an unknown director (Marcus Nispel) and an early noughties cast did not inspire any confidence, Nispel secured the original’s cinematographer and provided a technically efficient film with some great visuals (supported by an excellent trailer). Despite the lack of new elements, at least he respected the material and did not rely on cheap scares. The cast gives solid performances and its script effectively places its characters under tremendous psychological violence and states of panic invoking the audience’s sympathy.
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Best moment: The staircase reveal.
9. The Grudge (2004)
Director: Takashi Shimizu
Starring: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jason Behr, KaDee Strickland
Genre: Supernatural horror
During the early noughties, there was a wave of remaking everything from Asia -“Dark Water” (2001), “The Eye” (2002) - due to the unexpected success of “The Ring” (2002). Yet, it was Sam Raimi’s produced remake of “The Grudge” which surpassed the original in any aspect and made it scarier. With the same director behind the camera, Hollywood provided a much needed upgrade and wisely kept the same setting without attempting to Americanized the story and its concepts. Shimizu adds genuine (and new!) scares to this dark story and Gellar keeps the proceedings together in a grounded performance.
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Best moment: Ash fights his hand.
8. Evil Dead 2 (1987)
Director: Sam Raimi
Starring: Bruce Campbell, Sarah Berry, Dan Hicks, Kassie Wesley
Genre: Supernatural black comedy horror
“Evil Dead” was an inventive low-budget horror comedy film that got banned in several countries despite its tongue in cheek humor. The second segment provided a confusing (on purpose) story as a part direct sequel and part remake. This time around Raimi does not hold back, unleashing a masterclass in direction and gory mayhem with incredible camerawork. Despite its gonzo approach, the film would be nothing without one of the best comedic performances in film history. At its center, the underrated Bruce Campbell is elevated to pop culture icon status as the badass Ashley Williams. The sequence where he fights his possessed hand is pure comedic gold, the stuff that few actors dream off doing in their entire careers.
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Best moment: The final transformation. Gross and heartbreaking.
7. The Fly (1986)
Director: David Cronenberg
Starring: Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, John Getz
Genre: Science fiction horror
This remake pretty much destroyed the original with a dramatic and intense focus on its main character’s horrific transformation into a fly. Playing strongly with gross body horror moments that even by today’s standards will make you squirm, David Cronenberg still finds space for a doomed romance and the exploration of a fragile mind. Jeff Goldblum is pitch perfect as the brilliant but eccentric scientist heavily invested in his teleportation experiments and Geena Davis complements his detoriating insanity nicely.
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Best moment: The opening act puts you at the edge of your seat.
6. Dawn of the Dead (2004)
Director: Zach Snyder
Starring: Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Jake Weber, Mekhi Phifer
Genre: Action horror
The directional debut of supremo hack Zack Snyder is probably his best film. Taking Danny Boyle’s running infected and painting them with a zombie brush leads to faster and more dynamic action sequences. Snyder populates the film with stylistic flourishes that do not detract from the horror of the story while the script is not afraid to touch the subject matter of zombie children. The opening ten minutes can be seen as an exquisite short film and the cast is great. While the original’s social commentary is lacking and the film rushes towards the inevitable climax, it makes up for it with raised stakes, spectacular zombie effects (casting amputees as zombies is a stroke of genius), a surprisingly effective dose of dark humor and likeable characters.
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Best moment: Michael Myers attacks from the shadows half way through.
5. Halloween (2007)
Director: Rob Zombie
Starring: Tayler Mane, Malcolm McDowell, Schout Taylor-Compton
Genre: Slasher
With “Halloween”, Rob Zombie carved his way into mainstream horror and made Michael Myers his own. His take included a more realistic approach to violence that saw the incorporation of excellent camerawork, unexpected jump scares and exquisite sound design that emphasized the brutality of making Myers a behemoth during his kills that will certainly cause discomfort. The first half is particularly inspiring with additional psychological layers that further explore Myers’ psych. The cast is pitch perfect (McDowell as Loomis/Douriff as Sheriff Lee Bracket) while the teenagers are not obnoxious individuals ready for the slaughter but feel like real life counterparts. Despite typical Zombie-isms scattered throughout (70’s soundtrack, long hair, hippies), his “Halloween” is a valiant effort that after 15 years has aged like fine wine.
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Best moment: The climax on the river boat.
4. Cape Fear (1991)
Director: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Robert de Niro, Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange
Genre: Psychological thriller
Martin Scorsese’s “Cape Fear” managed to eclipsed the original starring Gregory Peck. Having Robert de Niro as the psychotic rapist terrorizing within the law’s limit the family of the lawyer that defending him allows for more acting flexibility on the legendary actor. De Niro is on full force here with a lean body, crooked teeth, prison tattoos and a Southern accent that becomes more unhinged as the film progresses towards the hellbent climax established the fact that he was robbed from the award that year.
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Best moment: The opening establishes the unique aesthetic tone of the film
3. Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Starring: Gary Oldman, Wynona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins
Genre: Gothic horror
A hugely influential film, Coppola’s “Dracula” is one in a lifetime artistic achievement. While Keanu Reeves and Wynona Ryder seemed to struggle with the more accomplished actors on screen, this take on the most famous vampire of all time, contains incredible designs that feel fresh even after 30 years. Eiko Ishioka’s costumes are a marvel to look at while the production design is flawless. A dominating Gary Oldman undergoes a billion transformations on screen and infuses his count with heartfelt humanity that was lacking from the previous evil incarnations. Done in a magnified operatic scope with heavy gothic touches and a bombastic score, “Dracula” is simply an artistic achievement.
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Best moment: The sand volcano erupts.
2. The Mummy (1999)
Director: Stephen Sommers
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah
Genre: Action fantasy horror
Retrospectively checking the career of Stephen Sommers, you will find that he was never a subtle director. Each film escalated in terms of budget and scale, but it was with “The Mummy” that he reached his cinematic peak. Pitching the Universal monster as a hybrid of Indiana Jones and horror, the emphasis is not on the titular character. Instead he is the catalyst that brings together archaeologists, treasure hunters and thieves. With groundbreaking special effects for both Imhotep and his powers, fantastic sound design, inventive set pieces and brilliant humor, “The Mummy” finds time for likeable characters too (Fraser and Weisz are brilliant) that feels fresh after all these years.
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Best moment: The blood testing scene.
1. The Thing (1982)
Director: John Carpenter
Starring: Kurt Russell, Keith David, A. Wilford Brimley, T. K. Carter
Genre: Science fiction horror
There is nothing to say about John Carpenter’s “The Thing” that countless others have not stated. An exercise in paranoia and incredible body horror (By Rob Bottin) with heavy Lovecraftian influences that destroys all the CGI crap that Hollywood has been producing lately, this small scale story about an alien among a scientific research team in Antarctica, is oozing with dread, atmosphere, and tension. Playing with the ambiguity as to who could be the alien, all characters are distinct and the film favors atmosphere over shocks (which are plenty). Carpenter is making the most with the icy setting while Kurt Russell continues his string of successful performances complemented by the legendary score of doom by Ennio Morricone. A masterpiece and the best horror remake of all time.