Remakes are nothing new in the world of Hollywood. In fact, the trend has grown immensely in the late 2000’s; however, another trend regarding remakes is that these remakes tend to suck badly. This list will actually provide 15 strong remakes that greatly stand alongside the original film. (Spoilers: Do not read the list if you haven’t checked out these films yet).
15) I Am Legend
Robert Neville (Will Smith), a brilliant scientist, is a survivor of a man-made plague that transforms humans into bloodthirsty mutants. He wanders alone through New York City, calling out for other possible survivors, and works on finding a cure for the plague using his immune blood. Neville knows he is badly outnumbered and the odds are against him, and all the while, the infected wait for him to make a mistake that will deliver Neville into their hands. (Synopsis credit: rotten tomatoes)
Arguably the most divisive film on the list. In reality, "I Am Legend" is another form of a zombie film that never reaches the heights set by "28 Days Later" or "Dawn of the Dead", but “Legend” is certainly better than "Omega Man" and "The Last Man on Earth"; The film is a good watch and while it never truly capitalizes on deviating from the source material, the 2007 movie does an excellent job with character development and provides several intense moments.
Will Smith does a strong job at portraying Robert Neville, and you feel his sadness and pain as he's living his life as the last man on earth. "Omega Man" leaned more towards the action, but "I Am Legend" skewed more towards drama. If you're expecting a typical shoot and kill zombie film then you'll surely be disappointed. The original ending misses the mark of the book; however, you can understand why Francis Lawrence was forced to change the climax due to the bad reaction to the alternate ending, which lies more in spirit with the overall message.
14) The Last House On The Left
Mari and her friend look forward to a holiday at the remote Collingwood lakehouse, but instead, an escaped convict (Garret Dillahunt) and his crew kidnap them and later leave them for dead. Mari makes her way back home, where her parents, John (Tony Goldwyn) and Emma (Monica Potter), have unwittingly offered shelter to the thugs. When John and Emma find out what happened to their daughter, they decide to make the strangers rue the day they harmed Mari. (Synopsis credit: rotten tomatoes)
One of the most controversial films ever made back in 1972. Still, the original had a strong message about violence and the effects it can have on both the victims and aggressors. Unfortunately, the remake seems to relish in the violence without the subtle meaning behind the actions of the Krug gang and Mari’s family. However, “The Last House on The Left'' is still a solid film that features strong performances, especially from Sara Paxton. An intense and often disturbing film that doesn’t hold back on the brutality, “The Last House on the Left” may not pack the same punch as the original film, but it's still a damn good time for horror fans.
13) Fright Night
Charley (Anton Yelchin) is a high-school senior who's in with the "in" crowd and dating Amy (Imogen Poots), the most sought-after gal on campus. But trouble enters his world in the form of Jerry Dandridge (Colin Farrell), a charismatic new neighbor. After witnessing some unusual activity next door, Charley concludes that Jerry is a vampire. Of course, no one believes him. After seeking advice from illusionist Peter Vincent (David Tennant), Charley sets out to destroy Jerry himself. (Synopsis credit: rotten tomatoes)
A fun and more realistic take on the original. The 1985 classic had more of a supernatural vibe such as the vampires being able to shapeshift and control the mist; however, the 2011 version isn't hampered over those missing elements. "Fright Night" starts fast, but never forgets to develop its characters.
The decision to make Jerry an unsympathetic antagonist does make him more dangerous; however, stripping the sympathetic layers from his character does make him a two-dimensional being. Other than that minor hiccup, "Fright Night" is a solid entry anchored by the performances from its talented cast.
12) Child’s Play
After moving to a new city, young Andy Barclay receives a special present from his mother -- a seemingly innocent Buddi doll that becomes his best friend. When the doll suddenly takes on a life of its own, Andy unites with other neighborhood children to stop the sinister toy from wreaking bloody havoc. (Credit synopsis: rotten tomatoes)
While the Child’s Play franchise has never reached the levels of “Halloween” or “A Nightmare on Elm Street'' in terms of classic movies, the villain will always go down as one of the most iconic horror movie bad guys in history. The look, the voice (thanks to Brad Dourif), and overall character of Chuckie was a sinful joy to watch on screen.
The 2019 reboot did a solid job of reintroducing the iconic character and took some interesting new directions that sometimes benefitted the movie. In the remake, Chuckie was no longer a possessed criminal inside a doll, which does strip the fun out of Chuckie’s personality. However, it's fascinating to watch the new Chuckie evolve into his killer role and the film does have some effective scares and really fun kills.
11) My Bloody Valentine
Ten years ago, an inexperienced coal miner named Tom Hanniger (Jensen Ackles) caused an accident that killed five men and put a sixth, Harry Warden, into a coma. A year later, on Valentine's Day, Harry woke up and murdered 22 people with a pickaxe before dying. Now Tom has returned home, still haunted by the past. And something else is back in Harmony: a pickaxe-wielding killer in a miner's mask, who may be the ghost of Harry, come to claim Tom and his friends. (Synopsis credit: rotten tomatoes)
A 3D slasher horror film done right. What makes "My Bloody Valentine" a strong remake is the fact that the film doesn't completely deviate from the original movie, yet still provides enough new content to separate it from the original. As previously stated, "My Bloody Valentine" is one of the rare movies that does a great job with the 3D gimmick, as it's fun to see blood and body parts fly through the screen.
Still, the story is also solid and the big twist, in the end, is clever. There aren't exactly any memorable characters except our lead antagonist, but the main cast is serviceable. Simply put, "My Bloody Valentine" is well…a bloody good time.
10) Dawn of the Dead
When her husband is attacked by a zombified neighbor, Ana (Sarah Polley) manages to escape, only to realize her entire Milwaukee neighborhood has been overrun by the walking dead. After being questioned by cautious policeman Kenneth (Ving Rhames), Ana joins him and a small group that gravitates to the local shopping mall as a bastion of safety. Once they convince suspicious security guards that they are not contaminated, the group bands together to fight the undead hordes. (Synopsis credit: rotten tomatoes)
Fast zombies. Check. Guns and chainsaws. Check. Cheery montage involving mall sex. Check. Another George A. Romero remake is on the list, but this comes from visionary director Zack Synder, with Romero on board as a co-writer. The key differences from the1978 original such as the zombies being faster, make this 2004 movie stand out of the original’s shadow a bit.
What makes “Dawn” a fun movie is the characters, who we get to know once they’re locked inside of the mall. Also, the action is a massive upgrade to the 1978 original. However, Synder directs the dramatic scenes perfectly as well, with Luda giving birth to the zombie baby as one of the examples. "Dawn" does a strong job of updating a classic to modern-day audiences.
9) Halloween (2018)
It's been 40 years since Laurie Strode survived a vicious attack from crazed killer Michael Myers on Halloween night. Locked up in an institution, Myers manages to escape when his bus transfer goes wrong. Laurie now faces a terrifying showdown when the masked madman returns to Haddonfield, Ill. -- but this time, she's ready for him. (Credit synopsis: rotten tomatoes)
The “Halloween” franchise has been…weird. There’s been sequels and remakes of the classic slasher flick and I think it’s safe to stay that none of them live up to the original. So, “Halloween” is technically a sequel to the original, but not a remake, but still a remake. My brain hurts. Anyways, the 2018 version of “Halloween” went back to the drawing board and easily became the best remake of the franchise. Revisiting the story of Laurie Strode and Michael Myers was a great idea as Jamie Lee Curtis is at top form here as our protagonist.
“Halloween” goes back to a simple story and relies on the menacing psycho killer to provide the scares and tension in the film, like the original movie. Genuinely scary, shocking, and oftentimes funny, Halloween successfully revives a dead franchise.
8) The Crazies
Anarchy reigns when an unknown toxin turns the peaceful citizens of Ogden Marsh into bloodthirsty lunatics. To contain the spread of the infection, authorities blockade the town and use deadly force to keep anyone from getting in or out. Now trapped among killers, Sheriff Dutten (Timothy Olyphant) and his wife (Radha Mitchell) and two companions must band together to find a way out before madness and death overtake them. (Credit synopsis: rotten tomatoes)
"The Crazies" starts fast and never stops. It's hard to top George A. Romero's original classic and the film never tries to. Though not a shot for shot remake, the story is pretty much the same, but with a higher budget. This may sound like an easy cash grab by simply copying and pasting, but remakes such as "Carrie" and "Psycho" have proven that this is not a simple task.
"The Crazies" does an excellent job of being intense and several scenes stand out, such as Bill killing his wife and son. Of course, the acting makes these scenes great, with Timothy Olyphant and Radha Mitchell leading a game cast. "The Crazies" won't win any awards for being original or game-changing, but if you're looking for a good and often batshit crazy movie, then this needs to be on your list immediately. Fun fact: Lynn Lowry, a star from the original film, makes a cameo as the woman who rides her bike past Sheriff Dutten.
7) IT
Seven young outcasts in Derry, Maine, are about to face their worst nightmare -- an ancient, shape-shifting evil that emerges from the sewer every 27 years to prey on the town's children. Banding together throughout one horrifying summer, the friends must overcome their fears to battle the murderous, bloodthirsty clown known as Pennywise. (Credit synopsis: rotten tomatoes)
Look, clowns are f**king scary. Even your friendly neighborhood clown, Mr. Wiggles. The sole focus isn't about Pennywise terrorizing "The Losers", but the actual protagonists themselves. A remake of a 1990 mini-series, the horror film doesn't have much time to develop the characters as the mini-series did; however, the 2017 version does an excellent job of highlighting the core cast while still delivering the scares. The original was more subtle as a lot of the horror was left to the imagination; however, the jump scares never hinder the film in the slightest.
The slight downside is Pennywise himself. Tim Curry’s Pennywise was more of a charming thief, one minute he’s cracking jokes and the next he’s trying to kill you; Whereas Bill Skarsgard's Pennywise is one-dimensional as he’s simply a crazed man trying to kill as many kids as possible. Still, “IT” is a nice remake of the mini-series that delivers a good mix of humor and horror.
6) The Ring
It sounds like just another urban legend -- a videotape filled with nightmarish images leads to a phone call foretelling the viewer's death in exactly seven days. Newspaper reporter Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts) is skeptical of the story until four teenagers all die mysteriously exactly one week after watching just such a tape. Allowing her investigative curiosity to get the better of her, Rachel tracks down the video and watches it. Now she has just seven days to unravel the mystery. (Synopsis credit: rotten tomatoes)
"The Ring" is a rare gem that makes its Japanese counterpart proud. It could be argued that humanizing Samara in the American remake was a mistake. One of the reasons that Jason is such a terrifying villain is due to the fact that we know nothing about him. Samara (or Sadako in the Japanese version) was a scarier presence in the 1998 counterpart due to her mystique; however, there's nothing wrong with humanizing your villains to get a better understanding of who they are.
The remake does an excellent job of relying on psychological horror to spook the audience and Naomi Watts is perfect as the lead character. The American version doesn’t deviate much from the 1998 film, but the changes made never hinder the overall experience.
5) Bram Stroker’s Dracula
Adaptation of Bram Stoker's classic vampire novel. Gary Oldman plays Dracula whose lonely soul is determined to reunite with his lost love, Mina (Winona Ryder). In Britain, Dracula begins a reign of terror and seduction draining the life from her closest friend, Lucy (Sadie Frost). Together they try and drive Dracula away. (Synopsis credit: rotten tomatoes)
It should be no surprise that the man who directed "The Godfather" and "Apocalypse Now" has made a top-notch "Dracula" film. Based on IMDB, there are at least 60 different versions of a "Dracula" movie, with the first coming out in 1931. Most of the films are based on the 1897 novel. What Francis Ford Coppola does well in his version is by making "Dracula" more human, thus adding a layer of complexity to his character that was mainly void up until the 1992 film.
That aspect comes in the vein of Dracula's search for Mina Harker, his lost love. At its core, "Dracula" is still a biting and blood-sucking bastard, thus the suspense and horror elements of the movie remain with great effect. Led by a star-studded cast that includes Gary Oldman, Anthony Hopkins, and Winona Ryder, “Bram Stroker’s Dracula” provides enough suspense, drama, and horror for any fans looking for more than just a monster kills movie.
4) Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
This remake of the classic horror film is set in San Francisco. Matthew Bennell (Donald Sutherland) assumes that when a friend (Brooke Adams) complains of her husband's strange mood, it's a marital issue. However, he begins to worry as more people report similar observations. His concern is confirmed when writer Jack Bellicec (Jeff Goldblum) and his wife (Veronica Cartwright) discover a mutated corpse. Besieged by an invisible enemy, Bennell must work quickly before the city is consumed. (Synopsis credit: rotten tomatoes)
"Invasion of the Body Snatchers" has four movies in total. There's the 1956 original, followed by the 1978, 1993 (Body Snatchers), and 2007 (The Invasion) remakes. If you're looking for bland and forgettable films then the 1993 and 2007 movies are perfect for you. However, the 1978 remake is the best out of the three and it manages to expand upon the original classic.
The 1978 "Invasion" addresses heavy themes such as personal identity and freedom and manages to give a memorable surprise ending of the hero dying (though his death is off-screen). "Invasion" does an excellent job of blending horror and sci-fi, which is also helped by the superb cast that includes Donald Sutherland and Jeff Goldblum.
3) Evil Dead
"Mia (Jane Levy), a drug addict, is determined to kick the habit. To that end, she asks her brother, David (Shiloh Fernandez), his girlfriend, Natalie (Elizabeth Blackmore), and their friends Olivia (Jessica Lucas) and Eric (Lou Taylor Pucci) to accompany her to their family's remote forest cabin to help her through withdrawal. Eric finds a mysterious Book of the Dead at the cabin and reads aloud from it, awakening an ancient demon. All hell breaks loose when the malevolent entity possesses Mia." (Synopsis credit: rotten tomatoes)
Look, any movie that features a chainsaw going through the mouth of an evil demon is a winner in my book. While the pitch-black humor is missed in this serious remake of the classic Sami Raimi film, this is still a strong movie that doesn’t hold back on the gore. While an Ash is sorely lacking here, Mia (Jane Levy) is excellent as the lead and her compelling arc of overcoming addiction makes you want to root for the young lady instantly.
The other core members of the cast do a solid job here. Of course, the visual images are what stand out in the remake as Mia being violated by a tree is a moment that’s hard to forget. A gorefest, featuring a strong female character and very cool visuals, the “Evil Dead” remake sure does the 1981 original proud.
2) The Fly
When scientist Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) completes his teleportation device, he decides to test its abilities on himself. Unbeknownst to him, a housefly slips in during the process, leading to a merger of man and insect. Initially, Brundle appears to have undergone a successful teleportation, but the fly's cells begin to take over his body. As he becomes increasingly fly-like, Brundle's girlfriend (Geena Davis) is horrified as the person she once loved deteriorates into a monster. (Synopsis credit: rotten tomatoes)
It's surprising how a movie called “The Fly” isn’t some gorefest about a giant mutant fly. Maybe in the next remake. Anyways, both versions of the film are more about drama and character study than blood, guts, and gore, especially for our mutant friend himself.
Despite coming out in the '80s, the practical effects hold up nicely and the slow transformation into "The Fly" is both disturbing and beautiful (well, sort of) at the same time. The fact that we get to understand Seth throughout the process makes for a heart-breaking journey. A strong remake that has its own identity.
1) The Thing (1982)
In remote Antarctica, a group of American research scientists is disturbed at their base camp by a helicopter shooting at a sled dog. When they take in the dog, it brutally attacks both human beings and canines in the camp and they discover that the beast can assume the shape of its victims. A resourceful helicopter pilot (Kurt Russell) and the camp doctor (Richard Dysart) lead the camp crew in a desperate, gory battle against the vicious creature before it picks them all off, one by one. (Synopsis credit: rotten tomatoes)
One of the best sci-fi/horror movies to grace our lovely lives is John Carpenter’s The Thing. While the basic plot is the same as the 1951 version, the 1982 movie also deviates from its source material, actually making the film better for it. In "The Thing from Another World", the mysterious creature is not a shapeshifter.
Thus, we don't get the compelling mystery of the 1982 version, in which Carpenter masterfully plays off the mystery of said Thing until the actual monster reveals itself momentarily. The 1982 version is also darker and gorier than the original, with top-notch practical effects that still hold up today. Of course, all the actors shine in this remake and help keep the audience engaged throughout the runtime. Another must-see classic by John Carpenter.
