17 Horror Movie Remakes You Love More Than the Originals
15 Horror Movie Remakes You Loved More Than the Original
Sometimes it seems like Hollywood is hard-pressed to make a good horror movie once, much less improve on it the second time around. But as these horror classics have shown, it's possible to craft a remake that outshines the original.
'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' (1978)
While the original "Body Snatchers" is a perfectly enjoyable '50s B-movie, the 1978 remake elevates the material in a big way. Between the strong cast and the pervasive sense of creepiness and unease permeating the movie, this is the definitive take on the story. After all, what's scarier than an alien clone of Donald Sutherland shrieking at you from across the street?
'Nosferatu' (1979)
Klaus Kinski's "Nosferatu" is the first great vampire movie. Still, it's a very old film, and most would agree that Werner Herzog surpassed it with his 1979 remake. Plus, the remake has the benefit of actually being able to use the Dracula name.
'Cat People' (1982)
Sometimes the best way to improve on a film is to make it sleazier. That was the approach taken with this remake of the 1942 original, which paired the concept of a woman transforming into a deadly panther with a story about sexual discovery.
'The Thing' (1982)
The '80s were John Carpenter's decade, and his horror skills arguably peaked with this incredible remake of "The Thing From Another World." Like so many great horror films, "The Thing" works on multiple levels. The creature designs and sound effects are downright terror-inducing. But at the same time, the movie emphasizes the creep factor of wtahcing a group of men stranded in the most inhospitable place on Earth and not knowing who among them is human and who is an alien imposter.
'The Fly' (1986)
"David Cronenberg" and "body horror" are basically synonymous at this point, and "The Fly" is a major reason why. This gruesome update of the classic B-movie features some iconic, grotesque shots of a man slowly transforming into a human fly. We figure no one is ever going to attempt another remake, because how can you top this for sheer gross-out factor?
'The Blob' (1988)
1958's "The Blob" is another of those '50s horror gems that doesn't entirely hold up nowadays. This remake surpasses the original through a combination of vastly superior special effects and a clever, satirical sense of humor.
'Night of the Living Dead' (1990)
It might seem like sacrilege to choose the remake over the movie that practically birthed the zombie genre all on its own, but here we are. This 1990 remake is intensely faithful to the original, but adds color, better zombie makeup and a much more assertive heroine. It fits alongside George Romero's zombie sequels much better as a result.
'The Ring' (2002)
American remakes of foreign horror films are hardly anything new, but "The Ring" is one of the few to meet (and possibly exceed) the standard of the original. "The Ring" delivers a tense account of a desperate mother's quest to save her son from the curse of a deadly VHS tape. Hey, the concept made sense at the time.
'Willard' (2003)
Many viewers probably weren't even aware that they were watching a remake in this case. There's a reason the 1971 original has been forgotten by time. This remake, by comparison, features a career-best performance by Crispin Glover as a creepy, rat-loving killer.
'Dawn of the Dead' (2004)
Before he became known for crafting dark, brooding superhero movies, Zack Snyder built his reputation by remaking one of the most beloved horror movies of all time. Snyder succeeded mainly because he borrowed little but the basic premise (a bunch of people trapped inside a zombie-infested shopping mall) from the original film. The inclusion of "28 Days Later"-style running zombies makes this a far more intense viewing experience.
'House of Wax' (2005)
We can't say we expected much from this remake, especially considering that it traded Vincent Price for Paris Hilton. But to our surprise, it turned out to be an enjoyable slasher film that's only loosely connected to the source material.
'The Hills Have Eyes' (2006)
The original Wes Craven film is a tough watch already. This 2006 remake ups the pacing and gore factor considerably and becomes an even more unsettling experience in the process. Too bad that momentum didn't carry over to the 2007 sequel.
'The Crazies' (2010)
Hollywood has a pretty good track record when it comes to remaking George Romero's horror films. This 2010 film definitely benefited from having Timothy Olyphant as its star, playing a sheriff fighting for his life after a small town is driven mad by a viral outbreak.
'Fright Night' (2011)
This remake failed to make much of a dent at the box office, but don't let that detour you from seeking it out or giving it a second chance. The late Anton Yelchin leads this snarky, character-driven remake that pits Las Vegas suburbanites (and a Criss Angel-like) magician against a suave vampire in the neighborhood played by a scene-stealing Colin Farrell.
'Let Me In' (2010)
Matt Reeves' painfully underrated follow-up to his first feature film ("Cloverfield") is a darker, more emotionally resonate take on the story of a tween vampire developing a friendship with a young introvert. Their bloody and gripping relationship is the beaten heart of this movie, which tightens up certain narrative issues of the original while spending more time exploring the cost being a vampire has on young life in a very grounded, relatable way.
'Maniac' (2012)
"Maniac" is a horror film with style to spare. It set itself apart from the 1980 original by framing the carnage from the first-person perspective of Elijah Wood's serial killer protagonist. More horror remakes should be this bold.
'Stephen King's It' (2017)
The 1990 version of "It" may have traumatized a generation of viewers, but apart from Tim Curry's Pennywise, it doesn't hold up all that well. This 2017 remake is a far better and more ambitious take on the iconic Stephen King novel. It helps that the film focused just on the younger versions of its characters, leaving the rest of the story for the 2019 sequel.
