13 Great Horror Movies Hollywood Should Never Remake
We've already witnessed remakes of '80s horror classics like "Poltergeist" and "Nightmare on Elm Street" and we weren't impressed. The prospect of rebooting these 13 horror staples is scarier than the original movies themselves. Leave these alone, Hollywood.
'The Exorcist' (1973)
The TV series that launched in 2016 is not actually a full-on remake (phew!), so this Oscar-winning classic is safe. It's just been slightly sullied by sub-par sequels and endless rip-offs. Also, it's "The Exorcist." Its earned its unf**kwithable status.
'Jaws' (1975)
Imagine Chris Pine saying, "We're gonna need a bigger boat." Or Jesse Eisenberg as the excitable shark expert. Oh, hell no, that is not happening on our watch.
'Alien' (1979)
The sequels have ranged from fantastic to unwatchable, but nothing could recapture the dread of the Ridley Scott original and that chestburster dinner scene.
We know it's an action-horror hybrid, and it's still a classic in both genres. In fact, it spawned the action-horror genre so best leave it alone. There's no way Hollywood could improve upon Ripley's perfect battle with the xenomorphs and their Queen. (Though we'd love to see Dave Franco cast as Hudson.)
'The Silence of the Lambs' (1991)
It's not the only time Anthony Hopkins played Hannibal Lecter and there've been other Lecters, but without Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling, it just wasn't the same. (Case in point, "Hannibal," where Julianne Moore played Clarice.)
'An American Werewolf in London' (1981)
While technically classified as a horror comedy, "An American Werewolf in London" is a genuinely unsettling experience at times. A lot of that has to do with its Academy Award-winning makeup effects. Never has a werewolf transformation looked this ghastly or painful. Yeah, we know director John Landis' son, Max ("Chronicle"), is pushing forward with a remake, but, yeah... don't.
'Misery' (1990)
Look at Kathy Bates' face. Now you tell her there's a remake of her Oscar-winning role happening. You're not afraid of sledgehammers, right?
'The Innocents' (1961)
We've seen how Hollywood botched the remake of 1963's "The Haunting," so we shudder to think of what would happen with this subtle British gem in which a governess (Deborah Kerr) suspects sinister forces are controlling her young charges.
'Shaun of the Dead' (2004)
We are so thankful this hilarious British horror "zom-com" hasn't been Americanized. (Don't get any ideas, Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson!)
'The Babadook' (2014)
This wholly original and terrifying Aussie spooker from first-time director Jennifer Kent should be left well alone, just like that creepy book about Mr. Babadook. Just walk away, people!
'The Descent' (2006)
It would be impossible to make a scarier, bloodier movie than Neil Marshall's harrowing horror flick, as proven by its disappointing sequel (which Marshall didn't write or direct).
'Near Dark' (1987)
Bill Paxton's ghoulish glee as psychotic vamp Severen in Kathryn Bigelow's horror/western cult film is a thing of unmatchable beauty.
'The Cabin in the Woods' (2012)
Since you already know the big twist in this meta-movie about horror films, any remake would have to add another twist on the twist. And that would just get way too meta.
