When a horror movie gets a remake, there should be a few good reasons for this new version. Maybe the remake can add something to the original story, from a new character to an extra creepy setting to a creative filmmaking style. Often, remakes are a huge disappointment, with fans wondering why anyone went to any effort at all.
Thankfully, there are some horror remakes that are worth watching, as they are well done, feature smart performances, and remind fans of why they loved the first movie so much. From ghost stories to a house with a haunted family, there are many movies from the 2000s and 2010s that can be considered awesome remakes.
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The Grudge (2004)
There is aNetflix series calledJu-On: Originsthat is part ofThe Grudgefranchise, and the 2004 movie is a remake of the 2002 filmJu-On: The Grudge. Sarah Michelle Gellar stars as Karen Davis, who begins living in Tokyo as a student and who learns about the curse: when someone passes away and they are feeling a lot of emotion, other people can die, too. Karen meets Kayako Saeki’s (Yuya Ozeki) ghost and is followed by her for much of the story, and even in the end, Karen lives but realizes that the spirit is still around her.
The Grudgeworks well as a remake because it honors the original chilling story and manages to be very scary. It’s asmart and unique movie about ghostswhere the spirit is incredibly creepy.
House On Haunted Hill (1999)
The 1999 filmHouse On Haunted Hillis a remake of the 1969 movie, which was directed by William Castle, and has a great cast of Peter Gallagher, Ali Larter, Taye Diggs, and Geoffrey Rush. A group of strangers are told that if they can make it through the night in this huge mansion, they’ll be given $1 million. Of course, it’s not that easy, and the strangers soon learn that this place is haunted as it used to be the Vannacutt Psychiatric Institute.
This is a movie with somegruesome death scenesas several of the people don’t make it. As the night goes on, the characters learn more about each other as secrets are revealed.House On Haunted Hillcan be considered a good remake as it has a fairly creepy tone, a premise that hooks audiences, and agreat horror movie setting. Audiences definitely wouldn’t want to spend a single second in this place, let alone an entire evening.
Black Christmas (2006)
The2006Black Christmas remake is betterthan the 2019 one, and it also stands up against other new versions of familiar horror stories. There’s a lot to enjoy here: a sorority house during the winter holidays, a group of close main characters, and a pretty wild backstory that is perfectly campy.
While Kelli Presley (Katie Cassidy) might not be afamous final girl like Sidney or Laurie, she does kill the villain Billy Lenz (Robert Mann), which results in a satisfying ending to the movie. Kelli murders him with the top of a Christmas tree, which fits the corny tone of the movie and its December setting.
Silent House (2011)
While many critics didn’t love this film,Silent Houseis an interesting example of a movie being shot in a single take. It’s also a remake of the 2010 Uruguayan movieLa Casa Muda. Like otherhorror movies with one location, this story is more intriguing because of the way that it was filmed. If it was shot like a regular movie with several shots, it might not have quite the same affect, but it does stand out because of this creative choice.
Audiences follow Sarah (Elizabeth Olsen) as she goes to her house with Peter (Eric Sheffer Stevens), her uncle, and John (Adam Trese), her dad. It seems clear from the start that there’s something a bit off here, and when John is hurt, Sarah starts investigating whether there is someone (or something) in the home.Silent Houseis aunique haunted house movieand the twist at the end makes the movie worth the watch.
IT (2017)
TheITremakes are split into two movies, and while the second film which was released in 2019 feels a bit long, the first 2017 movie is a fairly good remake. Stephen King’s haunting story of the Losers Club who come back to Derry, Maine to deal with Pennywise is one of his most interesting because it has themes of bullying, growing up, and what is really worth being afraid of.
The film feels different from the ’90s miniseries, which is important since it means that there was a reason to make a new version, and the cast does an incredible job showing how these characters have always been terrified of the evil clown who kidnaps kids in sewers.
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