Movies News Talk
There is a common saying that "remakes can be tricky," particularly when those involved are looking to bring horror remakes, to the screen - especially as this genre is so popular. Often when those filmmakers are faced with the challenge of trying to recreate the iconic moments and frightening scenes, which were originally created in the original production. However, when these elements fail to come together - fans can easily notice and, perhaps, even decry the outcomes.
For instance, the movie "House of Wax" ( 2005) and "The Wicker Man" ( 2006), along with "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" (2003) have not always met the expectations of film critics. These titles were heavily criticized - with many critics and even those fans, saying they did not meet the original standards, highlighting just how tricky those remake movies could be when trying to replicate something that had captured audiences for generations - particularly for those classic horror films that often served as a foundational moment for the genre, but, as a whole - horror remakes can bring some fresh angles or insights to those iconic storylines.
Although horror remakes are often considered to be an insult to the original - sometimes, filmmakers and studios, find new perspectives that could lead to a highly praised release.
Many have pointed to "The Ring" ( 2002) or even "Let the Right One In" ( 2008). The latter even found new, alternative ways to expand on that storyline - those dark moments and even the frightening aspects. Those who watched these films have shown appreciation for their uniqueness. As such, many of those who are fans of the horror movie remake often consider this a genre that has the potential for something really powerful.
There's a natural inclination amongst fans to feel as if there's an automatic issue with the concept of a remake movie.
Those who are often focused on nostalgia or those who have come to love those original productions and their impact - may question the logic, and purpose of taking something classic or something iconic and attempting to make a new version of it. However, a remake does often provide a fresh angle for a new generation to explore. They offer an opportunity to find those timeless ideas and introduce those iconic characters and plots, to audiences that might not have had a chance to discover those stories in a different time.
There's a vast list of worst remakes of all time that can range across several different genres - however, a few, very notable, titles appear repeatedly. Some critics even say they have served as the definition for a failed adaptation. Some include "The Fog," "The Thing," "House of Wax," "Carrie," and "The Last House on the Left". These titles have been a mainstay as part of those worst movies and even those films that many film enthusiasts, or even horror film reviews, consider some of the terrible horror movies. There's even a degree to which audiences have often said that they would rather enjoy those earlier, more classic versions - one that was inspired by a different generation of filmmakers or writers. Those classic movies can sometimes even be considered horror film sequels .
Many have said that those who take on a remake are often facing a task that is insurmountable - one where those previous successes often overshadow those attempts. Often remakes are associated with not living up to those high standards.
If filmmakers are interested in trying to capture the same spirit as an original film, those horror remakes, that can gain attention should make an attempt to expand upon a classic or offer a unique perspective that makes it relevant to contemporary audiences.
Often when those horror films have had success - there is often a creative or visually innovative perspective. Some filmmakers even say that remakes often highlight just how difficult it is to recreate that dark, horrifying atmosphere and, perhaps, most importantly - that ability to create moments that are genuinely frightening for the audience, making sure to not make a release a mere replication. Many have stated that those horror remakes can either fall into the same trap - which includes relying on a series of cliches and tropes or, perhaps even worse, that these efforts can often fall short of the previous release.
A great remake must capture that original, iconic tone, while still managing to create something fresh - providing audiences a unique new perspective. One way to bring those remake movies to life would be to find those compelling themes in an original story or to offer a more modern or visually appealing aesthetic. Many have stated that one way to achieve success with these kinds of remake movies , it would mean taking those same narrative arcs, iconic characters or stories from a previous movie but make an attempt to expand on those themes.
As a whole, the process of taking an earlier production, making an attempt to bring in a modern setting or even make the visuals more appealing is a tremendously difficult undertaking and can also be met with opposition from a community who loves those iconic, classic horror films that were a product of their time. It's all the more difficult with horror films since the main goal is to frighten audiences and many have questioned whether a remake could capture that magic that an earlier version of a story was able to. As a result, fans and filmmakers alike are often faced with a difficult task to attempt to bring to life those same elements that were found in a prior horror remake.