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Top 10 Horror Movie Remakes That Don’t Suck

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Ahh… Here we go. I’ve done a few pieces on remakes in the horror genre and if there is one thing most of us fans can agree on, it’s that most remakes suck. Notice I used the word “most”. Of course, the reaction is always the same when we hear the word “remake” or “reboot”. Moans, groans, and wanting to blow up whoever is behind said rebooted movie with our anger and beating of the fists.

But, Sometimes, we just have to suck it up and give a remake a chance because they don’t always suck. Don’t get me wrong here. I’ve always said Hollywood uses remakes to make a quick buck on an existing successful movie. And most of the time that is quite the case. But, there are a few out there that are executed in sheer brilliance and dare I say even top the original. That being said, this list I’ve compiled is just from atop my noggin.

Here are 10 horror remakes that don’t suck:

10. My Bloody Valentine 3D (2009)

This, in some ways, improved version pushed the boundaries of nudity, sex, and bloody violence, all in the glorious third dimension.  If you don’t believe me, check out this video below. I gave it my seal of gore approval.

 

9. The Hills Have Eyes (2006)

This one of the remakes I felt was far more superior than the original. The R-rated and brutally violent Hills of 2006 generated a lot of buzz with horror fans and grossed over 40 million at the box office. A sequel came out shortly thereafter but didn’t quite par up to the original or the remake.

 

8. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)

I was quite hesitant about this one. But I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome. Does it hold the same magic as the original? Not in my opinion. But it certainly does hold up well with keeping true to the storyline, great actors, and brilliant cinematic filming. And I didn’t have to hear Franklin’s ever so annoying bitching in this new generation take. Yeah… I was ok with that.

 

7. I Spit On Your Grave (2010)

Ahh, once again this remake is just as good as the original but with just an updated look and just as brutal if not more than the first. The story of a novelist who ventures out into the woods and goes from a victim to a vengeful hero works, in this case, thanks to great directing and a stellar performance by Sarah Butler.

 

6. Little Shop Of Horrors (1987)

Ok. Sure technically it’s not a horror film, but hey, I had to give it an honorable mention. I mean you’d have to be crazy not to love a singing plant that feeds on human flesh and blood, right? With the help of Jim Henson puppeteers, Audrey 2 was brought to life in this stunning horror- comedy- musical. The original came out in 1960 and although was superb for its time; This is one I can say on record far exceeds the original.

 

5. The Blob (1988)

The Blob is one that should definitely be in any horror fanatics collection. This is one remake that managed to live up to its cheesy inspiration that was Chuck Russell’s vision, in which the title goo crashes to earth and promptly begins digesting the residents of a small California town while growing to gargantuan proportions. Also worth mentioning is that yet another Blob remake is in the works. 

 

4. The Thing (1982)

The Thing is surely one of the greatest Sci-Fi-Horror flicks ever made. This version that stars Kurt Russell is absolutely brilliant and damn near flawless. I really don’t know what else to say other than if you haven’t seen it then you must sit down and watch it. Right meow. No really. Stop reading this and go let your eyes sink into a showcase of Kurt Russell’s majesty!

 

3. Frankensein (1931)

I know what some of you may be thinking. That is the original right? Wrong! The original was a short silent film made in 1910 made by Edison Studios. The 1931 version directed by legend James Whale broke boundaries and was a pioneer in film. In my opinion, it paved the way for many more horror movies to follow in its footsteps and most rightfully deserves a spot on this list.

 

2. The Fly (1986)

What can I say about David Cronenberg’s masterpiece The Fly? I mean other than it’s just that. Another remake that I can safely far outweigh the 1958 original in gore and storyline. Jeff Goldblum gives a fantastic performance as “Brundlefly” and shows us if Hollywood is going to remake a film, this is how it’s done.

 

1. Dawn Of the Dead (2004)

Another film I was wary about being as how I’m a huge Romero and zombie fan. When the movie came to the screen in 2004, I was completely blown away. So much so, that I almost went into labor with my first child from too much excitement and zombie nerdgasms. The amazing special effects paired with great-looking zombies and a brilliant cast made this film a hit. While it is much different than the original, it is well worth watching and two thumbs up from this broad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Brad Dourif Says He’s Retiring Except For One Important Role

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Brad Dourif has been doing movies for nearly 50 years. Now it seems he is walking away from the industry at 74 to enjoy his golden years. Except, there is a caveat.

Recently, digital entertainment publication JoBlo’s Tyler Nichols talked to some of the Chucky television series cast members. During the interview, Dourif made an announcement.

“Dourif said that he’s retired from acting,” says Nichols. “The only reason he came back for the show was because of his daughter Fiona and he considers Chucky creator Don Mancini to be family. But for non-Chucky stuff, he considers himself retired.”

Dourif has voiced the possessed doll since 1988 (minus the 2019 reboot). The original movie “Child’s Play” has become such a cult classic it’s at the top of some people’s best chillers of all time. Chucky himself is ingrained in pop culture history much like Frankenstein or Jason Voorhees.

While Dourif may be known for his famous voiceover, he is also an Oscar-nominated actor for his part in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Another famous horror role is The Gemini Killer in William Peter Blatty’s Exorcist III. And who can forget Betazoid Lon Suder in Star Trek: Voyager?

The good news is that Don Mancini is already pitching a concept for season four of Chucky which might also include a feature-length movie with a series tie-in. So, Although Dourif says he is retiring from the industry, ironically he is Chucky’s friend till the end.

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Editorial

7 Great ‘Scream’ Fan Films & Shorts Worth a Watch

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The Scream franchise is such an iconic series, that many budding filmmakers take inspiration from it and make their own sequels or, at least, build upon the original universe created by screenwriter Kevin Williamson. YouTube is the perfect medium to showcase these talents (and budgets) with fan-made homages with their own personal twists.

The great thing about Ghostface is that he can appear anywhere, in any town, he just needs the signature mask, knife, and unhinged motive. Thanks to Fair Use laws it’s possible to expand upon Wes Craven’s creation by simply getting a group of young adults together and killing them off one by one. Oh, and don’t forget the twist. You’ll notice that Roger Jackson’s famous Ghostface voice is uncanny valley, but you get the gist.

We have gathered five fan films/shorts related to Scream that we thought were pretty good. Although they can’t possibly match the beats of a $33 million blockbuster, they get by on what they have. But who needs money? If you’re talented and motivated anything is possible as proven by these filmmakers who are well on their way to the big leagues.

Take a look at the below films and let us know what you think. And while you’re at it, leave these young filmmakers a thumbs up, or leave them a comment to encourage them to create more films. Besides, where else are you going to see Ghostface vs. a Katana all set to a hip-hop soundtrack?

Scream Live (2023)

Scream Live

Ghostface (2021)

Ghostface

Ghost Face (2023)

Ghost Face

Don’t Scream (2022)

Don’t Scream

Scream: A Fan Film (2023)

Scream: A Fan Film

The Scream (2023)

The Scream

A Scream Fan Film (2023)

A Scream Fan Film
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Movies

Another Creepy Spider Movie Hits Shudder This Month

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Good spider films are a theme this year. First, we had Sting and then there was Infested. The former is still in theaters and the latter is coming to Shudder starting April 26.

Infested has been getting some good reviews. People are saying that it’s not only a great creature feature but also a social commentary on racism in France.

According to IMDb: Writer/director Sébastien Vanicek was looking for ideas around the discrimination faced by black and Arab-looking people in France, and that led him to spiders, which are rarely welcome in homes; whenever they’re spotted, they’re swatted. As everyone in the story (people and spiders) is treated like vermin by society, the title came to him naturally.

Shudder has become the gold standard for streaming horror content. Since 2016, the service has been offering fans an expansive library of genre movies. in 2017, they began to stream exclusive content.

Since then Shudder has become a powerhouse in the film festival circuit, buying distribution rights to movies, or just producing some of their own. Just like Netflix, they give a film a short theatrical run before adding it to their library exclusively for subscribers.

Late Night With the Devil is a great example. It was released theatrically on March 22 and will begin streaming on the platform starting April 19.

While not getting the same buzz as Late Night, Infested is a festival favorite and many have said if you suffer from arachnophobia, you might want to take heed before watching it.

Infested

According to the synopsis, our main character, Kalib is turning 30 and dealing with some family issues. “He’s fighting with his sister over an inheritance and has cut ties with his best friend. Fascinated by exotic animals, he finds a venomous spider in a shop and brings it back to his apartment. It only takes a moment for the spider to escape and reproduce, turning the whole building into a dreadful web trap. The only option for Kaleb and his friends is to find a way out and survive.”

The film will be available to watch on Shudder starting April 26.

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