A single word that will bring a look of hatred, disgust, or simply end the conversation: remakes. When brought up, many fans will immediately say “they suck” and move on. But do they all suck? Sure, we can all point out an example or two that we think of as abominations, but you can’t lump all of them together. Because when you start to think about it, there are plenty of good remakes… and a few that we think are amazing! In this episode, we delve into this perennially controversial subject. We’ll cover some of our favorites as well as ones that we feel missed the mark, and even try to figure out what makes a remake successful or… well, not so successful.
Check us out on social media and give us some feedback!
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/discoverthehorror/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DiscovertheHorror
In this episode, we discuss:
13 Ghosts (2001), Amityville II: The Possession (1982), Amityville Horror (1979), Amityville Horror (2005), Army of Darkness (1992), The Blob (1958), The Blob (1988), Carrie (1976), Cat People (1942), Cat People (1982), Child’s Play (1988), Child’s Play (2019), Dawn of the Dead (1978), Dawn of the Dead (2004), The Devil’s Rejects (2005), Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (1973), Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (2010), Dracula (1931), Dracula (1974), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1932), Evil Dead (1981), Evil Dead (2010), Evil Dead 2 (1987), Freddy vs Jason (2003), The Fly (1986), Frankenstein (1910), Frankenstein (1931), Frankenstein: The True Story (1973), Friday the 13th (1980), Friday the 13th (2009), Fright Night (1985), Fright Night (2011), Godfather (1972), Halloween (1978), Halloween (2007), Hills Have Eyes (1977), Hills Have Eyes (2006), House of a 1000 Corpses (2003), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), Inside (2007), The Invisible Man (2020), It (1990), It (2017), Jaws (1975), Last House on the Left (1972), Last House on the Left (2009), Leatherface (2017), Maniac (1980), Maniac (2012), Martyrs (2015), Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994), My Bloody Valentine (1981), Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987), Night of the Living Dead (1990), Nosferatu (1979), Pet Sematary (1989), Pet Sematary (2019), The Phantom of the Opera (1925), Piranha (1978), Piranha 3D (2010), Psycho (1960), Psycho (1998), Quarantine (2008), [REC] (2007), The Ring (1998), The Ring (2002), Salem’s Lot (1979), The Shining (1980), The Shining (1997), Suspiria (1977), Suspiria (2018), Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003), The Thing (1982), The Thing from Another World (1951), The Toolbox Murders (1978), Toolbox Murders (2004), We Are What We Are (2010), We Are What We Are (2013), The Wolfman (2010)
discoverthehorror.com 
Great episode with a great topic! It left me wanting more and with a few lingering questions:
1) You mention movies that might be better if they didn’t have the name of their predecessor attached to it. Don’t you think, though, if a movie was called something else, we’d accuse it of ripping off the original?
2) I know you do it with humor, but I’m not so quick to dismiss younger horror fans who haven’t seen the classics. Isn’t it as hypocritical to judge the movies they like as they judge the movies we like. Hey! They’re a new horror fan… they’ll eventually come around… I think with the horror genre, you almost have to.
3) Do you guys think there’s a “statute of limitations” for when a remake should be made? For example, you shouldn’t touch a film until at least… say, 30 years has passed.
4) Finally, I love Damien’s point about perception of time. We look back on great films of the 80s, for example, and ask how they could be remade… then you realize, as Jon would say, “Holy crap” it’s be 40 frickin’ years!
Looking forward to the Naschy werewolf episode. I can claim to be a Naschy fan because of one Mr, Join Kitley!
LikeLiked by 1 person
To address your questions, and I’m just speaking for myself (Jon Kitley), I would say:
1. I think we were saying that a different title for a film that clearly isn’t tied to the original, might let it stand better on its own two feet, as opposed to be connected to a series that it might not have nothing to do with.
2. I do agree and only poke fun at younger (or any fans) that don’t have the open passion to seek out any other films in the genre. But there have been times I’ve run into fans, both old and new, that refuse to go outside of their comfort zone. Either older monster kids that refuse to watch the new stuff, to younger fans that don’t like those old black and white films. Those groups are small, but they are out there.
3. Hard to say, since it really depends on the reasoning behind the remake. If it is to update the film because of technology has changed, it might be okay. If it is done because it will be done with a different take on the subject, it might work.
4. Yes. Holy crap, indeed!
Thanks again Jeff and glad you keep coming back!
LikeLike