Top 10 Horror Remakes

18 September 2013

The Omen

Horror remakes are becoming more and more common on the big screen as we have seen some of the greatest films in this genre given a makeover.

We count down the top ten horror remakes that have thrilled audiences over the years.

10. The Omen (2006)

A controversial opener perhaps no-one can seriously suggest this is a great film, however this partial reboot receives a boost due to an all-star cast led by Julia Stiles and Liev Schreiber, and even features a cameo from ‘Horror’s Golden Girl’ Mia Farrow.

And while the plodding dialogue means that it’s simply impossible to match the standards set by the cult classic original, watching British acting royalty like David Thewlis, Pete Postlethwaite and Michael Gambon give it a shot makes sure the film is an enjoyable watch.

9. Piranha 3D (2010)

This ferociously fishy film certainly doesn’t skimp on the nudity and graphic violence.

Unfairly maligned by some, with Kelly Brook’s bikini taking a starring role you know it’s not going to be nominated at the Oscars but its fun, camp with loads of frights.

Knowingly ridiculous, it also is self-aware enough to realize when to can the laughs and get a little serious.

Sure to make you think twice next time you jump into the sea, and with better special effects than the original, these CGI piranhas make this a horror with real bite.

8. Invasion of The Body Snatchers (1978)

A lauded classic, and a fish’s fin more frightening than Piranha 3D, Philip Kaufman’s take on the 1956 original is a simply brilliant piece of cinema.

Dispensing with the Communism allegories of Don Siegel’s version, this slow-burning spooker ramps up the tension minute by minute, and leaves its audiences emotionally frazzled by the finish.

With a cast featuring some of the age’s leading actors, including horror favourite Jeff Goldbloom, and perfectly shot in a washed out grey mist that rolls straight off San Francisco harbour, the film packs real pedigree. You’ll be seeing pod people for weeks after this.

7. The Hills Have Eyes (2006)

This remake is enough to kill off caravan holidays forever. Filled with intense, bloody action and featuring the often underused horror throwback the mutant, it’s a wonder that tourism boards around the world didn’t come together to picket cinema queues.

The poor suburban Carter family doesn’t stand a chance against the terror that’s unleashed by Papa Jupiter and his cronies - a remake is so gruesome and violent that it trumps the original by miles.

This version will definitely give you the nightmares you wanted, be warned.

6. Quarantine (2008)

This remake of the Spanish subtitled REC is pretty much a carbon copy of its originator. Getting in there while ‘found footage’ films still had time left on their sell-by date, it offers some of scariest zombies seen in a long time.

Highlights include demonic possession, a monster in the attic and an epic final scene that’s shot completely in night vision. The final frames of this film are a tour-de-force in terror.

5. Dawn of the Dead (2004)

In this re-imagining of the Romero classic, it takes the premise of the original movie’s narrative- a group of survivors finding shelter in a shopping centre during the zombie apocalypse- but gives it a brand new perspective by creating a diverse new set of characters.

The young Zach Snyder built his reputation with a film that is action packed with a big dose of the original’s ironic humour making it both entertaining, scary and true to Romero’s spirit. Bonus marks for featuring the world’s first zombie baby.

4. Evil Dead (2013)

In the promising up-and-coming Fede Alvarez’s remake of Sam Raimi’s cult classic there were absolutely no limits to its violence. It’s not just disturbing, it’s savage.

It out does the original by including even more gore, blood and dismembered limbs than you would even think possible. With demonic possession and a gruesome amputation it’s definitely not for the faint hearted.

Boasting some of the most up-to-date and horrifying special-effects in cinema at the moment, this remake illustrates what current horror films should aspire to. It takes a lot to make Evil Dead fan forget about Bruce Campbell for 90 minutes - this achieved that.

3. The Thing (1982)

One from horror’s golden era, this update is a far cry from its originator, the 1950s black- and-white The Thing From Another World. Making the legendary Kurt Russell a household name, this was truly chilling stuff, as its participants descended into icy paranoia.

John Carpenter’s landmark hypnotic and eerie score lends a bloody hand to building the suspense and terror of the film. This adaptation is so good it even has its own remake with an eponymous (and really rather good) prequel made in 2009.

2. The Ring (2002)

Though it might seem like heresy to pick the American update over the truly creepy Japanese original, it proves superior in a number of different areas.

It ticks all the boxes in the compulsory scary children category; both menacing Samara and morbid wide-eyed Aiden will have you postponing parenthood for many years. Samara’s terrifying crawl out of the TV is now officially a top horror movie moment.

And, with the exception of the superlative Blair Witch Project, has any horror since the glory days made as much of an impact on cinema-goers and Western pop-culture as this?

1. The Fly (1986)

This list has already shown that any film starring Jeff Goldblum can be expected to surpass its predecessor but David Cronenberg’s remake is both so devilishly gruesome and well written that it triumphs over not just its 1958 original, but most movies before or since.

Taking advantage of improved special-effects, the hideous half- human, half-fly mutant has become one of horror’s great movie monsters. Add in Jeff’s now legendary ‘HELP ME’ - which is now parodied all over popular culture - and you have a perfect horror remake.