8 Horror Remakes That Were Unnecessary

      These eight horror remakes aimed to enhance films that were already quite strong.

      In tribute to Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu — currently performing well at the box office and appearing to satisfy audience expectations — and Leigh Whannell’s new take on The Wolf Man, which opens this weekend and for which we have high hopes — here are eight horror remakes that were arguably unnecessary.

      Night of the Living Dead (1990)

      Columbia Pictures

      We appreciate Tony Todd, known for Candyman, in the leading role, and we admire makeup genius Tom Savini as the director. However, this film simply wasn’t required, as the original from 1968 is flawless in its DIY, low-budget, black-and-white aesthetics.

      This remake of George A. Romero’s highly influential genre classic isn’t bad, but it feels somewhat pointless—especially since Romero served as screenwriter and executive producer.

      While the plot stays largely the same — a group of survivors barricades themselves in an abandoned farmhouse during a zombie invasion — the original's chilling, documentary-style realism is swapped for a more clichéd horror film vibe.

      In this version, Barbara (Patricia Tallman) transforms from a terrified woman into a capable zombie killer. Although the zombie makeup effects are noticeably better (thanks to Savini), this remake misses the impact of the shocking, powerful ending of the original. (By the way, the original is included in our list of 12 Movies That Made More than 100 Times Their Budget.)

      When it comes to horror remakes, we prefer films that enhance the best parts of a flawed original — such as 2004’s Dawn of the Dead — rather than those that attempt to fix something that isn't broken.

      The Haunting (1999)

      DreamWorks Pictures

      In this horror remake, Robert Wise’s haunting 1963 film (adapted from Shirley Jackson’s acclaimed novel, The Haunting of Hill House) becomes a big-budget Hollywood flop. The story revolves around a group of paranormal investigators (including Liam Neeson and Catherine Zeta-Jones) who decide to spend several nights in a menacing mansion.

      The original Haunting is a masterpiece of implied terror, where very little is actually shown. Instead, the unsettling sound effects and disorienting cinematography suggest horror effectively. In contrast, this misguided remake substitutes the subtle frights of the original with ineffective CGI effects.

      Directors of horror remakes — and remakes in general — should view this film as a case study of how CGI can detract from a movie. (This film was released during that awkward transition into a new millennium when CGI was possible but not convincingly realistic. (See our list of 11 Movies Cursed by Bad CGI for more examples.)

      The Wicker Man (2006)

      Warner Bros. Pictures

      Some might argue there’s no need to re-imagine the 1973 cult classic featuring Christopher Lee.

      Yet, partly due to Nicolas Cage’s ability to maintain a serious demeanor while delivering outrageous lines, the film offers a peculiar fascination. Cage plays a policeman investigating the mysterious disappearance of a young girl on a secluded island inhabited by a secretive community.

      We also appreciate Twin Peaks alum Angelo Badalamenti’s score, as we do with all his compositions.

      Last House on the Left (2009)

      Universal Pictures – Credit: C/O

      This reworking of the 1972 Wes Craven film is well-crafted, consistently suspenseful and frightening, with strong performances. So why does it make this list? Because it still fails to capture the raw, unsettling terror of the original. The original Last House on the Left from the 1970s captures a disturbing psychedelic sadism that remains unsettling to this day.

      The most we can say about this version is that it concludes on a somewhat hopeful note, which undermines the original’s perfect bleakness. Some films are so effective that attempting to remake them seems futile, and Last House on the Left is one of those. However, we acknowledge that director Dennis Iliadis did as well as anyone could, with the added support of original director Wes Craven.

      A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)

      New Line Cinema – Credit: C/O

      When Wes Craven expresses concerns over a remake of his film, perhaps it’s wise to take heed. The 1984 version of A Nightmare on Elm Street is nearly flawless — and its imperfections only contribute to its unique charm.

      “It does hurt,” Craven remarked to IGN regarding the remake. “It does because it’s such an important film for me that, unfortunately, when I signed the original contract, I relinquished all rights to it, and there's nothing I can do.”

      The new edition featured the talented Jackie Earle Haley as Freddy Krueger, donning the iconic striped shirt, fedora, and claws, but let’s be real. There’s only one Freddy, and that's Robert Englund. Additionally, the decision to CGI Freddy and omit his infamous jokes made the