8 Horror Movie Remakes That Were Unnecessary

      As we enter the spooky season, here are eight horror movie remakes that attempted to enhance films that were already quite good to start with.

      Sometimes, even a well-crafted remake struggles to rival the gritty, DIY essence of a low-budget horror classic. Some major studio films, like Psycho, are better left untouched.

      We live… hopefully… and learn. Here are eight horror movie remakes that were truly unnecessary.

      **Night of the Living Dead (1990)**

      Columbia Pictures

      We appreciate Candyman star Tony Todd in the lead role and admire makeup artist Tom Savini as the director. However, this movie was simply not needed because the 1968 original is perfect in its DIY, low-budget, black-and-white simplicity.

      This remake of George A. Romero’s influential genre classic doesn't fall into the 'awful' category, but rather feels somewhat pointless—especially with Romero remaining as screenwriter and executive producer.

      While the plot is largely unchanged—survivors seeking refuge in an abandoned farmhouse during a zombie onslaught—the original film's unsettling, documentary-like realism is replaced with a standard horror movie vibe.

      In this version, Barbara (Patricia Tallman) transforms from a timid woman fearing for her life into a capable zombie slayer. Although the zombie makeup effects have noticeably improved (thanks to Savini, unsurprisingly), the final moments lack the jarring impact of the original's powerful conclusion. (By the way, that's also part of our list of 12 Movies That Made More Than 100 Times Their Budget.)

      When it comes to horror remakes, we typically favor films that enhance the strongest aspects of an imperfect original—like 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 (based on Shirley Jackson’s celebrated novel, The Haunting of Hill House) is turned into a big-budget Hollywood fail. The story revolves around a team of paranormal investigators (including Liam Neeson and Catherine Zeta-Jones) who decide to spend several nights in a menacing mansion.

      The original Haunting excels with its suggestion of horror, showing very little yet effectively inducing fear through unnerving sound effects and disorienting camera work. In stark contrast, this ill-fated horror remake trades the subtle scares of the original for CGI effects that fall flat.

      Directors of horror remakes—and all remakes—should heed this film as an example of how CGI can detract from a movie experience. It was made during that awkward transitional period of the new millennium when CGI was available but not yet convincing.

      **The Wicker Man (2006)**

      Warner Bros. Pictures

      Some might argue there's no need to reimagine the 1973 cult classic featuring Christopher Lee, known for its eerie, slowly building horror.

      Yet, partly due to Nicolas Cage's ability to maintain a straight face while delivering ridiculous lines, the movie possesses a strange fascination. Cage stars as a policeman who uncovers a secretive community while investigating the mysterious disappearance of a young girl on an enigmatic island.

      We also enjoy the score by Angelo Badalamenti, who has scored many films.

      **Last House on the Left (2009)**

      Universal Pictures – Credit: C/O

      This take on the 1972 Wes Craven film is expertly crafted, consistently tense and frightening, and features strong performances. So why does it make this list? Because it still fails to rival the raw intensity of the original. The disturbing hippie-cult sadism of the original Last House on the Left remains unsettling, and its harsh streak continues to give us chills.

      The main criticism of this version is its somewhat hopeful conclusion, which dilutes the original's perfect bleakness. Some films are so effective that remaking them may prove futile, and Last House on the Left is one of those instances. Nevertheless, director Dennis Iliadis made as good an effort as possible.

      He also benefited from the support and guidance of original director Wes Craven.

      **A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)**

      New Line Cinema – Credit: C/O

      On the contrary, when Wes Craven expresses dissatisfaction with a remake of his film, it’s wise to pay attention. The 1984 Nightmare on Elm Street is nearly a flawless horror film, and its few flaws only add to its unique charm.

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

      The new version featured the talented Jackie Earle Haley as Freddy Krueger, but let’s face it—there's only one Freddy, and that's Robert Englund. Additionally, opting to use CGI for Freddy and omitting his infamous quips diminished the