8 Horror Films That Hollywood Should Remake Soon

Should any film ever be remade? Well, Hollywood certainly thinks so, and there seems to be an unending supply of directors who think they can improve on what’s gone before. Whatever the final result, and of course every filmmaker sets out to make the best film they can, the new production will always be subjected to the harshest scrutiny when compared with an often loved original. Clearly unfazed by any potential negativity, studio execs seem convinced that the most suitable target for remakes is the good old horror flick. Recently, we’ve had updated versions of well-known films that have lacked any real quality, from the disappointing (Carrie) to the downright awful (Halloween), but nevertheless this trend shows few signs of letting up. The problem is that horror fans are arguably more passionate than most about their genre and as such take easy offence at what is perceived as simply “cashing in.” But with a horror back catalogue so full and so bulging at the fleshy seams, it seems unnecessary to subject some of the accepted classics to this form of perceived desecration. With that in mind, we take a look at a few of the horror films that, if one was absolutely set on producing a remake, would benefit from a modern updating. 8) Lifeforce (1985) Director Tobe Hooper is a bonafide legend of the horror genre. With a filmography that includes The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Poltergeist, it is almost impossible to argue with that title. In 1985 though, Hooper tried to do so himself with the release of the briefly interesting, but predominantly dull Lifeforce. Space vampires arriving in London to suck out the energy from unsuspecting humans promised something truly interesting, but somehow the lifeforce was also sucked out of the film (apologies). This is another of those movies that contains an interesting premise that is badly realized, and as such is ripe for the remake pot. 7) Night Of The Creeps (1986) There is a feeling amongst some horror fans (but not here as you’ll see) that Night Of The Creeps is something of a classic. A gloriously fun comedy-horror that typifies the humour and exuberance present in 80s filmmaking. That’s one way of looking at it. Another might be that this is a weary slog of a film that suffers from attempts at humour that barely rise up out of the sub-Porky’s gutter, and contains sigh-inducing visual effects that you could reproduce at home with a supply of Play-doh and a range of table sauces. Perhaps we’re being harsh, but there is something incredibly dated about Night Of The Creeps that simply refuses to allow you to enjoy the movie. A remake would give a budding director the chance to retain much of what does actually work (parts of the script) and jettison what doesn’t (everything else). 6) Urban Legend (1998) This one again falls under the heading of “great idea, bad film.” With the Scream franchise in full swing, and a new era of slasher-horror emerging with the likes of I Know What You Did Last Summer, 1998’s Urban Legend seemed perfect for the time. A series of grisly murders exacted on college students taking various urban legends as inspiration? Sounds great. Well, yes, but Urban Legend riffed just a little too much on those “other” films to leave a finished feature that was as familiar and predictable as it was tedious. With the extent that social media now controls our lives, the time seems right for an update of the story. Perhaps a Blumhouse production would work best; a young director with a limited budget that ensures an emphasis on storytelling? One thing is for certain, this was a film that slipped under the radar at the time of release and is now no more than an urban legend itself, so there’s pretty much no-one to offend with this one. 5) Salem’s Lot (1979 & 2004) A slight cheat here perhaps, as in theory there has never been a true film version of Stephen King’s novel. Two television mini-series from 1979 and 2004 did a reasonable, if flawed job though with the story, but surely Hollywood can find the time for a big screen version? A classic tale of Good vs. Evil, always topical themes of government corruption and subterfuge and a narrative that references the classics of the genre; Salem’s Lot is a story that demands the big screen treatment. It is also an interesting take on vampires. And everyone wants to see proper vampires, don’t they? 4) Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (numerous) There have been more than thirty film adaptations of Robert Louis Stevenson’s gothic novella The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, so this would seem like a tale that has been well told, but has it been told well enough? There is the classic silent version starring John Barrymore 1921, an Academy Award winning edition from 1931 and 1996’s Mary Reilly take which put a different slant on the story, but how many do you know? As studios regurgitate horror films from as recently as the last decade, why is no-one tackling Stevenson’s classic tale depicting the struggle between Good and Evil within human nature? Surely this is a story as relevant today as it was back in 1886, and with the dearth of good stories, here's one ready to go. Whether told as a bleak, sinister horror, or a darkly comedic adventure, Jekyll And Hyde would be a perfect foil for an up-and-coming filmmaker to get their proverbial teeth into. 3) Resident Evil (2002) Yes, yes, yes…we know; video game conversions; it never works…ever. So, while we await the two A-list supported releases in 2016 of Warcraft and Assassin’s Creed (which might be good…come on, they might!), why not cast your mind back to 2002 and to Paul W. S. Anderson’s first Resident Evil film? Despite retaining elements from game series that defined a generation and pretty much invented to the term “survival horror,” the film was thoroughly disappointing. There were some good moments, but Resident Evil felt like it was written by someone who had never actually played the games, and was just ticking off a list of “must have” references. Surely a reboot sticking much more closely to the original narratives that made the games so engrossing would be popular with the loyal fanbase, and with zombies more prominent in television and film than ever before, now would seem like the perfect time. Think about this while you root out your old Playstation 2; the five live-action films in the Resident Evil franchise have grossed nearly $1 billion at the box office alone! Still think no one watches them? 2) Van Helsing (2004) Whatever you think of Stephen Sommers’ 2004 monster mash-up (and it’s likely you don’t think much), it’s hard to argue it wasn’t a fantastic premise. A legendary vampire hunter armed with an array of steam punk weaponry teams up with Frankenstein’s Monster to take down the most famous bloodsucker of them all…what could go wrong? Well, pretty much everything, as the film with a budget greater than the GDP of Transylvania (possibly) ended up being little more than a hammy pantomime full of sub-Gothic melodrama peppered with weary one-liners. With a decent writer providing some energy though, while still respecting the source characters, Van Helsing could make for perfect remake material. 1) The Howling (1981) A controversial first choice perhaps? Possibly. While The Howling is rightly revered by many as a classic of the werewolf genre, it’s just hard to shake the nagging doubt that it could be a whole lot better. With a budget of just $1 million, it’s worth emphasizing that horror legend Joe Dante did a fantastic job at the helm, but he was surely casting envious glances across at the other lycanthropic tale being made at the same time by John Landis. An American Werewolf In London had ten times the funding of The Howling and it shows. The transformation scene featuring Robert Picardo is good, but looks incredibly dated now when compared to Rick Baker’s legendary and timeless work on Werewolf. With the right director (perhaps Dante again?) and a few more pennies in the pot, a remake could be exactly what’s needed to reinvigorate a genre recently exhibiting more fleas than fun. Plus, the film’s witty take on indulgent self-help retreats begs to be expanded upon.