Why Horror Remakes Are Bad

It seems that every year Hollywood pumps out more and more remakes and sequels of old horror franchises. These movies often have only a passing resemblence to the movies they are based on. But remaking old movies is pretty common in the movie industry, so what is the big deal when it comes to horror flicks? The truth is that there is a lot more at stake in a classic horror franchise that remaking it can ruin. So if you are interested in learning why remaking horror movies is so bad, read on. Destruction of the OriginalrnThe main reason that remakes and endless sequels are bad for horror movies is that they frequently trample all over the original in order to make them. Sequels often turn around and break cannon of the original film. Main characters are resurrected, backstories are changed, and motives are reversed in the name of continuing the storyline. This shows little respect for the prior art and destroys the integrity of it in the name of new films. Do we really need rehashed of our old favorites updated to include cell phones and today's popular music? Do these things really add anything to the overall experience? I would argue that they do not. Industry Cash CowrnFilm studios have learned that horror films are a sure way to make good returns with little effort. This is the reason that there seems to be a new Saw film every year without end. This leads to endless amounts of repetitive and uncreative drivel filling the theaters each year. Why would movie producers take a chance on a unique script that has never been tried before when they can just churn out a ready made money making horror film loosely tied to some semi successful franchise each summer? Sign of the TimesrnAnother reason that horror remakes are bad is the role that horror movies play within our culture. Horror movies reflect the fears of the times back at us. Whether those fears are nuclear war and radiation, communism, incurable diseases, terrorism, or biological warfare. Horror movies personify these fears for us in a way we can see and run from. But by simply remaking the same movies over and over again, these new horror films are simply a vague copy of the fears of bygone generations rather than those of our own. They have no soul that we can connect to and do not provide an outlet for the fears we have about the times that we live in. For a specific example, look at the movie “The Thing” it was a movie made in the 80s about an alien that could mimic humans. This is tied to the fear of soviet spies walking among up due to cold war fears. The remake of this film follows the idea fairly closely, but fails to connect with audiences because we no longer hold these types of fears. So in the end, remaking horror movies is simply a bad idea. It is either a cash grab, destroys the original work, or simply rehashes the fears of the previous generation. We need films that speak to the fears of our generation, be they economic, endless war. and environmental destruction and change. Find more info about movies such as The Thing and Saw VI online.