Hollywood is getting back in the “Thing” business.
Plans are afoot to remake, again, the 1951 horror classic “The Thing.” (Hat tip: Lou Lumenick)
Director John Carpenter did just that back in 1982 with his muscular version of the classic story of paranoia set in a remote research colony.
It wasn’t the only successful horror remake in recent years. Let’s count the ways Hollywood got it right remaking horror hits – especially since the industry often bungles it badly (cough, cough, “Invasion.”)
- “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (1978) Improved special effects and an unconventional leading man in Donald Sutherland make this remake outshine the original. Bonus points for a creepy turn by Spock himself, Leonard Nimoy.
- “The Fly” (1986) “Help me … help me!” said the fly in the original. Director David Cronenberg does away with such theatrics, focusing instead on the descent into madness of a man (Jeff Goldblum) who literally becomes a human-sized bug.
- “The Blob” (1988) The original is known chiefly for launching the career of its star, Steve McQueen. The remake didn’t launch anything – except a sleeper horror flick that far exceeded its source material.
- “”The Hills Have Eyes” (2006) This remake didn’t have big shoes to fill, but it ratcheted up the blood, gore and scares all the same. A slasher film with a brain.
- “The Thing” (1982) Can’t leave this out. Kurt Russell leads the way as a researcher who realizes his crew has been infiltrated by a space alien
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
You forgot Zack Snyder’s awesome remake of Dawn of the Dead.
That’s a good choice, JimmyC … if I had a sixth slot on this list it would surely own it.
Except for 4. which I didn’t see, I didn’t care much for any of these remakes. Everyone seems to misremember “The Fly” as being a lowbudget black and white movie…. it was color, widescreen, big budget, and with a brilliant script by James Clavell. An extreme black comedy. And while “The Thing” had great special effects, and dealt with the changeling aspect of Campbell’s story “Who Goes There?” that the first movie didn’t touch, you want to talk about head-slapping moments – “We’re surrounded by aliens who can mimic anyone and we only now are sure who’s who … let’s split up!” ARGGGGH! whap whap ARRRRGGGHHH!
i don’t know if i would include Snyder’s ‘Dawn of the Dead’. i liked the film but i think the original can’t be topped it is a great film and even though the makeuip isn’t as good as the remake it is a classic. it has gotten a little annoying seeing all of these remakes being a horror fan but some of them have been entertaining few have been able to match or top the original. i like the remake of TCM but the original will always be one of the best horror films because it feels more like your watching a documentary than an actual film. i am looking forward to seeing the new Friday the 13th though it won’t be the same without the great Betsy Palmer.