Originals vs. Remakes
You can never go wrong with a classic horror movie, that’s just a fact, but now with all of these remakes popping up it’s time to discuss whether there are any worth watching. Can a remake beat an original? Sometimes the answer is yes and sometimes the original is just better. I’ll dive into a few below and give my thoughts.
Psycho (1960) vs. Psycho (1998)
I recently had a chance to rewatch the original and it definitely still holds up. Anthony Perkins starred as Norman Bates in this version, and successfully portrayed the shy motel clerk as well as the deranged “Mother”. Obviously, over time it doesn’t feel as scary as it does unsettling, but the whole “Mother” part still gives me the heebie jeebies. A shot for shot remake of this movie starring Anne Heche and Vince Vaughn was released almost 40 years later. It wasn’t nearly as successful and actually received 3 Golden Raspberry nominations. Critics claimed this was a pointless remake, and my hot take? I’d tend to agree. Save yourself some time and don’t bother with anything but the original.
Winner: The Original - Psycho (1960), by a longshot.
The Evil Dead (1981) vs. Evil Dead (2013)
Here we have an example of a much more effective remake.The 1981 original, directed by Sam Raimi is considered one of the most popular cult classics of all time, and kicked off the Evil Dead franchise. While the 1981 version is considered more of a comedy-horror, the 2013 remake has a significantly more violent and gory vibe. In 2013, Fede Alvarez (with Sam Raimi as one of the producers) directed the remake which was a hit among horror fans. Critics praised this remake for staying true to the story while also adding its own original spin. This version surprised fans with its brutality and has seemingly left a lasting impression, as well as a new character to root for.
Winner: The Original - The Evil Dead (1981), but the remake succeeded and delivered (a lot of) fresh blood into the story. Awesome movie, but the original holds up a bit more.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) vs. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
I’ve always been a huge fan of this series, so this is definitely one to discuss! The first movie came out in 1974, and became the driving force for the legendary slasher franchise we now know and love. This includes multiple sequels, prequels, comic books and video games. Leatherface is a horror icon and will go down as one of horror’s most evil villains. Upon release it was heavy-hitting and made slashers more relevant and terrifying. The first remake came in 2003, and is the version most of us are familiar with. This version stars Jessica Biel, R. Lee Ermey, and also brought back Tobe Hooper and Kim Henkel on board as co-producers. This one felt a little bit shallow, but very vicious and savage. For some, this was right on the mark for what they’d want in a remake.
Winner: The Original - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), although we get total value out of the 2003 remake and it’s absolutely worth checking out.
