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When Remakes Go Unnoticed: A List And Question

We all know about remakes. They take movies we love, make a re-telling, or a modern day veron, etc. If there's anything that can make a horror fan upset, it's a bad remake, hell, sometimes it's just hearing that there will be a remake. But what about when you didn't know a film was remade and it slips through the cracks? What about when you didn't even realize the movie you watched was a remake? Do we judge them differently the less we hear about them? I've picked out four remakes that didn't get the attention most remakes get, and I want to know, does the lack of conversation about them change the way you feel?



Piranha

Right now everyone is saying " hold on a second, we all seen the Piranha remake", and while this is true, I have to ask, did you know that Piranha 3D was the second time it was remade? This remake produced by Roger Corman in 1995 is nearly identical to the original, they just took out the humor. In fact, it is so identical, instead of shooting new special effects, they rehashed the old ones.

Its Alive

Not many people I know have seen Larry Cohen's 1974 killer baby film, It's Alive. Even less people I know have heard about the 2008 remake. The story is pretty much the same, killer baby, committing murders, etc. The only real big change is the fact the mother defends the baby in the end, instead of the father. When asked about it Larry Cohen told fans of the original, " anyone who likes my film should cross the street and avoid seeing the new".

Thirteen Ghosts

Thirteen Ghosts is a remake of the 1960 film, 13 Ghosts directed by

William Castle. Coming out two years after another of Castle's film remakes ( House On Haunted Hill), this one quite a bit better. The story goes in different directions, but you'd be hard pressed to see any of Castle's films remade with the same story. A lot bloodier and just as much fun as the original,

it seems to go under the remake radar.



Day Of The Dead

Normally when we think Day Of The Dead, we think Romero, we think shambling undead, and political undertones. This time we have fast zombies, and action heroes. There's none of the undertones that made Romero a legend, and there's none of the great special effects and tenon that made the Dawn Of The Dead remake in 2004 so enjoyable.
HorrorDaily Wednesday 7/27/2011 at 01:58 AM | 79339
I remember seeing this Piranha remake long ago, and most prominently I remember the lead role of William Katt who is also known for 1986's "House." Not a bad attempt, and good old Roger Corman for such films as "Humanoids from the Deep" and "Slumber Party Massacre II & III."

But nce there's so much hype on 3D films nowadays, the latest Piranha received a much brighter spot in the lime light.
buried13 Wednesday 7/27/2011 at 04:18 AM | 79350
This one is also notable for being one of the first roles for Mila Kunis, Jackie from That 70s Show.
HorrorDaily Wednesday 7/27/2011 at 04:25 AM | 79353
personally I think remakes are really horribly look down upon and yes some of them sucked and some of them out done the original and some were good as the original. now I maybe 19 but im a old school horror fan and new school horror fan and i love most movies that people hate and i love low budget movies "well certain ones"

and do not like some of the more popular ones.
hm4life Wednesday 7/27/2011 at 05:09 AM | 79357
You sound like me man lol. I'm only 20 ( for two more weeks) so I feel most people think I'm too young to have the same love for the original they do. I like old school, new school, good, bad, and anything in between.
HorrorDaily Wednesday 7/27/2011 at 06:26 AM | 79359
lol ,its funny im not much of a critic and most of my dvd collection contains heavily criticized movies but anyway at least im not the only one like myself i just enjoy horror in general.
hm4life Wednesday 7/27/2011 at 07:22 AM | 79360
This one is also notable for being one of the first roles for Mila Kunis, Jackie from That 70s Show. Which remake are you speaking of?
Sephit Wednesday 7/27/2011 at 08:48 AM | 79361
This one is also notable for being one of the first roles for Mila Kunis, Jackie from That 70s Show. Which remake are you speaking of?

Piranha
Matt_Molgaard Wednesday 7/27/2011 at 03:48 PM | 79366
As awful as a lot of them are/were, they do have a benefit. If a remake is good, it will cause people to seek out the originals and watch it. Now we have these glossy, MTV style movies that don't stand a chance when compared to the movies from the 1960s-1980s, and kids are growing up with these torture porn movies. But if a kid likes the remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street, he might wtach the original, then all the sequels, then some other older ones. So whenever I feel like punching the mailman because they might be remaking The Keep (1983), I remember that this remake might cause The Keep to be released on DVD and rocketed into a new generation of moviegoers. Bedes, I wouldn't be half as interested to see The Thing from Another World is it wasn't for John Carpenter's amazing remake, The Thing.
ObscureCinema101 Wednesday 7/27/2011 at 04:03 PM | 79367
Remakes fucking suck. I'll do without. if it means getting rid of the rare few that I actually thought were decent..just so others wont happen..SO BE IT. piranha,the original was awesome.. I still have images of it from childhood in my head..one of those ones that stays with you.. the first remake fucking SUCKED,my god! and the 3d..havent seen it. dont want to. Im told its funny as hell,but no thanks. the only other remake you posted that ive seen was thirteen ghosts,and it wasnt too special for me either.. the rest I just havent seen. I,especially now am just a very angry person and have immense hate towards the word remake... nce the love of my life, A Nightmare on Elm Street, was 'remade'. I will NOT ever see it,look its way,even think about it if I can help it. I am a diehard Nightmare fan/Robert Englund fan.. and well,Ill stop there. but I havent seen last house on the left, friday the 13th, the fog..etc.. the only ones I've given a chance is TCM remake

and Rob Zombie's halloween.. and I give rob zombie a chance with everything,but that ade his Halloween was pretty decent to me..but like I said..I'd give it up for the nightmare remake to be taken back! they are just all completely about money and not about the fans. waste of time and money that could be used on some independent film that is worth it!
ImTheWolf Wednesday 7/27/2011 at 07:42 PM | 79381
I have seen two of these remakes. The first is It's Alive. I actually really like it. I have been hunting down the original with no luck but the remake is good. That and I am a Bijou Phillips fanboy. Lol.

The second is 13 Ghosts and to me, it was horrible. It was SO unbelieveable and to me seemed too smart for people to understand (me being one of them).
Ryze Wednesday 7/27/2011 at 10:16 PM | 79398