10 Horror Movies That Really Do Deserve a Remake
Matt Molgaard
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Ghost Ship: Ghost Ship opens with a very eerie, very shocking sequence. For about five minutes it seems the movie is going to be a certified home run… then… well, then the rest of the film happens. If you made it through the entire run time of the film, you probably felt compelled to punch yourself in the face. It’s just bad, in so many ways, and by the time the credits roll you’ll feel as though that entire opening sequence was wasted. But it didn’t have to be. Ghost Ship could conceivably be an awesome picture, but it would take a lot to make that happen. The computer department is the place to start with this one, as trimming the stomach-turning “special” effects and replacing them with man-made props and sets would immediately make the film infinitely better than this hunk of junk.
Leprechaun: Sure, Mark Jones’ original Leprechaun is a lot of fun. It’s also one of those so bad it’s good flicks. But let’s just be real about this one: No matter how much I get a kick out of the movie, I can’t deny that it’s a real steamy pile. The comedic tones of the original film don’t help the cause overall, and if the miserable Leprechaun: Origins taught us anything, it’s that the tone and atmosphere of the original could work on a darker plane. Don’t get me wrong; Origins was a horrendous film, but the gloomy vibe of it and the noticeable dearth of humor changed the entire feel of the picture. A strong screenwriter and a clear idea (two things Origins lacked) could lead to a home run of a film and one of the greatest franchise turnarounds ever.
Hobgoblins: It’s been a number of years since I looked into Rick Sloane’s train wreck, and if memory serves me correctly, the only reason I ever gave it a chance was to see one of the “worst horror films ever made.” Yes, it’s miserable; and yes, it’s cheap and exploitative. But somewhere, deep in the concept of the picture, is real promise. The idea of creatures that turn dreams into realities, only to execute the dreamer while he’s wrapped up in bliss, has a lot of potential. It’s an idea that, to a small degree, is a bit similar to the Hellraiser films, and if this idea were to be genuinely nurtured and respected as a production while being crafted, it could actually be an awesome movie. I think the only way to go here is straight-laced. More drama than comedy could be a simple recipe for success. It would be amazing to see this one completely revamped and turned into a quality piece.
Witchcraft: What the hell happened with this franchise? How did it even become a franchise?! I haven’t seen all 312 movies in the Witchcraft series, but of the few I have seen, the initial franchise starter was the strongest. That’s not to imply it’s legitimately strong – it’s not – it’s just to say that of the small handful of sequels I caught, the first was the only one remotely near memorable. The truth is these movies kind of stink, and unless they were designed to bore us to death, the brand fails. However, with a new, quality director and a heavily improved script, Witchcraft could potentially be a winner. Not that we’ll ever know – Hollywood prefers to remake the gems as opposed to the stinkers that actually warrant a serious overhaul.
