Silent Night (2012)
The Original: Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984) – A cult horror film about a young boy who witnesses his parents being killed by a man dressed as Santa and gradually grows up to become a madman killer himself.
The Remake: Things are completely different, as this film focuses on a small-town sheriff hunting down a man dressed as Santa Claus on a murderous rampage.
Most Horrific Element: The sheer number of groan-worthy Christmas-related puns and humorous touches, all slightly detracting from this ho-ho-ho-horror.
A Nightmare On Elm Street (2010)
The Original: Wes Craven's supernatural gorefest that introduced us to one of the most iconic figures in horror, the dream-invading Freddy Kruger.
The Remake: A stylised, modern version, removing any element of camp from proceedings by doing away with Kruger's macabre sense of humour (which, to be fair, there wasn't much of in the original film, but still...), making him a bland, faceless character in the process.
Most Horrific Element: Jackie Earle Haley, woefully miscast with none of the intimidating presence of Robert England's incarnation.
House Of Wax (2005)
The Original: It’s supposed to be a remake of the 1953 film of the same name (which is itself a remake of the 1933 film Mystery Of The Wax Museum ) but the plots are very different. In the 1953 film, a wax sculptor seeks revenge on his former business partner with a macabre collection of wax statues made from the dead.
The Remake: … whereas, in this film, six friends wind up in a small town wax museum and are forced to fight for their lives when two murderous twin brothers start terrorising them.
Most Horrific Element: Two word: Paris Hilton.
The Eye (2008)
The Original: A 2002 Hong Kong-Singaporean horror about a blind girl who receives a cornea transplant to give her the ability of sight… but she also discovers she can see ghosts now too.
The Remake: Jessica Alba stars in this English-language version of the same story in what is a dumbed-down, glossy, Hollywoodised remake of a much better film.
Most Horrific Element: Um… well, Alba was nominated for the Worst Actress Razzie Award for this film…
Thir13en Ghosts (2001)
The Original: 1960 film a poverty-stricken family who are left a huge run-down house in the will of an eccentric uncle.
When they get there, however, it turns out that the house is haunted with 12 disturbing ghosts – each with separate identities – all waiting for a 13th ghost to be set free.
The Remake: Extra grit and detail are given to allow for a more gruesome and gory telling of the story, but ultimately it still lacks scares.
Most Horrific Element: That gross, needless use of ‘13’ in the title.
Friday The 13th (2009)
The Original: Franchise kick-starter from 1980 that cemented typical slasher film traditions and introduced us to (the idea of) Jason Voorhees.
The Remake: Not a straight remake of the first film as much as it is an entire reboot with elements from the first four movies, including how Jason finds and starts wearing his hockey mask.
There’s also a new back story for Jason to round him out.
It’s not needed.
Most Horrific Element: That there’s still life left in this franchise at all.
Village Of The Damned (1995)
The Original: Unnerving 1960 horror about a small village that awakens one day to find that all of the women are pregnant and they eventually give birth to chilling children with blond hair and glowing eyes.
The Remake: John Carpenter's dull retread if the same story, this time starring Christopher Reeves and Mark Hamill.
Superman and Luke Skywalker together in a film.
Finally.
Most Horrific Element: That John Carpenter of all people couldn't turn this into an effectively scary film.
House On Haunted Hill (1999)
The Original: Fun 1959 horror about an eccentric millionaire who invites five guests to stay the night at a haunted house with a cash prize incentive for those that can last the distance.
The Remake: There's added gore and a nasty back story to help make the film more colourful to modern audiences, but otherwise it's an unoriginal retread of the same story.
Most Horrific Element: An epilogue scene that takes place in a torturous afterlife, just to lose any remaking drop of subtlety.
The Omen (2006)
The Original: Seminal 1976 horror film about a couple whose son Damien turns out to be the Antichrist.
The Remake: Feels like a shot-for-shot version of the original, resulting in just a bland, mediocre horror film at best.
Most Horrific Element: That the whole film was apparently made just so that it could be released on 6th June 2006 (06-06-06).
My Bloody Valentine (2009)
The Original: 1981 slasher film about a legendary killer wreaking revenge on those couples who dare to celebrate Valentines Day.
The Remake: A glossier, modernised version that still revels in its retro horror roots.
It also exploited the 3D gimmick, with all manner of weapons and severed limbs popping out of the screen.
Most Horrific Element: The number of times a pickaxe goes through someone's head.
