10 Horror Remakes That Are Much Better Than You Remember

Remakes and reboots can be extremely controversial, particularly when they’re adapting a film that’s already good in its own right, but there’s always space for new takes on classic stories in today’s cinematic climate. Some of the most interesting and innovative horror movies in recent memory have been remakes of existing stories, but this doesn’t prevent them from still being amazing stories on their own. The best horror remakes are those that change the original in some way, giving them a level of credibility beyond merely retelling the story.

But in addition to these great reboots, there are also several horror remakes that never should have been made, which can give the entire concept a fairly bad reputation. Viewers begin to associate remakes with cheap retellings of already good stories, but that’s not the truth in most cases. The majority of remakes exist for a reason, whether that’s to introduce a great film to a new generation or to adapt the subtext to something more topical. Horror is the perfect genre for this to happen, as most of the existing films already have very relevant and important social commentary.

10 Willard (2003)

Directed by Glen Morgan

Willard is a modern retelling of the 1971 film of the same name, centering around a social misfit struggling to balance his home life with his professional conflicts and his abusive boss. However, things quickly turn around when he discovers his innate ability to connect and communicate with rats. The film is a gripping story of revenge, repression, and violence that uses plenty of exciting camera tricks and well-paced storytelling to keep the audience engaged.

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9 Let Me In (2010)

Directed By Matt Reeves

While Matt Reeves is now known for his villainous Batman universe, the filmmaker’s roots are firmly planted in the horror genre. Let Me In is a stylish remake that focuses on a young boy named Owen, whose lonely life is turned upside down when he befriends the only classmate who doesn’t bully and abuse him. It’s filled with mystery and suspense from the opening frame, allowing the questions to slowly unravel in the most exciting and disturbing ways possible.

8 Fright Night (2011)

Directed By Craig Gillespie

Fright Night takes a very specific brand of horror movies (vampire survivals) and proves exactly how to do it right. The film takes place in a small town that’s haunted by vampires, focusing on two men who make it their mission to cleanse their home of the supernatural creatures that have invaded. It’s filled with brutal action sequences, frightening jump scares, and plenty of supernatural tropes that will be familiar to fans of the genre, but the stylish execution is what really separates Fright Night from the crowd.

7 The Ring (2002)

Directed By Gore Verbinski

The Ring is the kind of horror movie that’s developed a reputation way beyond itself in the years since its release, creating disturbing folklore that perfectly captures the film's creepy and gothic spirit. The story centers around a young woman who finds herself cursed during her investigation into a string of mysterious deaths, destined for the same fate of the victims she’s studying. It’s a terrifying narrative that uses a gritty, gloomy atmosphere and plenty of early 2000s editing choices to forge a very specific tone from start to finish.

6 The Omen (2006)

Directed By John Moore

The Omen is another film that almost exists outside itself, with many of its key plot details making their way into other horror films across the genre. It’s the story of a young couple who accidentally trade their son for the infant antichrist, who later wreaks havoc on their home. There are several movies in The Omen franchise, but Moore’s version is a strong adaptation of the original that brings much of the powerful storytelling into a more modern setting.

5 The Crazies (2010)

Directed By Breck Eisner

The Crazies is a fascinating film that breaks almost every convention of horror filmmaking, but still manages to get away with it. It’s a remake of George A. Romero’s classic movie of the same name, which follows a group of people who find themselves unaffected by a virus that transforms everybody around them into violent killers. It’s part survival thriller, part supernatural horror, and all-round thrilling storytelling.

4 Hellraiser (2022)

Directed By David Bruckner

Hellraiser is often cited among the best horror franchises ever made, which is why there was lots of pressure on Bruckner’s revival in 2022. However, the director managed to perfectly capture the spirit of the original film while changing a few of the plot details, which prevented it from being too stale or familiar. The story sees a young girl in possession of a supernatural puzzle box that she believes will help her find her brother.

3 Suspiria (2018)

Directed By Luca Guadagnino

Guadagnino’s Suspiria is a harrowing and disturbing tale of power, subversion, and ambition that sticks closely to Dario Argento’s original story while adopting a whole new style that keeps it clearly separate. The story follows a young woman who joins a prestigious dance company, where dark secrets quickly reveal themselves and her life becomes irrevocably changed.

2 My Bloody Valentine (2009)

Directed By Patrick Lussier

As far as horror movies go, it’s difficult to find one bloodier and more relentlessly violent than My Bloody Valentine, which tells the story of a man who returns to a small town that’s haunted by the memory of a brutal massacre on Valentine’s Day. The film is intense when it needs to be, but much of the runtime is spent building up to these brutal moments with apprehension and atmospheric tension.

1 Body Snatchers (1993)

Directed By Abel Ferrara

Body Snatchers isn’t a complete remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, but it’s a spiritual remake that adopts much of the same atmosphere and meta-textual themes of social paranoia and scientific fear. While it’s not the best Invasion of the Body Snatchers movie, it still deserves lots of credit for taking this iconic horror franchise and giving it a new, fresh lick of paint.