Whether you love or hate them, remakes have been around for a long time, and they’re not slowing down anytime soon. An update on The Crow is set to arrive this summer, with Hollywood’s version of Speak No Evil not far behind, just as two upcoming examples.
While not all remakes can hold a candle to the original, there’s been no shortage of fantastic movies that reworked genre favorites in thrilling new ways. Some of which even managed to eclipse the original classics, like 1986’s The Fly or 1982’s The Thing.
This week’s streaming picks are dedicated to horror remakes that set themselves apart from the source material, either through expanded storytelling or heightened, visceral horror.
Here’s where you can stream them this week.
For more Stay Home, Watch Horror picks, click here.
The Blob – Tubi
Chuck Russell and Frank Darabont’s remake of the 1958 classic ensures no one is safe by dispatching the Steve McQueen-type hero quickly, letting pissed-off cheerleader Meg Penny (Shawnee Smith) take charge and save the town alongside social outcast Brian Flagg (Kevin Dillon). No one expected this unlikely duo, full of attitude, to take on the government and put a stop to an amorphous entity with an insatiable appetite. The blob that crash lands from space consumes everything in his path, as horrifically as possible. Special makeup effects artist Tony Gardner (“Chucky,” Cult of Chucky) deserves a lot of accolades for how great the effects look and how well this film still holds up today. Great characters and gruesome deaths ensure this remake not only holds up but remains one of the best ’80s horror movies. Don’t miss a chance to catch this rare appearance on streaming, either, especially with a new iteration on the way from David Bruckner.
Dawn of the Dead – Netflix
By 2004, the zombie apocalypse had become a bit formulaic and stale. We’d long been accustomed to the fall of civilization by way of lethargic but inescapable zombie outbreaks since George A. Romero broke the mold in 1968. Director Zack Snyder and writer James Gunn dial up the zombie intensity and then some in this update on George A. Romero’s classic 1978 zombie sequel. The zombie apocalypse begins with a subtle bite victim in a hospital and escalates with the world in flames the next morning. It’s fast and unrelenting. Dawn of the Dead ushered in a faster, meaner brand of zombie. It’s not just the scarier take on the zombie that sets this remake apart, but a stellar ensemble cast led by Sarah Polley as the smart, level-headed nurse Ana.
House on Haunted Hill – Tubi
Dark Castle Entertainment launched with a remake of William Castle’s House on Haunted Hill. Penned by Dick Beebe from Robb White’s original 1959 story and directed by William Malone, the 1999 remake relocated to a foreboding psychiatric hospital for its haunted setting. This time the ghosts were very real and very vengeful. Look for Jeffrey Combs as the institute’s head ghost, and a very inspired performance by Geoffrey Rush, taking over for Vincent Price. The sprawling, impressive set pieces, eerie and fast-twitching ghost designs, and a copious amount of blood set the bar high for Dark Castle right out of the gate.
The Queen of Black Magic – AMC+, Shudder
Indonesian horror stalwart Joko Anwar pens a remake of the 1981 horror film, with filmmaker Kimo Stamboel (Headshot, Macabre) helming. The plot sees former orphans return to the orphanage where they were raised, with their family in tow, to pay their final respects to the orphanage’s ailing caretaker. Between an incident on the road trip there, a pair of troubled orphans currently living at the orphanage, and a dark past, it’s clear that the happy reunion amongst old friends won’t stay that way. Someone or something wants them dead. From there, the horror ramps up at a gleefully gnarly and steady clip. The gruesome, black magic carnage feels akin to retro Hong Kong Category III films but with a more modern lens. Flesh gets carved, centipedes weave in and out of bodily orifices, and blood paints the neutral beige orphanage red.
Slumber Party Massacre – AMC+, Shudder
Writer Suzanne Keilly (Leprechaun Returns) and director Danishka Esterhazy (Level 16, The Banana Splits Movie) aren’t content to just redo the 1982 cult slasher beat for beat; they expand and invert the original in just about every way. A prologue set in 1993 introduces the ‘Driller Killer’ Russ Thorne’s reign of violence. Cut to the present, where the sole survivor of Russ’s slaughter is now an overprotective mother of a teen embarking on a weekend cabin getaway with friends. Naturally, the murders begin again. Only this time, Esterhazy and Keilly aren’t interested in straightforward retread. This remake leans heavily into humor, biting commentary, and a bloody body count that brings the slasher fun. It’s an update that brings something new to the table while holding deep reverence for the original film. Bring the pillows and pizza; it’s a crowd-pleaser.
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