SHAME of the dead
November 13th 2006 23:08
I am the voice of reason, calling to the legions of the living dead: do not listen to the call of Hollywood. Shuffle in the opposite direction. Walk away. Decay in dignity.
I probably sound like a nutter. Guess I am. But something horrible is happening. There’s something rotten in the heart of Hollywood, and it’s spreading like a damn plague. Ever since horror became all so bloody chic (and so much more self-conscious than it ever was in the past) over the past several years all the cult classics are being plundered. I’m sure other genres have never been violated so ruthlessly.
Is the executive school of thought here that because the horror genre is this assumed B-grade genre full of very basic rules, with no real cleverness to them, audiences must be real dumb and won’t mind or object to having some super-slick remake? It seems that way.
Horror has always been given a raw deal, been called a spade, thought of as the trailer trash of movies. As I said in my very first Pleasure of Nightmares post, horror is the black sheep of cinema.
Now Hollywood sees this black sheep as a cash cow. And they’re milking it for all its worth. This means getting original foreign directors to re-make their films in English, hot young new directors to “re-envision” cult faves, and veteran directors to ink on the dotted line; signing away rights to a particular classic in order for it to become a franchise.
It makes me wanna puke. The cold underground tone of horror becomes tepid and shallow. The sharp edge of its blade becomes chipped and blunted. The dripping candle light is replaced with a 1000-watt bulb.
So let me get to my point of contention: George A. Romero. Well, actually not him per se, more precisely his living dead. Here’s a rough chronology:-
1968: Romero and friends make Night of the Living Dead in Super-16mm black and white for around $US114,000.
1978: Romero completes the first sequel Dawn of the Dead in colour for approx. $US500,000.
1985: Romero completes the second sequel Day of the Dead for an estimated $US3.5m (original budget was $7m, but executives intervened when Romero told them he would not deliver an R-rated flick as requested). In the two decades since its release Romero has been quoted saying he thinks of this as his best film.
1990: Romero’s SFX makeup guru Tom Savini is given permission to remake Night of the Living Dead in colour (budget $US4.2m approx.). Most fans agree that although the film isn’t terrible, it really didn’t need to be remade.
2004: Zack Snyder directs a remake of Dawn of the Dead as his debut feature for approx. $US28m (it makes back almost its entire production costs in its opening weekend). Despite the film sporting some use of computer generated imagery (generally considered a copout by hardcore horror fans) and making the radical “re-envision” of the zombies being able to run, instead of walk, the film is actually well received. Considering it’s been nearly twenty-five years since the original tagline of “When There’s No More Room In Hell The Dead Will Walk The Earth”, it seems audiences were quite open to having Romero’s cult film disemboweled (myself included).
2004: Technically unrelated, but British comedian Edgar Wright directs Shaun of the Dead (for a modest budget) which turns out to be a brilliantly constructed satire on Romero’s zombie realm. Not a sequel, nor a remake, or even a re-envision, more like a tribute, an ode, a sharply comic eulogy. Zombie fans the world over chow down with relish on this dead black comedy. A true exception to the rule.
2005: Romero feels the pressure from fans and finally delivers the assumed final installment in the Dead series, Land of the Dead ($US15m). The critics and fans are disappointed. The film is a hollow experience with an inconsistent tone and dodgy casting.
2007: Steve Miner (old horror hand) is in production on a remake of Day of the Dead ($US18m approx.) If the trailer (I can’t bring myself to upload it here) is anything to go by the movie appears to bare very little resemble to Romero’s original. In fact Romero appears to have nothing to do with this production, nor does any of the Snyder production team either. It’s a hopelessly bizarre situation and one which is making my stomach churn.
But what really scares me is my other all-time favourite horrors are being plundered: Halloween (2007, directed by Rob Zombie, apparently as half prequel-half remake, go figure) and there is an odious smell suggesting that within the next five years (maybe sooner!) my other two all-time favourite horrors will be remade: Ridley Scott’s Alien (1979) and John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982).
I shed tears of blood in trepidation.
Is the executive school of thought here that because the horror genre is this assumed B-grade genre full of very basic rules, with no real cleverness to them, audiences must be real dumb and won’t mind or object to having some super-slick remake? It seems that way.
Horror has always been given a raw deal, been called a spade, thought of as the trailer trash of movies. As I said in my very first Pleasure of Nightmares post, horror is the black sheep of cinema.
Now Hollywood sees this black sheep as a cash cow. And they’re milking it for all its worth. This means getting original foreign directors to re-make their films in English, hot young new directors to “re-envision” cult faves, and veteran directors to ink on the dotted line; signing away rights to a particular classic in order for it to become a franchise.
It makes me wanna puke. The cold underground tone of horror becomes tepid and shallow. The sharp edge of its blade becomes chipped and blunted. The dripping candle light is replaced with a 1000-watt bulb.
So let me get to my point of contention: George A. Romero. Well, actually not him per se, more precisely his living dead. Here’s a rough chronology:-
1968: Romero and friends make Night of the Living Dead in Super-16mm black and white for around $US114,000.
1978: Romero completes the first sequel Dawn of the Dead in colour for approx. $US500,000.
1985: Romero completes the second sequel Day of the Dead for an estimated $US3.5m (original budget was $7m, but executives intervened when Romero told them he would not deliver an R-rated flick as requested). In the two decades since its release Romero has been quoted saying he thinks of this as his best film.
1990: Romero’s SFX makeup guru Tom Savini is given permission to remake Night of the Living Dead in colour (budget $US4.2m approx.). Most fans agree that although the film isn’t terrible, it really didn’t need to be remade.
2004: Zack Snyder directs a remake of Dawn of the Dead as his debut feature for approx. $US28m (it makes back almost its entire production costs in its opening weekend). Despite the film sporting some use of computer generated imagery (generally considered a copout by hardcore horror fans) and making the radical “re-envision” of the zombies being able to run, instead of walk, the film is actually well received. Considering it’s been nearly twenty-five years since the original tagline of “When There’s No More Room In Hell The Dead Will Walk The Earth”, it seems audiences were quite open to having Romero’s cult film disemboweled (myself included).
2004: Technically unrelated, but British comedian Edgar Wright directs Shaun of the Dead (for a modest budget) which turns out to be a brilliantly constructed satire on Romero’s zombie realm. Not a sequel, nor a remake, or even a re-envision, more like a tribute, an ode, a sharply comic eulogy. Zombie fans the world over chow down with relish on this dead black comedy. A true exception to the rule.
2005: Romero feels the pressure from fans and finally delivers the assumed final installment in the Dead series, Land of the Dead ($US15m). The critics and fans are disappointed. The film is a hollow experience with an inconsistent tone and dodgy casting.
2007: Steve Miner (old horror hand) is in production on a remake of Day of the Dead ($US18m approx.) If the trailer (I can’t bring myself to upload it here) is anything to go by the movie appears to bare very little resemble to Romero’s original. In fact Romero appears to have nothing to do with this production, nor does any of the Snyder production team either. It’s a hopelessly bizarre situation and one which is making my stomach churn.
But what really scares me is my other all-time favourite horrors are being plundered: Halloween (2007, directed by Rob Zombie, apparently as half prequel-half remake, go figure) and there is an odious smell suggesting that within the next five years (maybe sooner!) my other two all-time favourite horrors will be remade: Ridley Scott’s Alien (1979) and John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982).
I shed tears of blood in trepidation.
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Horror is not a mainstream genre by definition. If at least 10 people havent run from the theatre screaming before the movie concludes then it aint horror.
Its meant to be offensive, its meant to be excessive, its meant to push boundaries. Horror is about repelling not attracting, its about challenging the audience, everything the mainstream dont understand.
When they sanatize horror for mass consumption it ceases to be horrific and becomes generic.
To remake classic edgy horror and repackage it with a 90210 cast and shiny cinematography removes what attracted us to it in the first place.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Comment by suitably*wounded
Eternal Days; Author: Illness, M.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
OMG! Phantasm! That's another of mine up there in the Hall of Horror Infamy.
Puh-leeeeaze let no one try and tackle that film's unique sensibility ....
Care to be The Blood Group's treasurer s*w ...? I'm sure you've got a few spare vials ...?
Comment by suitably*wounded
Eternal Days; Author: Illness, M.
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
Leave these movies alone and try something original.
I will admit that the 2004 Dawn of the Dead remake was a good version. They way Dawn of the Dead and 28 Days Later portrayed zombies running superfast freaked me out. So I didnt mind that one.
But if you don't have anything new (and by new, I mean good), leave the classics alone.
And don't touch Alien.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Honestly if they attempt Alien I'll ... i'll ... I'll scream!
And space, or no space, you'll damn well hear me too!
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
I've never seen The Thing. I must go and do that.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
if you hold Alien in high esteem, you'll enjoy The Thing. Slightly different atmosphere, but superior use of suspense and extraordinary SFX ...
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
They will fail remaking The Thing any better than it is.. Their special, special effects will not 'make up' for the horroginal suspense and brilliance of whoever directed it...I'm no expert, sorry... that's what you're here for...
Lilla...
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
As it turns out John Carpenter directed two SEMINAL horror movies five years apart; Halloween (1978) and The Thing (1982). The first doesn't even have much bloodshed at all, the latter utilises some of the most astonishing prosthetic SFX/animatronics/stop-motion photography ever committed to horror celluloid!!! Two horrors beautifully juxtaposed, both with a superior command of suspense, terror and horror.
Of course Ridley Scott's Alien is a flat-out, hands-down MASTERPIECE, and also uses some of the most ingenious SFX (mechanics, prosthetics, even a man in a suit!!!).
If any producers remake either The Thing or Alien, I have one word: SACRILEGE!!!
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
I don't like the cash cow approach either. Stupid people, yes I am afraid so, and that trend is increasing in the US they say.
It is pretty horrifying, more horrifying than your movies and I've never been into horror movies, I haven't recovered from Psycho yet.
But I did love Alfred Hitchcock. Not for his physical appearance, you understand.
You are obviously attracting a good audience.
katyzzz
Comment by Damo
It could never be done in such memorable way ever again.
Comment by suitably*wounded
Eternal Days; Author: Illness, M.
Comment by Nina
Comment by Damo
Please explain......
Comment by K.L. Almeroth
Motherhood
Hi Bryn,
I'd be devastated about Alien....I mean, you grow up on these movies (at least, I did), and they're so fantastic...and I have all these wonderful memories of watching them with my father, and I look forward to the day my kids are a bit older (older than I was, anyway! That's what you get for having a liberal father....you can watch anything you want!), and sharing in the classics with them....
Like Alien....
And now it'll be some crappy, new version!!!
And Rob Zombie...I hate Rob Zombie. Sorry. Was a bit harsh, I know.
Don't know him personally, or anything!
K.L.
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Soon, every successful movie will be remade. Even some terrible movies will get reworked.
True horror will be when they remake the remakes.
'Dawn of the Dead 2010' - starring Jennifer Lopez, Sandra Bullock and Ralph Fiennes:
Ralph Fiennes is a rich, overworked zombie with only thing on his mind: eating brains! Plucky Sandra Bullock, and single mom Jennifer Lopez both fall in love with the zombie - to predictably hilarious results!
'When there's no more room in Hell, the Dead shall walk the Earth - and dead people need love, too!'
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Damo,
yes The Thing is a remake of The Thing From Another World (1951) ... but Carpenter's version follows the short story Who Goes There? more closely, also in my opinion the original is a much overrated B-flick ...
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Freaks of the world unite!
Comment by Damo
Comment by PokerPro
Comment by Joe Blogg
Joe Blogg's Blog
manchesterunited
collingwoodfootballclub
We've been basically watching the same 6 Hollywood movies over & over for eons.
Nothings changed.
Shops are franchises.
Music is all about remakes, samples & ripping of riffs.
Cinema is no different.
Comment by Joe Blogg
Joe Blogg's Blog
manchesterunited
collingwoodfootballclub
We've been basically watching the same 6 Hollywood movies over & over for eons.
Nothings changed.
Shops are franchises.
Music is all about remakes, samples & ripping of riffs.
Cinema is no different.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Joe Blogg, yeah, you be right there mate. I sample music, go figure.